Almost every motivational book has a chapter related to the importance of sports in building self-discipline and wealth. Regular physical activity helps to prevent and treat noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and breast and colon cancer, according to health officials. Aware of these benefits, why are sports practiced more in some countries and less in others? And do sports impact the development of a country in any way? We have decided to offer some experts’ opinions in to this topic today when the world marks the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
Key Takeaways:
- Sport remains one of the most important (and somewhat unexplored) aspect of development
- According to the World Health Organization, more than a quarter of the world’s adult population are insufficiently active, and around 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men do not do enough physical activity to stay healthy
- Research shows that sports development is usually not a top priority in the national budget or in the education system of most developing countries
- The main reasons for the underdevelopment of sport in developing countries are poor economic performance, inadequate sports infrastructural facilities, inadequate attention given to the promotion of grassroots sports in the educational curricula, a lack of interest in sport by most households
- International experts believe that sport can be used as an instrument for social change that maximizes happiness and fosters the development of a country
DevelopmentAid: What are some of the reasons for the underdevelopment of sports in developing countries?
“The underdevelopment of sport is linked to the development processes of each country. Sport and physical activity are manifestations of the integral well-being of the people who inhabit that country, of their ability to carry out activities beyond the economic and labor dynamics that capital demands. The development of public policy must include making the educational system and labor laws aware of the offers provided by different sports federations and other public programs that encourage and offer citizens the possibility to approach sport in its different forms, which ultimately provides better indicators in terms of public health. Finally, it is important that this guarantee for sport participation does not have a distinction between economic classes, since sports are usually stratified, with some sports being more easily accessible to the upper classes, so the budget assigned to sport must consider the participation of and equitable offer to the entire population. All in all, the proposal in terms of development must consider the scope of performance sport for all the population, not from making sacrifices and the potential that being an athlete will not be a profession until better results are obtained; instead, it must offer the option of performance sport as a profession during the construction of an entire sports career, that is, from early stages of life, by making the corresponding connection with the educational and labour system.”
“There are various reasons why sports are underdeveloped in poor countries. Firstly, the high fertility rate in developing countries means more investment in other social services (which still remain underfunded). Secondly, the importance of sport as an instrument for social change has not been sufficiently appreciated. Therefore, this needs to be emphasized on every platform. Establishing sports facilities at Ministry of Health premises and in hospitals could be one of the demonstrable ways to catch the attention about sport. Thirdly, in developing countries like Afghanistan where fertility is high, most children work, supporting their families with earnings, and are too exhausted at the end of the day. Since the approach to sports so far has been as a way to reduce weight rather than maximizing happiness. Because they spend a lot of energy through physically challenging jobs, people do not properly appreciate the need for sport in developing countries.”
“The underdevelopment of sport in developing countries is linked to the weakness of local authorities. Municipal elected officials and sports associations plan football pitches, sports halls, kindergartens in the Development Plans of their metropolis or intermediate city. But these sports infrastructures are not often implemented due to the lack of means and land being diverted by speculative land tension. Faced with the urgent need for local sports facilities, especially in poor, under-equipped neighborhoods, technical and financial assistance from decentralized cooperation remains too weak.”
“One of the main causes of the underdevelopment of sport in developing countries is military conflicts. Also among the causes are corruption, the nonexistence or shortage of sporting infrastructures, and destroyed or unmaintained sporting infrastructures.”
DevelopmentAid: Can sports foster development in poor nations? In which way?
“For developing countries, which often have a tradition of violence and conflict, sport and physical activity are strategies that promote the social fabric, dialogue, and peacebuilding to the extent that, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals, this can generate the construction of support networks that promote the mobilization of value chains and the economic empowerment of communities. In addition, it is well known that sport and physical activity improve people’s quality of life and promote healthy lifestyles, minimizing risky practices such as the consumption of psychoactive substances in harmful ways. In this way, the creation of sports strategies linked to the educational system can generate space for the commitment of students and families in school processes, facilitate their promotion, adherence, and accessibility, by being associated with activities of enjoyment that doing sports can provide. Lastly, in terms of gender equality, sport can be a vehicle for redefining activities and roles, to the extent that it empowers women to inhabit their bodies as their own territory, to empower themselves and know that they can achieve goals on their own and in the community, generating representation and visibility of successful female role models in the sports industry.”
“Sport remains one of the most important (and somewhat unexplored) parts of development. The health and socioeconomic benefits of sport are tremendous and ought to be more thoughtfully integrated into national developmental frameworks. Active participation in sport leads to healthier minds and bodies (and is generally a much more fun version of working out). This leads to greater productivity in the workplace, healthier and happier minds, better sleep, and longer, more fulfilled lives. Sport, education, and (proper) food are the three best preventive health care options available to humans. However, we often neglect the former for the latter two, which becomes a stranger decision since, even with copious amounts of financing being allotted to the latter two, people still make poor choices despite being educated. It would be prudent public policy to explore sport in much greater detail. Apart from the physical health benefits attributed to sport, sports activities also bolster self-esteem and reduce substance abuse and juvenile delinquency among low-income groups and, in doing so and simultaneously, greater social interactions are also built as a positive externality. The data shows that humans are interacting less and less than in previous generations. Romantic relationships are at a 70-year low and so are sexual activities. Sport helps with all of this, especially in an era of demographic collapse and the dominance of electronic communication. Sport also aids in the construction of national identities and the unification of diverse nations. Even poor, corrupt, and underdeveloped countries like Guyana that are seemingly destined for ethnic conflicts are united momentarily for cricket games before the perennial, perpetual clannish clashes resume. Sport provides a nation with a plethora of health, economic and social benefits. Not only are these benefits proven scientifically and quantitatively, but reaping them only requires plucking the proverbial low-hanging fruit. With the abundance of evidence available to policymakers, development has all to gain by encompassing sports as a means of national development.”
“Yes, sport can promote development in developing nations through its educational character. By maximising sport in schools, by creating more sports centres that are accessible to all ages and social groups, by remodeling existing infrastructures, by giving more incentives to those who practice sport, by investing in professional sport – all these are ways of promoting the development through sport. In this way, sport can create unity and promote peace, it can bring hope to a nation, especially to young people, who can find work/employment in it and get rid of bad habits (theft and drugs).”
“A major impact of sports activities is the cohesion of the groups necessary for the collective resilience of populations in the face of urban risks and socio-economic crises. They forge inter-age exchanges, inter-ethnic solidarity, and gender diversity. Sport also allows the monitoring of the state of the health of the inhabitants by administrations and associations and compensates for poor working conditions. It should be noted that the development of fitness trails and cycle paths contribute greatly to enhancing and requalifying the many non-constructible land liable to flooding.”
“I thoroughly believe that sport can be used as an instrument for social change that maximizes happiness and fosters development. Through sports, youth socializes and creates bonds. This diverts attention towards development and peacekeeping rather than struggles. Also, keeping the nation healthy maximizes happiness, improves education, reduces illness, and increases earnings.”
Did you know that, as an individual consultant, by using either the Tenders or Grants menu on our website, you can view the current tenders and grants that have been announced by donor agencies, many of which are open to individuals? Type the word “sport” in the search bar and find many opportunities related to this field.
