Sport Development in the Community - Assignment Example

Sport Development In The Community Contents Contents 1 1 Overview; International and UK Sports Development 2 Discussion 3 COMPARISON BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS AND UK SPORTS 3 Contrast Between International and UK sports Development 7 International sport initiatives focus on sports as a tool for national development While UK Sports is oriented in Development of Sports. 7 Conclusion 9 References 10 10.R. Collings (2010). Barriers Affecting Disabled People in Sport Today; A Look at the Barriers Affecting These People in Sport Today. Retrieved from 11 Overview; International and UK Sports Development Sports are mainly physical activities that are performed by two or more people. International organisations have realised the importance of sport in the achievement of the various projects they are involved in. United Nation organisations i.e. UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOSDP and others like UK sports Development have embraced sports into their programs and initiatives to ensure their individual and international goals are achieved. These organizations in conjunction with sport regulation bodies i.e. UK sport, Sport England, international Olympic Committee are known to initiate and fund peace projects all over the globe. Sporting personalities and celebrities have played a major role in mobilizing the masses and creating awareness towards the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UK sport plays an extremely crucial role in development and promoting sporting interests at different levels starting from local, sub-regional and at the regional levels all over the world. The sporting activities include Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Cricket, Rugby, Golf and many others. UK’s sporting objectives describe these activities as helpful in building the character of an individual and in developing the aspiration policies like health improvement in the community (England, S. 2013). The fame and interests brought about by sports have resulted to gargantuan funding of the activity from both the UK government and the private sector. Internationally, sporting activities have also been promoted and sponsored by international organizations and managed by international governing bodies like FIFA and IOC. In this study National and international approaches to sports development, with specific reference to funding models are discussed and specifically International sports development and for UK sports development are compared and contrasted. Discussion COMPARISON BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS AND UK SPORTS They both focus on community and social Development According to the International Platform on Sports and Development, Sports is not recreation alone but incorporates other forms of physical activities that bring about physical fitness, mental health and social interaction among people. These include activities i.e. badminton volley and basketball, soccer, swimming, racing among others. Inclusive are aerobics, traditional forms of play and sports i.e. wrestling as well as other forms of competitive and non-competitive activities. International sports has been promoted and funded by international bodies in both non-governmental and governmental organisations. The organizations include the UN, UNOSDP, UNICEF, IOC, UEFA and FIFA. UNOSDP and UNICEF United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) is a subsidiary of the UN (United Nations), and supports sports because this activity plays a crucial role in society. Since sporting presents a natural partnership, it was adopted by the UN while coining the fundamental rights of sport and play that have to be respected and enforced worldwide (UNOSDP, 2013). The organization gets most of its funds from donations that are offered by governments and other non-governmental organizations. The organization then uses these funds for supporting sporting activities as it tries to reach for the community and promote peace and development as outlined the organizations missions, for example, the organization received an award from UEFA in 2010 during the Monaco’s charity award (Fundsforngos, 2011). The Award of €1m was awarded to the latter as a result of its dedicated work initiating sporting projects and using the power of sports to create positive change in the society ie youth leadership development, gender equality and peace building. UNOSDP promotes integration of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP). It achieves this by promoting and supporting policies and programmes that are facilitated by national governments that are aimed at harnessing the strengths of sports to gain developmental objectives like Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (UNOSDP, 2013). UNICEF main source of finance is donations from member states and also other non-governmental organizations. The organization then uses this cash in financing sporting activities in the world as a way of touching the hearts of children and youths promote healthy living (Fundsforngos, 2011). The Sports for development policy has also been proved to help fight discrimination in the society and the exclusion of marginalized groups, including children with disabilities. An example of international initiatives is the Fiji Matua and Duavata Sports aimed at help the disabled in the Australia region gain a positive attitude towards life and better their quality of life by engaging them in sporting activities. The projects were launched in 2005 through a partnership between The Fiji Paralympic Committee and Australian Sports Commission and have gained momentum and continue to provide the relevant services to the needy in the concerned society. The two bodies have also entered into partnership with the Austrian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) which provides funding for integrating the disabled in the society. For instance in the year 2011/2012, the Fiji Paralympic committee received about $Aud 23792 to fund cooperation projects between the organisations for the benefits of the disabled. The Matua and Duavata Sports projects were aimed at increasing interaction between the disabled and other people through sporting activities as well as create awareness of people with disabilities in the society and advocate for their rights and privileges. Asop also funds other sporting bodies involved in activities i.e. yachting, swimming, table tennis and diving to provide training and equipment for the athletes. The programs employed by the special schools for the disabled children are enforced by teachers and volunteers. UK initiatives In the UK, there are as many sporting organizations as the sporting activities. UK Sport partners with UK Athletics that governs and develops Athletics; Basketball England that manages baseball, British cycling for cycling etc. (Sports governing bodies, 2013). Direct funding of sporting activity by the UK government is through the provision of sporting facilities while indirect funding is realized through the government’s funding the organizations that are bestowed with the mandate of running and developing sports activities. The Go Sister programme is an initiative of UK Sport international and Edu sport. Although initiated in 2005, funding by the UK international department of development commenced in 2008. The main objective of the initiative was to ‘’ to promote gender equality and empowerment’’ to girl child and achieve the millennium development goals (MDG3) in Zambia. () .The funding provided is used to simulate teaching workshops, team groups’ seminars, and interaction. The project was to churn out women leaders and roles models in Zambia who would gain life skills and educational qualifications to enable them acquire employment and other opportunities in life. A milestone of the project was to train 1750 girls in life skills and other essential leadership concepts who will in turn teach others so that a target of 25,000 youths will have been trained. This was to be actuated through competitive games and play, workshops, sports leagues, tournaments and other cultural parties and festivals. a. They both are initiatives meant to overcome barriers In the international Spheres, The Fiji Matua and Duavata Sports Programs by the Fiji Paralympic Committee and Australian Sports Commission were aimed at alleviating the suffering of the disabled in the Australasia region in Fiji. ASOP provides funding to the Austrian Paralympic Committee (APC) that organises the Paralympic sporting activities bringing together children with disabilities from all over the country. For instance APC received an amount of $13,048 for projects aiming at Prosthetic Feet Optimisation for Amputee Sprinters and Jumpers and a total of $ 27000 for other projects to provide tools and training for alpine skiers and sit skiers during their winter period trainings. Athletes with cerebral palsy are also included in the grant projects. Cerebral palsy organisation received an estimate of $4,491 used to create awareness on the disability and provide support to the affected (R. Collings, 2010). The Fiji Disabled People’s Federation received $2327 for introduction and implementation of workshops and seminars to sensitive the community on existence of disabilities and allow to integration and acceptance. The Pacific Junior Sport Program, an activity for the children of ages6 to 12 years ensures that the latter are well cared for during the crucial stages of development since any negative attitudes and behavioural habits gained at this time may easily be carried further as they grow up. The initiative plays a major role in overcoming over-dependence on others. These are eliminated by engaging them in sporting activities where they learn to use their strength and depend on themselves and, are taught life skills as well as other survival techniques (Collings, 2010). The Go Sister UK Sport initiative in Zambia sought to empower the girl child to take up leadership roles and be involved in decision making at the individual, district, community and national level. The girl child has for long been neglected in the African society and forced to take an inferior role in the society as compared to the dominant males. She was left to wallow in illiteracy, ignorance and dependence on their husbands. They were married off at a young age and left to care for the many children they birthed without help from their husbands. The women were able to get formal education through the program initiated by Edusport organisation and therefore can decide when to get married among other decisions concerning them. The project was cofounded by Edusport and UK sport Initiative to provide training to the youth in Zambia through mentorship programmes. Contrast Between International and UK sports Development International sport initiatives focus on sports as a tool for national development While UK Sports is oriented in Development of Sports. The United Nations through its constituent agencies seek to integrate sports into its various programs. These have been geared towards creating national and international ties between governments and other stakeholders. These culminate to promote the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Play and sporting activities have also been used to create awareness of existing and emerging conflicts that impede peace efforts and steps taken to reconcile the warring parties through involvement in sporting festivals and games. Sport for Development has been on the fore front giving grants to various national and international organisations with the aim of planning and conducting quality sport-based activities which contribute to addressing locally identified development priorities. In 2011, Cricket Australia and Oceanic football Confederation received an estimated amount of $2,000,000 from ASOP for the development of coaches, trainers and other staff, enhancing the junior development projects and contribution of sports to education as well as build the capacity of the organisations ((Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP), 2012). The programmes have also incorporated celebrities and sport personalities to promote peace efforts and raise funds toward eradication of poverty, ignorance, disease, child mortality and facilitate education on sexual and reproductive health. Through partnership with other international organizations i.e. ICC, Youth Sports Trust, Sports England and other sporting regulation bodies, UNICEF has been able to facilitate the engagement of children in sports and play and advocate for their fundamental right to the same. This has ensured sustainable physical growth and development of children. It also supports policies and initiatives by governments towards the achievement of MDGs. Although UK sport is involved in the international sport promotion for development and achievement of millennium development Goals, It is mainly concerned with enhancement of sports. It then uses it to impact other aspects of life. The latter is a participant in the Commonwealth Sports Development Conference which aims at developing talent in sports among the youths by involving the local and international stakeholders towards the same. This year the conference is to be held on 12th – 13th August 2013 in Glasgow, Scotland with the theme of empowering girls and young women and, the disable through sports. In football, it has partnership with Germany Youth Football Foundation to promote the nurturing of young talent and provide a stable environment for growth and development of football as a tool for the youth empowerment. Other international organizations that have established pacts with UK sport include International Sports and Culture association (ISCA), The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF) and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) with the main aim of promoting football and other sporting activities without discrimination and, ensuring the activities are free and fair. Initiatives in Australia, South Africa and Germany In South Africa, sport is viewed as a way of life thus enhancing the various projects initiated by UK sport (Africa.info, S.,2013). In Germany, sports have gained fame as its used to keep people active and as a source of income to the participant (Germany, 2013). In football, it has partnership with Germany Youth Football Foundation to promote the nurturing of young talent and provide a stable environment for growth and development of football as a tool for the youth empowerment. Conclusion Sports, used as a personal or international development tool, have benefits beyond the imagination of human beings. As tool, it has both local and international effects since international, national organisations and governments are involved. It has proven to be an effective tool toward the solving the problems as well as promote the wholesome wellbeing of the human race. References 1. Aastha Dogra 2012, Benefits of sports in Daily Life. Retrieved from 2. Africa.info, S. (2013, Mar 31 ). Sport in South Africa. Retrieved March 31, 2013, from www.southafrica.info: http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/ 3. The Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) (2012) International Sport for Development Grants for 2011/12. Retrieved from 4. England, S. (2013, March 31). Developing policies for sport. Retrieved March 31, 2013, from www.sportengland.org: http://www.sportengland.org/facilities__planning/developing_policies_for_sport.aspx 5. Fiji Matua and Duavata Sports Programs; International Platform on Sport and Development, 08/05/2013. Retrieved from < http://www.sportanddev.org/en/connect/project.cfm?proj=73 > 6. Fundsforngos. (2011 , July 25). UNOSDP selects proposal for a Young Football Volunteers project in Ukraine. Retrieved March 31, 2013, from www.fundsforngos.org: http://www.fundsforngos.org/donor-updates/unosdp-selects-proposal-young-football-volunteers-project-ukraine/ 7. Gagandeep Bedi, 29 April 2013. UK Sport supports the4th Commonwealth Sport Development Conference. Retrieved from 8. Germany, S. i. (2013, March 31). Sports in Germany. Retrieved March 31, 2013, from www.mapsofworld.com: http://www.mapsofworld.com/germany/sports-in-germany.html 9. Lynne Powell, 2011. A report to UK sport on Short-term Overseas Projects and Cultural Intelligence: Developing Graduates for the 21st Century. Web. Pdf 10. R. Collings (2010). Barriers Affecting Disabled People in Sport Today; A Look at the Barriers Affecting These People in Sport Today. Retrieved from 11. Sports governing bodies . (2013, March 31). Retrieved March 31, 2013, from www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/points/sponsoringmigrants/employingmigrants/sportsgoverningbodies/ 12. UNOSDP. (2013, March 31). WHY SPORT? Retrieved March 31, 2013, from www.un.org: http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/sport/home/sport 13. yesaustralia. (2007, February 03). Sports in Australia. Retrieved March 31, 2013, from www.yesaustralia.com: http://www.yesaustralia.com/Estilo-esportesing.htm List of Figures. Figure 1; showing sports governing organizations in the UK. Figure 2; Showing the logo for UNICEF and UNOSDP. Read More