Lu Hunter’s Post

🤔 Was Rachel Gunn's Olympic Breakdancing Performance Cultural Appropriation? 🤔 🇦🇺 Australian breakdancer Rachel Gunn's unique performance at the #Paris2024 Olympics has sparked intense debate. 🔥 Some argue her moves were disrespectful to the origins of breakdancing, rooted in the Black community in America. 🤨 Was this #CulturalAppropriation? Others wonder if her "unconventional" approach was a calculated move to go viral and break the internet. 🤯 A deliberate attempt at controversy for attention? 👀 ➡️ Either way, it raises questions about the fine line between artistic expression and cultural sensitivity. 🤔 🤔 In the workplace, are we unintentionally doing things that make others feel excluded or appropriated? 😬 Or are we deliberately pushing boundaries for personal gain? 😏 🙌 Regardless, prioritising #Inclusion is key to resolving these issues! ❤️ While Rachel is undeniably skilled, her Olympic performance left many wondering if an opportunity was missed, turning the spotlight into a circus show. 🎪 For those dedicated to breakdancing, seeing it "mocked" on a global stage can be devastating. 💔 🤝 Let's foster understanding about #CulturalCompetence, #CulturalInclusion, and #Microaggressions. 🙏 💡 Need support with these critical issues? Avi2i offers training, consultancy, and professional speaking to help create inclusive and respectful workplaces. 🙌 👉 Reach out today to start the conversation! 📧 #Breakdancing #Olympics #Diversity #Respect #LetsTalk 🗣️ 💖 Let's learn and grow together! 🌱 https://lnkd.in/eh7rq-MG

🤔 Was Rachel Gunn's Olympic Breakdancing Performance Cultural Appropriation? 🤔 🇦🇺 Australian breakdancer Rachel Gunn's unique performance at the #Paris2024 Olympics has sparked intense debate. 🔥 Some argue her moves were disrespectful to the origins of breakdancing, rooted in the Black community in America. 🤨 Was this #CulturalAppropriation? Others wonder if her "unconventional" approach was a calculated move to go viral and break the internet. 🤯 A deliberate attempt at controversy for attention? 👀 ➡️ Either way, it raises questions about the fine line between artistic expression and cultural sensitivity. 🤔 🤔 In the workplace, are we unintentionally doing things that make others feel excluded or appropriated? 😬 Or are we deliberately pushing boundaries for personal gain? 😏 🙌 Regardless, prioritising #Inclusion is key to resolving these issues! ❤️ While Rachel is undeniably skilled, her Olympic performance left many wondering if an opportunity was missed, turning the spotlight into a circus show. 🎪 For those dedicated to breakdancing, seeing it "mocked" on a global stage can be devastating. 💔 🤝 Let's foster understanding about #CulturalCompetence, #CulturalInclusion, and #Microaggressions. 🙏 💡 Need support with these critical issues? Avi2i offers training, consultancy, and professional speaking to help create inclusive and respectful workplaces. 🙌 👉 Reach out today to start the conversation! 📧 #Breakdancing #Olympics #Diversity #Respect #LetsTalk 🗣️ 💖 Let's learn and grow together! 🌱 https://lnkd.in/e96Y75br

The Paralympics: Why they are important and how they impact society https://lnkd.in/dqnHCSkp Download Economic Times App to stay updated with Business News - https://lnkd.in/eK4XZsX #DiversityandInclusion #Diversity #DiversityEquityandInclusion

Gender and the Olympics – what can we learn? Has anyone noticed a #shift change in #womensports this #Olympics? Every time I turn on the TV, I see women in swimming, volleyball, athletics, gymnastics, cycling... This is not a coincidence, this is part of a concerted effort to reach #genderparity and increase visibility of women’s sports during peak viewing times. Other firsts include the first #nursery for #parentathletes, guidelines on non-bias videography, female commentators, and women and men holding their country flags and carrying the torch. It is easy to wonder out loud how this is only happening in 2024. Yet, when we turn our gaze inwards to our own sectors, what do we see? --> How many workshops and events that we organise or participate in cater for caregivers, provide childcare or adjust timings to account for school hours or school holidays? --> What is the visibility of women and men in our sector? At events, talks, expert forums or papers? Why do some sectors or job roles favour one gender over the other, and how are those differences valued? --> How many women have said to themselves ‘I can’t have children right now, it won’t fit with my career? --> More fundamentally, how much of society is organised around working adults, compared to the needs and cycles of other humans, such as children? As always, the Olympic Games bring up a rife of conflicting impressions. Fascination for the human feats of top athletes, the Opening Ceremony, solidarity between athletes who take pride and humility in each other’s successes and losses, inequities in national representation and in the missing figures from across the world who do not have access to training and infrastructure and funds, and, the mental health pressures which so many athletes experience. Whilst the Olympics is an intensified, alternative reality to that which most of us will ever know, this year, it has tried to connect with real-world issues in interesting ways. The interview with Allyson Felix shares insights on what goes on behind the scenes and how relevant the #gender agenda is to all of us through sports:

Gold Medal Proof of DEI At a conference last week, a speaker explained how America’s Olympic success proved the benefits of diversity. As he noted, you would not want our gymnastics team playing basketball and you would not want our basketball team doing gymnastics. Very true. His example involved body sizes and body types but our nation’s Olympic experience involved so many other forms of diversity. American women, no doubt powered by the equality afforded them by Title IX, won more than half of medals given to American athletes. Indeed, if American women were their own country, they would have come in third in the overall medal count. Wow! We had tremendous racial and multi-racial diversity across our team. We fielded Olympians who were immigrants, who were adopted, who were openly LGTBQ, who overcame mental health challenges, and who came from very different economic backgrounds. No one is discounting their achievements and claiming that they are the DEI gymnast, swimmer, runner, or basketball player. They are just champions. Together, all that diversity tied China for the most gold medals (even though China has a population over 4 times more than the United States) and an overwhelming advantage in the total medal count. So the next time you hear someone argue that supporting diversity is bad, remind them about our Olympic team and how they likely cheered on the success of all that Olympic diversity. Companies, schools, and communities are no different. Diversity wins. #diversity #dei #olympics

The June issue of AASP’s International Relations Newsletter is out now! This edition features an interview with Carolyn Anderson and Lyndel Abbott, the Lead Psychologists for the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams, respectively. They discuss their roles, anticipated challenges, and strategies for preparing for the 2024 Paris Games. Anderson is responsible for supporting approximately 480 athletes and 500 staff at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She and her colleague are currently working with key stakeholders to assess existing psychological and well-being support for athletes and anticipate their needs in Paris. Abbott’s role for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is similar to Anderson’s. Both psychologists use similar service delivery models, focusing on supporting the efforts of national sport organizations and federal and state/territory sport institutes. Their aim is to help athletes and staff perform well in Paris and transition smoothly to post-Games life. Also included in the newsletter are updates from the International Relations Committee, an International Practitioner Corner, an overview of the Sport Psychology landscape in Canada, and an article about the rising recognition of sport psychology in India. Read the full issue here: https://lnkd.in/dsU9fRyx #AssociationForAppliedSportPsychology #AASP #MentalPerformance #InternationalRelations #AASPNewsletter #Olympics #Paralympics #Paris2024

China has set an impressive benchmark with 220 medals this year. As we look ahead to the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028, the question arises: Can we expect to see 50 medals from the Indian team? 🤔 Achieving this goal will require a multi-faceted approach: 🏅Investment in Training: Enhance facilities and coaching for athletes with disabilities. A strong support system is crucial for their development. 🌍 International Collaboration: Building partnerships with other countries can foster knowledge exchange and improve training techniques. 🤝 Community Engagement: Raising awareness and support for para-sports at the grassroots level will inspire more athletes to participate. 📈 Data-Driven Strategies: Utilizing analytics to track athlete performance can help tailor training programs for optimal results. 💡 Mental Health Support: Providing psychological resources to athletes is essential for their overall well-being and performance. The journey to 50 medals is ambitious but achievable. It requires dedication, resources, and a collective effort from all stakeholders in the sports community. What are your thoughts on this goal? What steps do you think are essential for the success of para-athletes? Share your insights! 💬

Was Rachael “Raygun” Gunn really selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Breaking on merit? At 36, Gunn, an academic with a PhD focusing on hip-hop culture, delivered an excruciatingly toe-curling routine that starkly contrasted with the skill level of other competitors. Breakdancing is a cultural expression deeply tied to the struggles of marginalised African American and Latino communities in the Bronx during the 1970s. The inclusion of diverse athletes in the Olympics is a testament to the dance form’s global influence. However, Gunn’s bizarre performance made a mockery of its cultural significance on the world stage. Her performance has led to accusations of cultural appropriation and compromising the authenticity of breaking’s Olympic debut - a moment when credible representation was essential. Supporters of Gunn have attempted to deflect criticism by calling it misogynistic, suggesting that her gender made her an unfair target. Misogyny is a serious issue and should not be used as a shield against legitimate scrutiny. It erodes the standards of competitive sports and trivialises actual gender-based discrimination. Gunn’s response to the backlash following her Olympic performance highlights issues of privilege and entitlement. Despite the overwhelming negative feedback, Gunn and her supporters reframed the criticism as gender-based attacks, rather than engaging with the valid concerns raised. Her emphasis on the pride of representing Australia, without addressing the technical shortcomings or cultural sensitivities of her performance, reflects an expectation of unearned praise. This reaction suggests a belief that merely participating in the Olympics, regardless of performance, justified her place on the stage. Gunn’s experience illustrates the privilege that can accompany certain backgrounds. Her selection, despite a noticeable disparity in skill compared to other competitors, underscores the advantages she may have had, such as her academic background and access to opportunity. At the Olympic level, selection should be based solely on athletic performance. When other factors influence the process, it risks favouring less qualified individuals over more deserving ones, which can undermine the event's credibility and perpetuate cycles of privilege. #Olympics2024 #CulturalAppropriation #Privilege

Simone Biles has redefined success beyond gold 🌟 Biles has shown us once again what true greatness looks like. Despite the challenges and a few missteps in the recent Olympic finals, she leaves Paris with a renewed sense of accomplishment, adding to her already stellar career with 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship titles. Her journey is not just about winning medals, but about breaking barriers, both in and out of the gym. Simone's story is a powerful reminder that success is not defined solely by podium finishes. It’s about resilience, pushing boundaries, and prioritizing well-being—both physical and mental. In a world that often expects perfection, especially from women, Simone has taught us that it’s okay to prioritize our mental health and that doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness. Her transparency about the pressures she faced, particularly during the Tokyo Olympics, has sparked vital conversations about the importance of mental health in sports and beyond. Why do I share this?, Because what happens in the social context is also a reflection of our societies, the problems we have and what we can work on from home and in the workplace. At the heart of the EU corporate world, we can every day build safe environments where everyone—regardless of their gender—can thrive and reach their full potential. Simone’s story inspires us as society, to continue integrating diversity and mental health support into our business strategies. Let’s take a moment to celebrate her achievements, not just as a gymnast, but as a trailblazer for gender equality as a whole, and mental health awareness. #Inclusion #Mentalhealth #Leadership Read more about Biles: https://lnkd.in/d46Qqm5t

The power of connection and deep listening has never been more evident than in Australia's recent success at the Paris Olympics, where an Indigenous yarning circle played a crucial role in boosting athletes' mental health and performance. 🏅 https://lnkd.in/gscCAufr At DSRUPTRS we’re proud to bring this transformative practice to organisations across Australia. Led by Indigenous advocate Dean Widders and cultural expert David Lakisa our yarning circles and Talanoas create spaces for authentic dialogue, shared experiences, and meaningful relationships. Whether it’s building respectful relationships, enhancing team cohesion, fostering a sense of belonging, or supporting wellbeing, our work in deep listening is helping organisations unlock the full potential of their people. We’d love to connect and explore how we can support your team’s journey to greater performance and unity through culture and the power of yarning circles. #IndigenousCulture #DeepListening #YarningCircle #Talanoa #EmployeeEngagement #DSRUPTRS #Leadership #Wellbeing #HighPerformance