Whose nation? The racialization of sporting heroes and the emergence of new cosmopolitan imaginaries.

Abstract

The global popularity of sporting spectacles makes them fertile terrain for representing the idea of the nation. Black and ethnic minority players with multiple nationalities are often questioned in Western political and media discourse about their belonging to the ‘nation’. However, these athletes increasingly embrace their multiple belongings, foregrounding cosmopolitan imaginaries that unsettle nationalistic discourses. Their message is amplified by the ability to communicate directly with vast ‘audiences’ of fans through social media. This article discusses the cultural and political implications of this phenomenon, stressing the need for new cosmopolitical lenses in sport and popular culture that transcend the historical constraints of nationhood.