Sport and Livelihoods: From Outcomes to Experiences

This research aims to add to the limited but growing body of literature on the potential impacts of Sport for Development and livelihood programming. Previous research has predominantly focused on prescribed outcomes and reinforcing neoliberal capitalist ideologies. More specifically, the purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the use of sport for livelihood programming in supporting the needs of youth facing barriers at one Sport for Development facility. This research is guided by two key objectives: (a) How do participants (current and past) describe and interpret their experiences within a Sport and Livelihood program? (b) How are contemporary constructions of class, race, gender, poverty, (dis)ability and culture shaped through this programming? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 participants of the MLSE LaunchPad Fellowship Program. Participants’ ages ranged from 19 to 25; 4 were males and 3 females; 6 identified as BIPOC, while 1 individual identified as white. Thematic analysis was an accessible and flexible way to identify patterns within and across data in relation to participants’ lived experience, perspectives, behaviours, and practices.

The four aggregate themes were discussed by participants: Program Experience, Organizational Supports, Workplace Structures and Livelihoods. A further subset of twelve themes was also identified providing a deeper level of nuance for the aggregate themes. Findings suggested that programming within the field of SfD and Livelihoods may (re)produce inequality by providing precarious working conditions for participants. Future research is a needed to explore programming from an interdisciplinary, if not transdisciplinary, perspective. There is a need to understand the variety of forces—economic, political, cultural, psychological—that (re)shape SfD and livelihoods.