The Community of Sport

 

 

 

The value of sport extends beyond sport for sport’s sake. It can play a role in bringing communities together, having a social and cultural impact, developing social capital and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or just don’t understand what everyone gets so excited over, chances are you’ve never taken the time to reflect on why athletics are so important. But there’s got to be something to sports that allows them to make people so happy, sad, and sometimes even a bit crazy.The bottom line is, sports create a sense of community and togetherness among people from all walks of life. Teammates and fellow fans develop a connection that bonds them for life through competing or spectating.

 

There’s a reason we call someone who handles competition – and even defeat – with grace a “good sport”. Sportsmanship is something many of us learned through participating in athletics as kids, whether it was your high school team or just kicking the ball around in the backyard. Sports teach you how to win and lose with a certain amount of character.

They also show us a sense of order and fairness. Our favorite sports would not be nearly as entertaining without the rules, restrictions, and limitations that control them and make it all interesting. There is always a referee or umpire watching to make sure they’re adhered to and doling out penalties and ejections where necessary.

 

Sport can build better community relations and deliver a better understanding and respect for the rights and traditions of everyone, while contributing to the building of a cohesive society.  Sport can teach us honesty and fairness and how important it is to uphold the highest standards of respect. It teaches us that in order for communities to remain positive, peaceful and productive we must act with the upmost integrity at all times. A diverse and inclusive sporting environment is most likely to be realised when people who differ from one another are valued and appreciated.

 

The platform of sport provides a means of identifying social issues which limit social progress, inclusion, equity, and have an impact upon the lives of individuals and the community. Programs initiated by sports or involving sports as a force for social change, have addressed a number of major social issues. Sport has the potential to address gender, cultural, and disability barriers to a greater extent than many other sectors. Sport also provides an opportunity for persons to 'connect' with others within their community – social connectedness may be defined as the level of an individual’s integration into his or her social world. Sports participation is linked to improved health status, both physical and mental, as well as long-term preventive health benefits. The notion of ‘wellbeing’ also extends to improved self-concept, satisfaction, quality of life, and increased opportunities for social interaction.

 

The evidence suggests that sports programs offer great potential for building cohesive communities. However, in most cases sport is only one of several ways in which programs and social policies are delivered. Sport alone is not enough, but the contribution of the sport sector is recognized in numerous reports and research has generally identified sport as a key influence on community development.