Tony Armstrong, a Gamilaroi man and ABC presenter, is exploring racism in sports through his documentary series "End Game." The series aims to identify the causes of racism and propose practical solutions. It features prominent athletes, including former Liverpool footballer John Barnes, US Navajo player Madison Hammond, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, NRL player Cody Walker, and AFL champion Callum Ah Chee, all committed to eradicating racism in sports.

As the series premiered, Armstrong expressed deep emotion while discussing his collaboration with Adam Goodes, a former Sydney Swans player and a respected figure among First Nations peoples. "It [End Game] wouldn't have worked without him. We didn't want to re-traumatise him, but that's not what happened. He's such a good bloke," Armstrong said, visibly moved. Goodes, a two-time Brownlow Medallist, faced severe backlash after being racially abused during a match in 2013, leading to years of booing and criticism that ultimately contributed to his retirement in 2015.

Armstrong's motivation for creating the series stemmed from his own experiences with online trolling. He noted, "I basically got to a point where I'm copping a fair bit. I can handle it at this point in time. It's incumbent on me [to make the series] with the position I'm in professionally, how I'm seen in Australia. I felt like I could have an impact."

During his travels, Armstrong spoke with Rio Ferdinand, a Premier League Hall of Fame player, who emphasized the need for social media companies to take responsibility for online abuse. "I think the social media companies need to take more of a responsibility to put the little things in place to have consequences for bad practice," Ferdinand said.

Michael Holding, a legendary West Indian cricketer, also shared his views on using platforms to address racism. "If you have a platform, use it, and I'm not just talking about black people, white people. If you believe that there should be equality use that platform that you have got," he stated.

Australian cricketer Ash Gardner, a proud Muruwari woman, recounted the backlash she received for opposing the Australian cricket team's participation in events on January 26, a date that holds painful significance for First Nations peoples. "The legacy that I want to leave behind is not actually what I did on the cricket pitch but how I can change things for the greater good," Gardner said.

Armstrong noted that conversations with international athletes highlighted the challenges of addressing racism in Australia. "One of the things that struck me and made me quite frustrated was overseas they actually say that they've got an issue. Whereas here in Australia we're just like, 'nothing to see here, man. What do you mean? We're all happy, aren't we?'" he remarked.

The series, directed by Dean Gibson, a Guugu Yimithirr man, aims to spark a national conversation about racism in sports. Gibson described Armstrong as "brave and courageous" for taking on this project, acknowledging the potential for renewed trolling against him. "He lifted the weight and he really rides that rollercoaster of those emotions. That's real, and I think that's the best part of what he brings to this production," Gibson said.

A survey conducted by social impact agency No 2nd Place revealed that only 27 percent of Australians believe racism is an issue in their favorite sport, while nearly double that number recognize it as a problem in the country. Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharam Sivaraman highlighted the difficulty bystanders face when witnessing racism. "We shouldn't underestimate how hard it is for a bystander to speak up," he said.

Sivaraman also pointed to the National Anti-Racism Framework launched by the Australian Human Rights Commission as a means to address systemic racism. He expressed concern over a recent neo-Nazi attack on a protest site, indicating a rise in racism.

As the first episode of "End Game" aired, Armstrong and Gibson expressed their hope that the series would inspire and educate viewers. "The tone from day one was we wanted it to be an empowering piece of television that really empowers First Nations people, but also … people from all backgrounds, to have this conversation and in a respectful, safe and understanding empathetic manner," Gibson said.

Armstrong believes in the potential for sports to foster unity. "People can overcome racism. I think society can overcome it. It just takes the bravery to be the people to talk about it," he stated. The filmmakers aim for the series to provide tools for addressing racism rather than simply highlighting the issue. "I don't want them to watch this series and be like, 'oh, here's another 'racism sucks, woe is us [story]'. That's not what it's about. This is about giving a set of tools to people," Armstrong concluded.

Viewers can stream "End Game" for free on ABC iview or watch it on ABC TV at 8:30 PM.