Sectarianism in sports: deep roots and great potential

Over dinner tonight, Dave and I learned more about how the sectarian divide is being managed in Northern Ireland, but we were told that it is actually being swept under the rug in many ways. There is much marketing of the current peace, but some people we’ve met in Northern Island state that the sectarian divide and violence is still a huge problem. The divide even infiltrates the world of sports, as some teams and organizations are considered almost exclusively Protestant, and others Catholic and this may be hindering the growth of sports and participation rates.

As a result of these observations, we are particularly interested to meet with the Irish Football Association (IFA) tomorrow. This organization would be the Northern Ireland equivalent to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) in the Republic. We’d suspect that these two organizations are not communicating with each other as productively as possible and would like to explore some of the specifics on why that is. Beyond the obvious reason, we’d like to know more about the history of these two organizations and how their respective dynamics mesh or clash. In addition, we will delve more into Meghan’s inquiry about the actual benefits of the development programs to women and disabled athletes, compared to the perceived benefits.

Our experience in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has been remarkable in terms of partnerships and collaboration. The State Department’s attempt to promote these relationships is so important; we’ve learned from colleagues in both the north and south, and they’ve learned too. Many seem particularly interested in how we’ve used sport to transcend cultural differences, engage in dialogue, challenge stereotypes, and inspire leadership.

We also noticed signs in a Belfast pub prohibiting team jerseys, and seen less revelry around sports. Not because there isn’t as much pride or fan commitment but perhaps its acted out differently. These meetings have introduced us to people with differing passions for applying sport to social issues—not unlike our efforts in the US—and sense that they face many similar challenges in trying to promote these values.