Why Sport Matters and The Sports Ethic

from SportMatters.org:
http://www.sportmatters.org.au/why_sport.php

Why Sport?

Access to sport and physical activity is a fundamental human right. Sport is well recognised internationally as a low-cost and high-impact tool for development and a powerful agent for social change. It is a culturally accepted activity that brings people together and unites families, communities and nations. 

Effective sport-for-development programs combine sport and play with other non-sport outcomes to achieve the desired development objectives. The focus is not on mass participation or performance in elite sport. This requires a purposeful, professional and socially responsible intervention that is tailored to the social and cultural context. Sport is under-utilised as a development tool and should be an integral component of any comprehensive development program.

Ban Ki-Moon, UN Setary-General

"Sport has become a world language, a common denominator that breaks down all the walls, all the barriers. It is a worldwide industry whose practices can have widespread impact. Most of all, it is a powerful tool for progress and for development."

Thomas Bach, IOC President 

"The UN and the IOC know how much sport can do to address the vast array of human and social needs in the areas of; health, education, inclusion, sustainable development ad peace ... Yes sport can change the world, but it cannot change the world alone. When placing sport at the service of humankind, we need and we want partnerships with other players in society." 

Wilfried Lemke, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace

"Sport builds bridges between individuals and across communities, providing a fertile ground for sowing the seeds of development and peace."

Nelson Mandela

"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair."

The Sports Ethic | Psychology Today: 

psychologytoday.com

Even the most talented, successful Olympic athlete is likely to have a short career. Mainly for physical reasons many are "finished" in their early 30s, though some sports are a little more forgiving. Years and years of amazingly dedicated practice and you are left without a career and probably with a number of semi-serious injuries.

So what is their fate? There are some attractive options: become a national coach, turn to media commentary, start your own brand. But other career paths, like becoming a sports teacher or working in a sports shop seems rather a come-down after all that effort and glory.

Some ex-sports stars have tumbled into a newish and very well paid wheeze: motivational speaking. Go to the website of those who offer a range of celebrity speakers and you find among the politicians, academics and business people a long list of former athletes. Some, perhaps many, you have never heard of; masters of a sport you are even less sure about.

But most business people will have heard a famous(ish) sports person speak at a conference. They may be round-the-world sailors, sprinters, boxers, or rowers. It's a nice little side gig if you are any good and get asked frequently. Many are, alas, not cut out for the role, which demands a certain flair and style that is not required on the field, court or pool.

The athlete's story can be very dull, quite often. It is all about spending years doing the same thing day-after-day, for months on end, working towards an event that lasts less than 30 minutes, four years hence. Often the audience is invited to try to work out, in their break-out rooms, how all this is remotely relevant for them at work. The better speakers do it for you. They have usually worked out that the work ethic and the sports ethic share a great deal.

Some of the sportsmanship values seem particularly relevant today: adhering to the rules, accepting the official's decision. Outwardly upholding the regulations of the governing sport. It is about all those good things such as integrity, reliability, honesty.  Being candid, sincere, forthright;  Being utterly trustworthy, and having the courage to live by principles.

Rule number one: no cheating (i.e. drugs), no knifing opponents in word and deed. No put-downs, insults, or ridiculing others. Be totally honest and respectful. Accept personal responsibility and understand the legal and moral obligations.

There are many other values that are part of the sports ethic and music to the ears of many employers:

Competition: All understand that competition is good; it drives up standards/records and is the only way to produce the best in their area. It is about fair play and justice, but also about standing out as the "best in class."

Universalism: Sport is open to all, irrespective of: age, class, creed, or sex. It does of course have a lot to do with shape. But the message is clear: you are judged entirely and exclusively on the quality of your performance. All that counts is sporting prowess. So opponents have to be treated to courtesy, dignity, and tolerance. Nepotism and favoritism are no-nos.

Diligence: Nothing is achieved or achievable at international standards without very hard work, fortitude, and perseverance. You can only succeed if you make personal sacrifices, take part in long, strenuous preparation and have stamina for the journey. You have to pursue excellence relentlessly.

Success: This is everything; coming second is not good enough. You play to win, to get the accolades and prizes that come with being first. This is the opposite of the "all shall have prizes" philosophy. No, not everybody is creative, or intelligent, or gifted "in their own special way." Success is for the few who have the right mix of ability and effort.

Self-Discipline: You have to lead a life of ascetic self-discipline and self-control. All your habits need to be healthy. It is about resisting temptation for long periods of time. Sacrificing many pleasures of the flesh for your goal.

Magnanimity: Learning to be gracious in defeat and able to openly admire those better than yourself. Hubris is a sin; humility a virtue. Though you might not believe it, you have to talk about how lucky you were, not how deserving.

There are some values of great importance that do not apply to all sports. Perhaps the most important is teamwork. This is about co-operation, trust, and support. It is about being totally loyal to your colleagues and as concerned for their welfare as your own. It is about learning how to be neither dependent nor independent, but interdependent.

The sports ethic is very much like the work ethic. It is where hard-work and dedication and winning are most important. It is no surprise then that some interviewers consider success in sports as a good indicator of how a person will perform in the work place. There may not be a lot of evidence in favor of this idea, but it seems eminently reasonable. Until, of course, one reads about all the illicit practices, particularly drug use, that goes on in those desperate attempts to win.

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