Expansionist Sport Development in Establishing Social Values - Essay Example

Expansionist Sport Development "Sport can help to establish community values, create harmony and contribute to local economies. It helps to promoteunderstanding, break down barriers and celebrate diversity. It can contribute to social justice, and even play a part in combating anti-social behaviour. As such it's important that sport is played, officiated and governed fairly" (Sportscotland, 2005). This is the take on sport development that currently prevails, not just in Europe or in Western cultures, but globally. The Department of Sport and Recreation in the African nation of Botswana for the last four years has actively sought to develop and promote sport environments that are nationally accessible to all who desire to participate, whether for fun, health, or athletic skill development. Botswana seeks not only to increase the impact of its presence in such global events as the Olympics, but also to encourage "active living behaviours" among its populace (US Sports Academy, 2005). In Japan, sport is strongly perceived by the members of all age groups as something health-promoting, character-building, and heavily contributive to the economy. As a matter of fact, in that nation sport is considered to be an indispensable part of daily life (Japan Access, 1997). There are those who say that the relatively recent debates around the concepts of "development of sport" and "development through sport" is at least 25 years too late, as the total concept of sports development has always had the two strands running through it. There is no denying that there is some truth in what they say. Returning to the Far East, let's consider that "before the introduction of Western sports, Japan had made progress in traditional sports called budo, which were born in the twelfth century and flourished mainly among the warrior classIn the Edo period (1600-1868), these sports, which put stress on their mental aspects, were established as martial arts...The traditional budo have been handed down from generation to generation and are still flourishing" (Japan Access, 1997). Moreover, "the tradition of regarding sports figures as heroes goes back to ancient Greece. The Greek term for hero literally meant someone who was semi-divine and born from one mortal and one divine parent, and eventually Greek society went on to view sporting champions as 'born of the Gods'... Heroes emerged from war and gained their title of hero by sacrificing themselves or risking their lives to save others. But sports allow heroes to emerge in times of peace" (Warner, 2004). Fast-forwarding to the timelines of the last 25 years, there is an untold amount of sport development going on. The 1980s especially, and most predominantly but not exclusively in The United States, saw the beginnings of an explosive growth in personal sport development. Individual awareness of the benefits of sport and athletic participation grew exponentially throughout the population of Western culture. Significantly, groups that had previously been apathetic or marginalized with regard to sports exploded onto the development scene. The United States Olympic hockey team employed a rigorous, Eastern-European-inspired training program and a relentless commitment to pride of performance to "miraculously" defeat the "invincible" Soviet Union Olympic ice men in 1980 at Lake Placid. The Women's Sports Foundation of the US tells us that "women's athletic participation rates mushroomed during the 1980s and 1990s, and sports are now central to many girls' and women's lifestyles" (2005). With the newfound interest in personal sport development and health came industry growth. From the late 1980s to now in the US, "personal fitness training continues to be the strongest growth segment of the fitness industry, and this trend is expected to continue as personal trainers offer a variety of services that go beyond a general exercise program" (IDEA, 2005). Scientific studies of the effects and benefits of participation in sports became more frequent and more intense. In the 1980s, a study of women conducted by geneticist Rose Frisch of Harvard University concluded that female participation in team sports significantly, and sometimes dramatically, reduced women's risk of contracting breast, cervical, uterine, and general reproductive cancers (Libov, 2001). Great Britain during this same time was not blind and deaf to the clear impact of sports. UK Government cabinets during the 1980s strongly recommended, based upon scientific studies, that government programs be installed that would promote sport among the populace for many reasons, including inspiration, improved outlook on life, and community enhancement. The positive economic impacts of sports development were not lost on the policy makers, either. "Sport is big business. The economic impact of sport on the nation has been assessed and recognised since the 1980sBirmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Glasgow are four prime examples of cities that have made a long-term strategic commitment to sport and recreation" (Sport England, 2005). In 1982, the UK set up its Action Sport program. Established as response to inner city riots that had taken place within the last year, its mission was to bring non-participants into the sports fold. It would do this by molding "street leaders" into sports leaders. These in turn would demonstrate first-hand the value of sport for promoting peace and physical well-being. The program received serious attention and backing and was continuously modified as needed (UK Sport Development Organization, 2002). Yet, the fact of the matter is that the call for sports development, both as "development through sport" and "development of sport", that has emerged into the light of our current world is far more focused and intense than it was for most of the preceding 25 year period. The data gleaned from constant studies and experiences since the1980s coupled with the increase in global communications and cultural intertwining have enhanced and elevated the awareness among national policy makers and moving and shaking individuals of what sports development can do for individuals, communities, and entire nations. The UK's Department of Health tells us that "sport, fitness, and leisure professionals have the opportunity to make a huge impact on the health of our communities by promoting participation in sport and physical activity. The extent of this impact and its potential in terms of disease prevention and treatment and tackling health inequalities, is largely unrecognised...In order to really make a difference it is vital that we start to make greater connections with our counterparts in health" (DOH, 2002). UK researchers Rowe and Adams have been particularly impressed by sports-culture nations such as Finland and have advised that the UK government should promote sports development toward an objective of getting at least 70% of the British population engaging in focused physical exercise for 30 minutes per day, five days per week. At present, only about 30% of the British population is so engaged. "Our primary aim is to develop a sport and physical activity culture to produce a fitter, more active population and realise the significant health benefits and savings available, and the potential wider social benefits. Such an aim requires long- term cultural change" (Rowe & Adams, 2004). Sport England has been driving toward this cultural change with its Active Community program. Sport England defines a "community" as either a geographically or identity-coherent group of people in which all of the members have similar, though not necessarily identical, characteristics. It then goes on to define the "preferred characteristics" that the program seeks to instill. These include: high levels of community awareness of the benefits of an active lifestyle; a variety of good quality sport; inclusiveness; opportunities for regular participation; pathways to greater opportunity for those who seek it; a strong local sporting identity; coordinated volunteer sporting work; stable and sustainable sport opportunities; and sufficient human and financial resources (Sport England, 2005). In the United States, the Women's Sports Foundation is adamant that "in order to foster adolescent health through sport, new partnerships should be forged between agencies, organizations, and institutions that are" at once "governmental and non-governmental, health related and non-health related, public and private" (2005). On an international scale, the World Health Organization (WHO) has become keenly aware that there is still an alarming need for enhancing and elevating the levels of physical activity partaken in by individuals around the globe. "The world is witnessing a significant increase of the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. The increasing global epidemic of these diseases relates closely to" the ever-increasing number of individual lifestyles that emphasise "physical inactivity and unhealthy diet" (WHO, 2003). The WHO in 2004 adopted its "Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health" and a "Resolution for Health Promotion and Healthy Lifestyles". The WHO's purpose with these is to specifically catalyze the promotion of sport development activity in very young children. The international organization released a statement saying, "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 one to build valuable social connections, often offering opportunities for play and self-expression" (UN, 2005). The WHO tells us that "physical activity and healthy sports are essential for our health and well being. Appropriate physical activity and sports for all constitute one of the major components of a healthy lifestyle". Sports and physical activity help people of all ages, physical capacities, and classes to improve their diets, become less prone to violence, function better on a daily basis, and become more open to social interaction and integration. "Physical activity is, for an individual, a strong means for prevention of diseases and, for nations, a cost-effective method to improve public health across the population" (WHO, 2003). WHO scientific studies have concluded that sports development for individuals reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and type 2 diabetes. It improves glucose metabolism, reduces body fat, and lowers blood pressure. It might reduce the risk of colon cancer by increasing the bodily production of prostaglandins, reducing intestinal transit time, and causing the biochemical production of higher antioxidant levels. It can improve musculoskeletal health, control body weight, and reduce symptoms of depression (WHO, 2003). 2005 saw the implementation of the International Year of Sport and Physical Education by the UN. "Through a series of conferences, events and the publication of research documents, the value of sport and physical education for education, health, development and peace" was shown forth to the governments and people of the planet. The objectives of the IYSPE were: to promote sports development and physical education for all people when countries are instituting their development programmes and policies, in order to advance health awareness, the spirit of achievement, and cultural bridging; to ensure that sport and physical education are included as tools to contribute towards achieving the internationally agreed upon development objectives; to promote a "culture of peace and social and gender equality, and advocate dialogue and harmony through collective work" promoting sport and physical education-based opportunities for solidarity and cooperation; to promote the recognition of the contribution of sport and physical education towards economic and social development and encourage the building and restoration of sports infrastructures; to promote sport and physical education on the local level, as a means for health, education, social, and cultural development; and, to strengthen cooperation and partnerships between all participants, including family, school, leagues, local communities, youth sports associations, and decision makers as well as the public and private sectors (UN, 2005). It's clear that both strands of the sports development trend have expanded over the last 25 years, and both urgently need to be expanded more. Their individual expansions must happen in tandem. The entire globe needs to develop a physical culture. References Chappell, Robert. "Sports Development in Botswana, Africa". The Sport Journal: United States Sports Academy, 2004. < http://www.thesportjournal.org/2004Journal/Vol7-No2/Chappell.asp >. DOH. "Addressing the Health Agenda: A new focus for sports activity - health". London: Department of Health, 2002. IDEA Health & Fitness Association. "Personal Fitness Trainer Fact Sheet". Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. < http://www.ideafit.com/prptfact.asp>. Japan Access. "Sports". Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. . Libov, Charlotte. "Women's Health Information". Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. < http://www.libov.com/ >. Rigg, M. "Action Sport. Community Sports Leadership in the Inner Cities". Summary Report. London. Sports Council, 1986. . Rowe, N. Beasley, and Adams, R.N. "Sport, physical activity and health: Future prospects for improving the health of the nation". London: Sport England, 2004. Sport England. "Active Communities". Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. .http://www.sportdevelopment.org.uk/Activecommunitiesintro2000.pdf> "The Value of Sport to Regional Development". Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. < http://www.sportdevelopment.org.uk/bestvalregdevel.pdf >. Sportscotland. "Our Ethos". Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. . UN. "International Year of Sport and Physical Education: Sport and Health". Retrieved Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. http://www.un.org/sport2005/a_year/s_health.html "International Year of Sport and Physical Education: Goals and Objectives". Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. < http://www.un.org/sport2005/a_year/goals.html >. Warner, Jennifer. "Do We Need Another Sports Hero" Web MD. August 2004. WHO. "Health and Development through Physical Activity and Sport". Geneva: World Health Organisation, 2003. < http://www.sportdevelopment.org.uk/healthwho2003.pdf >. Women's Sports Foundation. "Health Risks and the Teen Athlete". Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005. < http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/cgi-bin/iowa/issues/body/article.htmlrecord=771 >. Read More