Why Sport?

Sport & Evangelism:

On a communication level, sport can be used as an effective delivery mechanism for the Gospel.  Sport builds an amazing system for relationship building and trust. This powerful connection of relationship creates an opening to encourage the heart with the Gospel message.  Sport also can open the way for truth, education, love, and respect for opponents, regardless of ethnic, cultural, religious or other differences. Its inclusive nature makes sport a good tool to increase knowledge, understanding and awareness of Jesus Christ and His teachings.  Sport has no generation gap; often you will find athletes of all ages congregated to both watch and participate at athletic events. Sport reaches an untapped people group that the church has historically turned their back on.  Sport often reaches the future leaders of the world.  Sport has a global influence.

The Power of Sport:

Sport and recreation play an important role at the individual, community, national and global levels. For the individual, sport enhances one’s personal abilities, general health and self-knowledge. On the national level sport and physical education contribute to economic and social growth, improve public health, and bring different communities together. On the global level, if used consistently, sport and physical education can have a long-lasting positive impact on development, public health, peace and the environment.

Sport and Education:

Sport and physical education are an essential element of quality education. They promote positive values and skills which have a quick but lasting impact on young people. Sports activities and physical education generally make school more attractive and improve attendance. The core values integral to sportsmanship make sport a valuable method of promoting peace, from the local to the international scale.

Sport and Peace:

Sport, as a universal language, can be a powerful vehicle to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. Through its power to bring people together across boundaries, cultures and religions, it can promote reconciliation. For example, sport has helped reinitiate dialogue when other channels were struggling: North and South Korea have merged their athletes into a common team for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; table tennis set the stage for the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and the USA in 1971; and today, Israeli and Palestinian children regularly come together to play soccer or basket ball.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has long been using the power of sport in its programs to foster refugee reintegration and to ensure tolerance and understanding between the communities. In 2005, UNHCR is set to expand its activities and actively mainstream sport in its programs and policies.

Sport and Health

Sport and physical activity are crucial for life-long healthy living in the developing world. In 2002 the World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Report indicated that mortality, morbidity and disability attributed to the major non-communicable diseases accounted for over 60% of all deaths, and unhealthy diets and physical inactivity were among the leading causes of these diseases. Sport and play improve health and well-being, extend life expectancy and reduce the likelihood of several non-communicable diseases including heart disease.

Regular physical activity and play are essential for physical, mental, psychological and social development. Good habits start early: The important role of physical education is demonstrated by the fact that children who exercise are more likely to stay physically active as adults. Sport also plays a major positive role in one’s emotional health, and allows you to build valuable social connections, often offering opportunities for play and self-expression.

Recognizing the important links between sport, physical activity and health, in 2004 the WHO adopted the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and a Resolution Health Promotion and Healthy lifestyles. Both documents emphasize the importance to start the practice of adapted physical activity early in childhood.

Sport Stimulates Economics:

Sport is a catalyst for economic development. Individually, each of the various sectors of the sports economy can create activity, jobs and capital. When several are combined together into a single strategy, it is possible to achieve additional economic gains because of the synergies that result. The local economic potential of sport is further enhanced when supported by grass root strategies. Strategic sport-based partnerships can be created within a common framework providing a structured environment allowing for coordination, knowledge and expertise sharing and cost-effectiveness