Skateboarding in the Olympics: David Meets Goliath? Drs Brian Glenney & Paul O’Connor (Pt2) - Meaningful Sport Series

This is the second part of our conversation on skateboarding in the Olympic Games (see part 1 here). For the first time, skateboarding is included on the Olympic arenas this summer. What is going to happen? What kind of new Olympic narratives will be created and who will be the heroes and the zeroes? Can skateboarding maintain its subcultural identity or will it be subsumed under the broader Olympic narrative?

In this episode - partly recorded from the beach - Drs Brian Glenney and Paul O'Connor take us on a journey to understand the meanings and values associated with skateboarding and the tensions associated with the inclusion in the Olympics. We also discuss the health and well-being dimension of participation in physical cultures and questions about social justice and inclusivity.

Dr Brian Glenney is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Norwich University and Dr Paul O’Connor is lecturer in Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Exeter. Much of our conversation draws on their recent article "When Myths Collide: Skateboarding and Olympics Narratives".

Additional resources for further inspiration that were mentioned in the conversation include: 

Example of pure fun skateboarding:

Worble and Cobra Man’s “Worble III” Video

https://youtu.be/kWhyPZgiXI8

 

Zion Wright from team USA making the case for skateboarding in the streets (cued to spot 47:50)

GODSPEED by Davonte Jolly

https://youtu.be/ZYAzo5OdqHM?t=2870

 

Professional Skateboarder and Trans activist Leo Baker's new Mercedes advert

(of additional interest is that Leo Baker is also a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater videogame)

Leo Baker Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQq60MADh1y/

 

Since we jump in from the middle of the conversation, it is a good idea to start with Part 1 published a week earlier.