Chapter 13: Hope or hopelessness?

This article reports that interest in the field of sexual exploitation in sport appears to be growing almost exponentially as a result of trends in social and cultural analysis and the seemingly ever expanding practical, political and academic interest in sport. Work on reducing sexual exploitation in sport, whether it is based in scholarship, policy or practice, is a contribution towards the humanisation of sport. This book represents a hesitant step on a long, perhaps even endless, journey: at this point, the route is uncertain and there are many dead ends. Sexual exploitation has occurred throughout history and therefore predates modern sport by centuries. However, the accelerating commodification, globalisation and intensification of competition witnessed in the last few decades of the twentieth century cast a particular spotlight on sport and on its associated values. Sport is still fondly regarded by some as a kind of moral oasis where individual interests are subsumed for the good of the team and where shared values are safeguarded.