The problems associated with children's involvement in high-performance sport are considered and equated to the issue of child labour. After considering the extent and severity of problems with child labour in all parts of the world, the paper then turns to the problem of `sport labour'. Although this is by no means as serious as the child labour problem, it has many similar characteristics. The reasons why high performance sport involvement is not, but should be, considered as work are assessed. The paper proposes a resolution to the child labour/sport labour dilemma by addressing a series of questions: Are we ready for child labour laws in sport? Who would support child labour laws in sport?; Who is to be responsible for the welfare of children in high-performance sport? Is there a solution?
Beamish, R. and Borowy, J. (1988) Q. What Do You Do for a Living? A. I'm an Athlete.Kingston: The Sport Research Group, Queen's University.
2.
Bingham, C. (1990) `The Child-Labor Sting', Newsweek (26 Mar.): 36.
3.
Bouhdiba, A. (1982) Exploitation of Child Labour.New York: United Nations.
4.
Cantelon, H. (1981) `High Performance Sport and the Child Athlete: Learning to Labor', in A. Ingham and E. Broom (eds) Career Patterns and Career Contingencies in Sport.Vancouver: University of British Columbia.
5.
Coakley, J. (1993a) `Burnout among Adolescent Athletes: A Personal Failure or a Social Problem', Sociology of Sport Journal9(3): 271-285.
6.
Coakley, J. (1993b) `Social Dimensions of Intensive Training and Participation in Youth Sports', in B. Cahill and A. Pearl (eds) Intensive Participation in Children's Sports.Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
7.
Crosset, T. (1989) `The Abusive Coach: A Preliminary Description and Analysis of Abusive Male Coach — Female Athlete Relationships', unpublished paper.
8.
David, P. (1993a) La Protection des droits de l'enfant dans le sport de haute competition.Geneva, Switzerland: Défense des Enfants-International.
9.
David, P. (1993b) `Children and Sport: Accomplishment or Exploitation?'International Children's Rights Monitor10(4):8-12.
10.
Donnelly, P. (1993a) `Problems Associated with Youth Involvement in High Performance Sport', in B. Cahill and A. Pearl (eds) Intensive Participation in Children's Sports.Champaign, IL:Human Kinetics.
11.
Donnelly, P. (1993b) `Young Athletes Need Law Protection', Canadian Speeches/Issues of the Day7(10, Mar.):47-51.
12.
Fyfe, A. (1989) Child Labour.Cambridge: Polity Press.
13.
Geldbach, E. (1977) `Protestantism, Capitalism, Sports', Journal of Sport History4(3):285-294.
14.
Graz, L. (1993) `Report Questions Moral Costs of Grooming Young Champions', Toronto Star (15 Sept.): C8.
15.
Grupe, O. (1985) `Top Level Sport for Children from an Educational Viewpoint', International Journal of Physical Education22(1): 9-16.
16.
Kidd, B. (1988) `The Philosophy of Excellence: Olympic Performances, Class Power, and the Canadian State', in P.J. Galasso (ed.) Philosophy of Sport and Physical Activity: Issues and Concepts, pp. 11-31. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press.
17.
Lee-Wright, P. (1990) Child Slaves.London: Earthscan.
18.
Massino, J. (1986) `Mothers, Daughters, Gymnasts', International Gymnast (Nov.): 40-41.
19.
Monnard, B. (1992) `Jeux olympiques: Les Bábés-champions; sont-ils des petits monstres?'L'Hebdo32(6-12 Aug.): 35-36.
20.
New Internationalist (1997) `Child Labour — History'. No. 292 (July): 26-27.
21.
Nixon, R. (1995) `Working in Harm's Way', Southern Exposure (Fall/Winter): 16-26.
22.
Opie, H. (1995) Report of the Independent Inquiry into Women's Artistic Gymnastics at the Australian Institute of Sport.Canberra: Australian Sports Commission.
23.
Postman, N. (1982) The Disappearance of Childhood.New York: Delacorte.
24.
Rafferty, K. (1995) `Assault on Child Labor just Makes Life Harder for Kids', Calgary Herald (20 Oct.): A17.
25.
Ryan, J. (1995) Little Girls in Pretty Boxes.New York: Doubleday.
26.
de Smet, L. (1993) `In Belgian Sport More and More Cases Go to Court', International Children's Rights Monitor10(4): 13-14.
27.
Smith, B. (1997) `Skating School Hits the Books', Globe & Mail (6 June): D5.
28.
Starr, M. (1992) `The Little Pumpkin', Newsweek (29 August): 54-55.
29.
Thompson, S. (1992) `Sport for Others, Work for Women', unpublished paper.
30.
Ulrich, H. (1976) `The Social Structure of High-Level Sport', International Review of Sport Sociology11(2): 139-152.
31.
Varney, W. (1996) `The Underbelly of Women's Gymnastics: What the Opie Report Missed', unpublished paper.
32.
Vittachi, A. (1989) Stolen Childhood.London: Polity Press.
33.
Webster, P. (1994) `1.5m. children “are working illegally” ', The Times (London, 29 Aug.): 4.
34.
World Labour Report (1992) Ch. 1: `Human Rights at Work'.Geneva: International Labour Office.
35.
World Labour Report (1993). Ch. 1: `Forced Labour'.Geneva: International Labour Office.
