Sports as voice and tool for Social Progress

Key points by Ioanna Georgia Eskiadi

In this webinar, we discussed the benefits of sports and participating in them as tools for social progress and voice for people who are facing discrimination.

· Role of athletes in social justice issues.

· Sports can be transformative in disadvantaged communities.

· Youth empowerment is an important tool to explore and promote social inclusion and sports participation.

· Sports engagement as effective path towards equality and inclusion.

· Sports unites and brings people together.

· Advance the influence of sports in political and social issues.

· Sports are a tool for women to be empowered and use their voices.

· Cooperation of athletes with organization to promote social inclusion.

· Access to sport for all.

· Sports as a mirror of society.

Sports players can use their high impact and influence to speak out and promote social justice. It is important to increase activism by athletes, since it has led to change in society and has given more opportunities to youth and women to participate in sports. Leagues, teams, athletes, and grassroot organizations have long championed social causes. Sports are an intersectional sector that can be linked with a lot of different issues and can be used to promote social good. At the same time, sports have crossed paths in significant ways with issues such as domestic violence, community engagement and conflict resolution. Social inclusion, social capital and democratic participation among members are important values that can be promoted by sports professionals and activists in order to strengthen social cohesion in local communities. Sports can be transformative in disadvantaged communities where people are facing discrimination. Sports engagement is an effective path towards equality and inclusion since youth are the future of this world and can shape the world with their views and values.

Sports unites different cultures and genders while encouraging women’s participation. Sports can be used as a tool of diplomacy especially as a soft power tool. Sports are important to help and grow open-minded youths, who think outside of the box.

“Women are encouraged to participate; for me it was challenging to use my voice. It’s difficult for a woman to be a leader in a sport and, as a result, in a society. But in basketball, my voice mattered and now I can encourage young girls”, says Chasity Melvin from USA. Now, athletes are partnering with grassroots organization to use their voices as a tool for social progress. Also, athletes should be educated more on their ability to enact social change since there are tons of people who would love to partner with them.

Even now, a lot of people do not have access in sports. Sports can be used to help youth improve their skills and to help kids improve their self-confidence. “Sports should be an equal activity for everyone. Youths empowerment is important to build a generation of life champions though the power of sport”, says Mohamed Amine Zariat from Morocco. Sports are a mirror of what is happening in a society. Women and girls are kept away from sports and have different experiences based on who they are, where they live, their skin color, sexual orientation, and family income. Sports also can create youth employment opportunities, orient kids to a better future, help them build entrepreneur skills, and raise the awareness of youth on social issues.

Speakers:

Tamara Awartani, Co-founder and Director, Palestine: Sport for Life (PS4L), Palestinian Territories.

Risa Isard, Sports for Development Expert, USA.

Mohamed Amine Zariat, Founder and President of TIBU Basketball Academy and former international basketball player, Morocco.

Chasity Melvin, former WNBA player, Assistant Coach, Phoenix Mercury and Podcast Host, USA.

Watch the discussion:

This webinar is part of World Learning’s International Sports Programming Initiative for Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa Program (ISPI) — Virtual Together program, a series of virtual events, launched in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. ISPI is a program of U.S. Department of State’s Sports Diplomacy division. The series aims to engage the sports community globally, to creatively problem solve, share digital tools and work together, follow health guidance, and continue to promote active, healthy
lifestyles both physically and mentally throughout this crisis.
Additional modules related to these objectives are being developed and will be announced.

The webinar is produced by Digital Communication Network, a diverse professional coalition in the digital space.