Racism in society affects sports, and antiracism in sports can, in turn, influence society. So says researcher Anni Reuter from the University of Helsinki, who has studied how racism and antiracism are discussed in Finnish mainstream media. “Antiracism and inclusivity are central to my research,” Reuter explains. Her recent study focused on public discourse on racism in sports between 2018 and 2023. According to Reuter, these conversations have increased significantly in recent years, but remain largely limited to three major team sports: football, basketball, and ice hockey. “The media often focuses on male athletes, especially those who are successful and well-known,” she notes.
What kind of public discussion has surrounded racism or antiracism in basketball? “Basketball stands out among team sports when it comes to racism. According to media coverage, racist incidents in basketball have occurred mostly in the past or abroad. It seems racism is not tolerated in today’s Finnish basketball culture,” Reuter explains.
This may stem from basketball’s longer history of embracing diversity and the presence of Black athletes as prominent role models.
Historically, sports in Finland have been viewed positively as a builder of national identity and a unifier of people. “In Finland, we’ve embraced what I call ‘the good story of sports’. Negative phenomena like racism have often been excluded or inadequately addressed,” Reuter argues. But sports are not immune to societal issues, and racist incidents have indeed taken place.
Reuter has also examined inclusivity, particularly in relation to people with immigrant backgrounds. “Summer sports — especially football — are far more popular among youth with immigrant backgrounds than winter sports,” she notes, referencing Tuomas Zacheus’ 2010 study. Interestingly, the research also found that boys with immigrant backgrounds are more likely to participate in sports than native Finnish boys or girls. In contrast, girls with immigrant backgrounds participate significantly less.
Participation in sports is more than just physical activity — it correlates with better integration, stronger social ties, and improved employment outcomes later in life.
So why do many immigrant-background youth stop participating?
“There are many reasons, but racism is clearly one of them. According to a 2015 study, half of ethnic minority youth reported experiencing inappropriate behavior in sports. Up to 12% had experienced physical violence, and 15% sexual harassment. Many quit sports between ages 12 and 29 because of this,” Reuter says.
Racism is experienced from various directions — opponents, spectators, and even coaches.
“Many immigrant-background athletes feel that when they succeed, they’re treated as Finnish. But if they don’t, they’re seen as immigrants.”
“A narrow definition of Finnishness enables racism,” she adds.
Despite the challenges, Reuter sees signs of progress. Antiracism in sports is now being discussed more openly, and diverse role models are becoming increasingly visible. “There’s still work to do. We need more discussion — even on difficult topics. But that discussion must also lead to action: concrete steps to fight racism in practice.”
She ends on a hopeful note:
“If racism in society affects sports, then antiracism in sports can affect society in return.”
Source: Reuter, Anni (2025): Racism and Integration in Finnish Sports: The Media’s Shift Towards an Equal Future. In The Changing Face of Sports. Finnish Society for Sport Sciences, pp. 110–128.