Action sport NGOs in a neo-liberal context: The cases of Skateistan and Surf Aid International

Abstract

Sport nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have flourished in the contemporary moment, particularly situated within neoliberal global politics. In this article we focus on the relatively recent proliferation of action sport-based social justice advocacy groups. Drawing on extant materials from our ongoing research on two action sport related social justice movements—Skateistan and Surf Aid International (SAI)—we illustrate some of the unique strategies employed by these organizations to survive, and indeed thrive, within a neo-liberally-dominated world. In so doing, we hope to raise new questions for critical scholars interested in studying sport-related NGOs into the 21st century.