Why sports and development go hand in hand
People often ask me how I became the person I am today. More often than not, my answer surprises them. Sport has a lot to do with it. In many countries across the globe, soccer is a way of life. As a kid, growing up in Senegal, sport was part of my daily life. I practiced all kinds of sports but track and field and karate were my two passions. Martial arts taught me the importance of not giving up, while running kept me focused. My coaches in Senegal were true educators.
Our track and field coach, Mansour Dia, a three-time Olympic finalist, didn't let us join his team unless we had good grades. My high school track and field teammates went on to have great professional careers: some made it big on Wall Street; others became prominent politicians, engineers, or medical doctors. The same holds true for karate. Our sensei, Fernand Nunes, taught us an important life lesson: win with respect, lose with dignity.
As we celebrate the UN-designated International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, simply acknowledging the fundamental role played by sports in economic and social development is not enough. We must also make a concrete commitment by investing in school sports.
In countries such as Senegal, school and university sports long occupied a prominent position in the community. This is no longer the case, as a result of insufficient human, financial, and material resources; and the lack of a legal framework regulating sports, school, and university activities. In the developing world, and particularly in Africa, policymakers tend to focus on so-called “elite” sports (such as soccer and basketball at a professional level) and devote very little interest or budget to the development of basic physical education. Although the majority of African countries recognise that physical education and sports should be incorporated into the education system, investment in this area has been neglected. This needs to change.
To promote human development, we must bet on sports. Reviving school sports in elementary schools —particularly in the most impoverished areas where children do not have access to sports infrastructure or physical education programmes— is an investment for life. Beyond the athletic activities, coaches can be instructors for good hygiene habits such as hand-washing and nutrition, which can have significant public health benefits.
What will it take? It will take partnerships with institutions such as the National Basketball Association (NBA), which is using basketball in Africa as a development tool for social inclusion, and federations of other sports, which are making a difference in the lives of young people around the world. It will take commitment from development organisations, governments as well as the private sector. Linkages can be made with development projects in the health, education, and social protection spheres to create synergies beyond the fun of competition in sports. Together, we can do it.
This is a shortened version of the original.
[This article has been edited by the Operating Team]
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