Infrastructure as Entitlement: Toward a Theory of Sportive Justice in Public Resource Allocation

Mingxin Su

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.28548

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

Infrastructure as Entitlement: Toward a Theory of Sportive Justice in Public Resource Allocation

Research Article

Open Access

Infrastructure as Entitlement: Toward a Theory of Sportive Justice in Public Resource Allocation

Mingxin Su ^1*

¹ Central China Normal University

^*Corresponding author: Su991108@126.com

Published on 28 October 2025

CHR Vol.94

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-495-3

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-496-0

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Abstract

Sports infrastructure is an important guarantee for the participation of civil society, but there exists the problem of unequal distribution. This article holds that the use of public sports infrastructure should not be regarded as a discretionary government welfare, but rather as a civil right based on the principle of distributive justice. Drawing on Amartya Sen's competency analysis theory and Michael Walzer's complex equality theory, this paper constructs an analytical framework in which the opportunity for fair participation in sports activities is regarded as a fundamental component of fair development and social inclusion. This article criticizes the widespread commercialization of sports Spaces, a process in which economic power determines the right to enter sports Spaces, thereby violating the principles of fairness and non-dominance. It indicates that the lack of fair distribution of sports facilities is not a deficiency in the government's service capacity, but a moral failure of justice, which deprives individuals of the ability to fully develop their bodies, form a sense of social belonging and realize their self-worth. By redefining sports infrastructure as a public good similar to youth education or medical security, the article suggests that public sports resources need to be redistributed to ensure that everyone has equal access to sports facilities and participation in healthy exercise.

Keywords:

Distributive justice, Public sports facilities, Feasibility analysis, Complex equality

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References

[1]. Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press.

[2]. Walzer, M. (1983). Spheres of justice: A defense of pluralism and equality. Basic Books.

[3]. Fraser, M., & Rossi, I. (2023). Sport, space, and the city: Urban justice in the design of public recreation. Routledge. https: //doi.org/10.4324/9781003287456

[4]. García, B., & Weeden, L. (2022). Sport for all? Evaluating equity in public sports provision in European cities. Urban Studies, 59(4), 721–739. https: //doi.org/10.1177/00420980211021345

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References

[1]. Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press.

[2]. Walzer, M. (1983). Spheres of justice: A defense of pluralism and equality. Basic Books.

[3]. Fraser, M., & Rossi, I. (2023). Sport, space, and the city: Urban justice in the design of public recreation. Routledge. https: //doi.org/10.4324/9781003287456

[4]. García, B., & Weeden, L. (2022). Sport for all? Evaluating equity in public sports provision in European cities. Urban Studies, 59(4), 721–739. https: //doi.org/10.1177/00420980211021345

[10]. Sparks, C., & Coalter, F. (2020). Sport and social inclusion: Policy myths and the myth of policy. Leisure Studies, 39(5), 621–635. https: //doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2020.1744690

Cite this article

Su,M. (2025). Infrastructure as Entitlement: Toward a Theory of Sportive Justice in Public Resource Allocation. Communications in Humanities Research,94,9-14.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Art, Design and Social Sciences

ISBN: 978-1-80590-495-3(Print) / 978-1-80590-496-0(Online)

Editor: Yanhua QinBeijing Normal University

Conference website: https://2025.icadss.org/

Conference date: 20 October 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.94

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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