Category: EXTRAS/SPECIALS

There is a long history of sports leading the way on a number of different social issues. For decades, our sporting heroes have been torn down, vilified, and ostracised for standing up for what they believe in and fighting for issues that go beyond the sports arena. While some people were supportive when Gary Linker spoke out about the government’s asylum policy in 2023, others were quick to roll out the old trope that sport and politics don’t mix. But sport and politics do mix. So the conversation about sport and social justice is an important one.  

In this episode of EightyPercentMental, Dr Pete Olusoga talks with Amna Abudllatif and Shaista Aziz, two-thirds of the award winning Three Hijabis who launched a petition last year in the wake of the Euro finals to ban racists from football. Also joining the conversation about the importance and the power of sport in social change is Lecturer and researcher in Exercise Physiology and Strength and Conditioning, Dr John Fernandes, who is well known for his anti-discrimination work in academia and sport.  

• Amna Abdullatif on Twitter: @AmnaAbdul1983 
• Shaista Aziz on Twitter: @shaistaAziz 
• The Three Hijabis on Twitter: @THijabis 
• The Three Hijabis website: www.threehijabis.com 
• Dr John Fernandes on twitter: @DrJFTFernandes 

In this Super Special Winter Olympic Review, Dr Pete Olusoga is joined by Dr Chelsi Day, Sport Psychologist at ‘The’ Ohio State University, and Dr Leah Washington, resident Olympic Superfan and professor of sports medicine and sport psychology to talk about the ups, downs, ins, outs, and triple Salchows of the Beijing 2022 Winer Olympics. From drug scandals to ‘minor’ broken necks, and managing the post-Olympic comedown, this episode has a little bit of everything. Make sure you stay tuned to the end to find out how Leah is going to save the Olympics!  

Oh, and dog sledding was a demonstration event in the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. So now you know. 

• Dr Chelsi Day on Twitter: @sportpsychmind 
• Dr Leah Washington on Twitter: @Leah_SportPsych 

• Ryan Cochran’s minor broken neck: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKZmqkKI3LZ/?utm_medium=copy_link 
• Article on the Czech Republic Women’s Ice Hockey team: https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/interview-czech-republic-womens-ice-hockey-team 
• Burn it All Down Podcast: The Figure Skating Fiasco: https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/episodes/238 

The conversation should always be about more than just sport. In this EPM Special, Dr Pete Olusoga is joined by organisational psychologist and best-selling New York Times author, John Amaechi OBE, for an honest and inspiring conversation about racism, anti-racism, and what we all could or should be doing to make our communities fairer for everybody.  

• John Amaechi OBE on Twitter: @JohnAmaechi 
• APS Intelligence Website: www.apsintel.com 
• Read John’s new book: The Promises of Giants