Global sporting spectacles like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup are breathtaking displays of athletic achievement and cultural celebration. But behind the applause and medals lies a much less visible story: the human rights of those who make these events possible—especially workers—are too often overlooked. A growing body of research, including the study by Lin, Khan, and Song (2024), urges us to confront this imbalance using frameworks like the United Nations' Ruggie Principles.
Behind the Glamour: A Workforce at Risk
Every major sports event is underpinned by immense labour—from stadium construction to transportation, catering, and security. Migrant workers, in particular, form the backbone of these efforts in many host countries. Yet, these labourers frequently face exploitative conditions, including low wages, inadequate housing, excessive work hours, and restricted freedoms—especially in systems like kafala, which tie their legal status to employers.
The Ruggie Principles, developed by John Ruggie and adopted by the UN in 2011, offer a human rights framework that applies to both states and private entities. They argue that organizations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA, despite being non-governmental, must respect, protect, and remedy human rights abuses tied to their events.
Shifting the Burden: From States Alone to Shared Responsibility
Traditionally, host states have borne the blame for rights abuses. But the study makes it clear: sports governing bodies share responsibility. The Ruggie framework compels them to conduct Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIAs), ensure due diligence, and enforce ethical standards through bidding, planning, and execution phases.
The authors note that while states are legally obligated to protect rights, international sports organizations are increasingly expected to embed human rights into their operational DNA. Contracts between host countries and governing bodies like FIFA now sometimes include enforceable rights provisions. However, enforcement often remains lax without independent oversight.
Governance in Practice: Are FIFA and the IOC Doing Enough
FIFA and the IOC have made gestures toward reform. FIFA's human rights commitments, outlined in recent statutes, include risk assessments in the bidding process and require adherence to international standards. Similarly, the IOC's Olympic Charter has evolved to emphasize equality and dignity.
Yet, research reveals a gap between rhetoric and practice. Human rights audits remain inconsistent. Hosting rights are still granted to countries with poor rights records, as seen in events like the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The study underscores the need for stronger monitoring mechanisms, including:
- Independent audits
- Transparent reporting
- Stakeholder engagement (e.g., civil society and affected communities)
- Accessible grievance redress systems
The Role of Due Diligence and HRIAs
Central to implementing the Ruggie Principles is the institutionalization of due diligence and regular impact assessments. These processes help sports bodies:
- Anticipate and mitigate harm
- Incorporate rights considerations into contracts and planning
- Enhance transparency and accountability
- Provide a basis for fair remedies when abuses occur
The Danish Institute for Human Rights and other bodies offer models for conducting HRIAs, including stages such as scoping, data gathering, stakeholder engagement, impact analysis, and policy evolution. These provide a structured roadmap for FIFA and the IOC to follow.
Mainstreaming Human Rights: From Exception to Expectation
The study argues powerfully for "mainstreaming" human rights—embedding them across all organizational functions, not just external events. Since 1997, this concept has gained traction in UN and private-sector governance, stressing that rights protections should not be reactive or optional.
IOC and FIFA can enhance legitimacy by integrating rights into their organizational culture, not just event-level protocols. This includes:
- Training staff
- Setting internal benchmarks
- Creating dedicated rights units
- Collaborating with NGOs and watchdogs
What Still Needs Work—and Where We Go from Here
The research highlights systemic issues like lack of enforcement, opaque governance, and susceptibility to corruption. Case studies like the Salt Lake City Olympics scandal or the 2016 Rio Games underscore the need for procedural legitimacy and consistent application of principles.
Future reforms must focus on:
- Binding contracts with enforceable rights clauses
- Penalties for violations (including financial sanctions or withdrawal of hosting rights)
- Full implementation of the Ruggie Principles in IOC and FIFA operations
- Greater stakeholder participation, especially from local communities and workers
Conclusion
Mega sports events inspire and unite—but they also test our commitment to justice. As governing bodies like FIFA and the IOC continue to command global influence and vast resources, their responsibility to respect human dignity grows as well.
The study by Lin et al. reminds us that human rights cannot be an afterthought. With the Ruggie Principles as a guiding framework, mega sports events can evolve into models of ethical governance—where the celebration of sport is matched by respect for the people who make it possible.