Social Cohesion

There is potential for sport to be used as a tool to encourage peace-building or reconciliation efforts among groups in conflict

OVERVIEW

There is potential for sport to be used as a tool to encourage peace-building or reconciliation efforts among groups in conflict. Sport has the potential to bring people together in ways that can cross boundaries and break down barriers, making the playing field simple and often apolitical, allowing antagonistic groups to interact and exchange, at both international and grassroots levels. As such, sport can act as an ideal forum for stimulating social dialogue and encouraging exchange. Sport can help to provide an atmosphere conducive to implementing conflict resolution and reconciliation programmes. Team sports can encourage those divided by war and deep-rooted hostility to see the ‘other’ as a team-mate in possession of particular skills and qualities that help the team in achieving common goals. Furthermore, after playing sports, participants can engage in educational programmes regarding the benefits of social integration, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence.

However, the humanitarian virtues of sport should not be exaggerated. Significant care must be taken in how sports programmes are designed and implemented as sport can also be (ab)used to highlight differences and even reinforce the same social divides that were supposed to be eliminated. Sport experiences have the potential to develop antagonism or affection among those involved: the choice often depends on the nature of the competition and how programmes are carried out. It is often up to those involved in the programme to determine how sports are used as a tool for fostering team-spirit and trust among players, thus contributing to peace-building.

MAJOR EVENTS

21 September 2005: International Conference Sport and Peace, hosted by the Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education.

Oslo, 2-5 October 2005: International Conference Sport and Peace hosted by the Russian Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sport, and the United Nations.

Moscow, 19 April 2005: International Conference: Football and International Peace: A Retrospect on the 2002 World Cup in Korea & Japan and the Prospects of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, hosted by the Korean Political Science Association and the Korean Football Association, Seoul, Korea.

CURRENT CONCERNS

In times of humanitarian crisis, it is often the priority to address the fundamental, basic needs of the population. In this sense, it is often difficult to find the resources and time necessary to involve local participants in sporting activities.

The use of sports is also subject to particular social and cultural norms that must be respected. Sporting programmes cannot be implemented systematically as each socio-cultural context is different. Development agencies must therefore be aware of the risks in transgressing social and cultural taboos by implementing sports programmes.