Sportization and hazing: Global sport culture and the differentiation of initiation from harassment in Canada's sport policy

This study argues against the current Canadian amateur sport policy position that the policy term initiation rite is interchangeable with hazing, which is synonymous to harassment and abuse. Specifically, it proposes a new theory—Rites Theory—which differentiates and reconceptualized these terms to base new policy on. In an attempt to establish the legitimacy of the Rites Theory and to allow those who sport policy is directed at to have input, a study of provincial elite athletes in Manitoba was conducted. The findings show that despite the current zero tolerant harassment and abuse policy athletes still participate in me activities. Policy recommendations reflect the attitude of athletes that initiation rites can consist of positive and negative activities.;Recommendations also take into account a very important factor, sportization. For any Canadian sport policy to be effective, policy makers have to acknowledge the existence of a global sport culture and the international level, and the actors within it, of the Canadian sport delivery system.