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The Role of Sport in Nation Building

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Role of sports in nation building

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Sports sector plays a major role in development of every country. Some of the sports activities include; football, volleyball and basketball among other activities. Among the major roles that sports sector has in nation building are; it promotes social interaction. Secondly, sports pulls together people with different cultures, ethnicity and races (Ericsson 2014 P.32). However, these differences are not meant for people to boost about themselves or look down upon others but is helpful as people can learn on how their friends live. Sports sector creates fame and prestige to a country. Sport champions are recognized all over the world and this is very crucial to any nation (Ozturk, 2016 P.116) All these advantages of sports are viable only if there is support from the government and also willingness by the citizens to support sports. The government that prioritizes sports activities shines better than a nation with zero contribution to sports activities (Kogiso et al 2015 P.44). In order to realize the role of sports activities in a nation building, nations should be in a position to feel challenged and make necessary action to perfect it.

Sports and economy

Winners in sports are awarded in terms of bronze, gold, silver and other valuable items. This reflects the wealth of a nation in question. As the winner qualifies to the next level of competition, the reward increases proportionally. In addition, sports activities creates job opportunities to a nation (Ericsson, 2014 P.39).Most people have specialized their talents on sports therefore minimizing unemployment challenges. Sports builds individuals financially as they need not to go round looking for the white collar jobs (Kogiso et al 2015.P.43). Another major channel through which sports sector builds a nation economically is through hosting of games. Countries such USA, Brazil and other many countries have hosted international games severally, an opportunity that has facilitated growth of their economy. (Ericsson, 2014 P.44

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Sports and Healthy

Sports is one of the activities that contributes highly to health of an individual. Physical body exercises prevent various body infections. Physical inactivity is very detrimental to human health (Ozturk, 2016 P.117). It leads to various chronic diseases. Some diseases that are caused by lack of body exercise include; Diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Statistics have shown that great number of victims of these diseases compose of the physical inactive group.

Social and culture

Sports contributes highly on cultural and social integration. National, regional and international Sports bring together different people from all over the world providing a forum from which they can play, talk and make funs. This enhances togetherness and hence promotion of piece (Ozturk, 2016 P.115). Through sports activities, cultures all over the world are shared. This promotes growth of culture in the country and new activities are introduced in a country. However, sports activities improves social relations among many countries and out of this, countries begin involving themselves in other activities such as trade. ). Government should be in a position to support sports through activities such financing sports groups within and outside the country and players as they attend international competitions in order to be able to reap benefits from such activities.

Articles opposing role of the sports

Article one: by Brian Masse

This article is mainly concerned with how the sports have influenced the cases of the gambling through the cases which have evolved with sports in betting (Keim, 2013 p23-24). Brain is so opposing the sports as a factor enhancing the development and growth of the nation since it has influenced other negative activities. In the case of sports, betting has now become like gambling as Brian put it out. Many people have wasted their resources on betting activities (Keim, 2013 p27).

According to this article by Brian, betting has no guarantee of winning but there is guarantee of losing what you have put in the gambling section inform of betting (Keim, 2013 p 35-36) . Many people have even gone to an extent of selling their resource investments so as to carry out the betting. In most countries where there is less income, there is addiction of the gambling process in which people finds ways in which there will take and acquire what they do not have through betting predictions which some time may mislead people involved and course a lot of losses or even loss of their resources (Keim, 2013 p47-48).

Article two: by Paul Hunt

This article by Paul Hunt is based focusing on other challenges which are faced by those participating in sports (Sugden, 2010 p258). Referring to participation of women involved in sports, there are a lot of discriminations which are going on in the field of sports which is not the factor in growth and development of the nation (Sugden, 2010 p259-260). Paul put it across that winning of women sports is not considered as winning. Winning of women in this field is not considered to be able to happening. According to Paul, sports have increased the level of discriminations over many communities in world (Sugden, 2010 p271). Many communities were left in era were women  were seen so inferior which becomes big reason as to why Paul disagrees that sports plays big role in building the nation.

Article three: by Kelvin Baxter

This article is against the argument that sports brings out growth of the nation following the fact that most of the sports activities brings out immorality in the nation (Jarvie, 2013 p537). Most of the sports which are played over many parts of the world are based on immorality issues. Guy cases have heard once and again being associated with the sports matters (Jarvie, 2013 p541). Most of the sports are done half way naked and those who are participating most of time are forced to be involved in sex related matters (Jarvie, 2013 p548-549). Responding to this article written by Kelvin, sports activities some time can play a big role in cases relating to immorality (Jarvie, 2013 p553).

This paper has related and evaluated the role which sports activities play in raising the growth rate of the nation. Most of the nations over the world have found to have developed through sports activities. Sports have become like just like any other jobs over the world it has many participants. It is suggestively that many young men and ladies have been participating in these activities so as to raise their living standard. Apart from creating the job opportunities to people, this has led in boosting the health standard of the citizens of different people in particular countries under participation. There are also some articles which have opposed the role of the sports as discussed in the paper. These articles written by some group of people have come up with supportive argument as to why sports some time are disadvantage to the nation

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Dalton Myers | The role of sports in nation-building

essay on the role of sport in nation building

November is celebrated as Youth Month in Jamaica. The period is being used to focus on this country’s youth. This year’s theme, ‘Jamaican Youth are LIT – They Lead, Inspire and Transform our Nation’, focuses on youth as a crucial part of developing our country and securing our future. It is therefore a good time to reflect on youth in sport, the role of sport in creating leaders and developing our nation, and how this fits into this year’s theme.

Article 1.3 of the landmark 1978 UNESCO International Charter of Physical Education and Sports declares in part that there should be special opportunities created for the “pre-school aged, for the aged and for the handicapped to develop their personalities to the full through physical education and sport programmes suited to their requirements”. This, among other international declarations, has forced us to think carefully about the role of sport in developing our youth and how this translates into building our nation.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SPORTS

Sport plays a vital role in our country in general, and not just for entertainment value and earning. It also creates a medium through which youth can develop leadership skills. For this 2019 Youth Month, let’s look at youth in sport in a holistic way. We tend to focus a lot on those who excel on the field of play but not much on how sport can create the next generation of leaders in our society. By focusing on enhancing our youth leadership through sports and physical education, we can start to address some of the leadership deficiencies in sport management in our country.

We do know that having youngsters actively engaging in sport can help them in terms of self-esteem, team building, health and wellness, leadership, etc. Sport helps with several life skills, such as self-respect and an appreciation for social responsibility. Despite some of the negatives associated with sport, it helps athletes to be innovative, honest, and creative in their decision-making processes. They are forced to learn new skills, think quickly, and communicate efficiently. From those positive attributes, we can realise that youth sport can have an important role to play in developing our nation.

INSPIRE OTHERS

Sport, along with other aspects of the creative industry, showcases Brand Jamaica. Our athletes’ success gives us a sense of pride and joy but also helps to inspire others to go after their goals and reach for the ‘gold’. Youth involvement in sports does not only inspire other young sporting participants but can inspire other youth in general and help them focus on building their future.

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By leading and inspiring youth in sports, we are helping to transform our nation. Youth are the future, and while clichéd, it is true. Our youth in sport can be part of building that future through their work on and off the field of play. Help them deal with success and failure, as well as responsibility. I must hasten to point out that merely participating in sports doesn’t automatically guarantee life-skills development. This is evident in the many youth who struggle to transfer the sport-related knowledge they acquire to life in general.

As we focus on our youth this month and I push for a case of observing the role of sport, I want us to also consider those unattached youth who continue to struggle to make that positive impact using sport and physical education because of a lack of resources and opportunities, or athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities.

It is a time to reflect on sport and the issues related to girls and women who struggle to have equal opportunities to develop and/or showcase their skills or are not able to earn through sports.

So this November, as we observe Youth Month, let us also focus on sport as a development tool for youth. Let’s teach our youth in sport that they, too, have a crucial role in the overall development of the nation. Their voice is critical in formulating policies. They are, indeed, the future of Jamaica.

Dalton Myers is a sports consultant and host of ‘The Drive Phase Podcast’. Email feedback to [email protected] or tweet @daltonsmyers.

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The role of sport in peacebuilding

fans watch a soccer match taking place in a stadium

The contribution sport can make towards peace-building efforts has generally been considered at the grassroots and nation state levels.

At the grassroots or community level, sport can be seen to provide a useful way of creating an environment in which  people can come together  to: work towards the same goal, show respect for others and share space and equipment. All these aspects are crucial to peace-building processes and are exemplified in findings from a Peace Players International programme.

The programme ‘bridging divides’ in South Africa uses basketball to bring children and communities together. An assessment of the programme shows that the majority of participants expressed fewer racial stereotypes and less racism compared to children who were not part of the programme. Many participants were in favour of racial integration and further inter-racial socialisation than other children.

A study on the role of sport in  fostering social integration  among different ethnic groups in South African schools showed that several factors contributed to the use of sport being successful in bringing about exchange and building relationships between different groups, including  sport’s non-verbal means of communication ; sport as a means to  engage in collective experience  and establish  direct physical contact ; and sport’s ability to transcend class divisions.

The Open Fun Football Schools

The Open Fun Football Schools were initiated in Bosnia-Herzegovina, using grassroots football as a means to provide  a site for interaction  and to  build relationships  between young people and coaches.

Since then, the initiative has expanded to being areconciliation tool to encourage understanding and tolerance in FYR of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Moldova, Georgia and various other countries in the Balkans, the Caucasus and in the Middle East. 

The Open Fun Football Schools implemented in eastern Europe and the Middle East organised street events for the wider community, which have sometimes acted as the first significant post-war contact between communities that were formerly close but are now deeply hostile to one another.

Sport and national identity

The United Nations Report on the International Year of Sport and Physical Education 2005 highlights the benefits that sport can bring in building national identity, especially at the level of elite sport.

Sport can provide a positive image of the nation to the international community. Studies on specific cases have shown that sport, especially football, can positively contribute to strengthening national pride and forming a cohesive national identity.

For example, a study on the case of football in Liberia shows that football is considered ‘a “neutral” pursuit – a common cultural property unspoiled by war’. During the civil conflict, football tournaments were considered the only occasions that produced a sense of national unity.

On the other hand, sport can produce nationalist expressions that are detrimental to peace. For example, the 1956 Olympic water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union that took place after the Soviet invasion of Budapest led to violent clashes between the athletes.

In addition, many scholars associate the importing of modern sport into former colonies as an explicit strategy of imperialism and conquest. In this sense, it is necessary to consider both the potential dangers and benefits of sport in forming national identity.

Key Reading

  • Sport as opportunity for community development and peace building in South Africa
  • Sport and Conflict: Is Football an Appropriate Tool to Utilise in Conflict Resolution, Reconciliation or Reconstruction?
  • 'Tennis for peace anyone?' - Sport and conflict transformation
  • Batting For Peace
  • Sport’s contribution to Peace-building
  • Violence prevention and mediation: Working together towards peaceful coexistence for refugees and local people in northern Kenya
  • Violence prevention through sport in a refugee context
  • Strengthening municipalities and promoting democracy through sport
  • Strengthening civil society and promoting social and political participation through sport

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Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Nation Building / The Effect Of Sports On Nation Building

The Effect Of Sports On Nation Building

  • Category: Sociology
  • Topic: Nation , Nation Building

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