Yongsan International School of Seoul
Abigail Lim
Abstract
This working paper analyses how income influences sport participation, performance, and career opportunities. Household income plays a strong role early on in influencing the sport chosen, the quality of coaching, and the ability to afford costly things like equipment, travel, and competition fees. Cheap sports are still widely accessible, but more expensive sports pose a financial barrier that automatically excludes many athletes with strong potential who come from poorer families. Not only does income disparity impact the practice of each sport, but it also impacts each areas surrounding it. Wealthy athletes are able to purchase insurance, better facilities, and expert medical care, while low-income athletes are subjected to delay, inadequate treatment, or permanent damage. All these inequalities represent structural barriers that no level of talent is able to overcome. It is up to the public and private sectors to provide opportunities for everyone to express their potential fully. This article relies on the United Kingdom’s preparations for the 2012 London Olympics as a blueprint. Thus, government-targeted investments can significantly enhance performance and participation. Expanding scholarships, local facilities, and affordable sports medicine is therefore key to alleviating economic obstacles. Finally, this paper argues that more government, university, club, and local investment is required in order to ensure that access to sporting opportunities is driven by talent and effort, not wealth and privilege.
