By Bello Shehu Shuni.
Sports, for years, has brought people of all races, religion and gender together all around the world. It has the potential to unite people. The UN definition of Sports is “all forms of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental well-being and social interaction, such as play, recreation, organized or competitive sports and indigenous sports and games.”
The Oxford English dictionary defines sports as “an activity involving physical exertion and skills in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” This shows us how sports is not just for competition, it is for fun and entertainment. Sports has contributed to the society in many ways. It is not all about playing for physical benefitnress. As mentioned by Nelson Mandela “Sports has the power to change the world,” it is a universal language with the power to bring people together.
Sports promotes peace and understanding of unity and integrity among different nations. Sports breaks all the barriers of discrimination based on colour, caste, creed, and religion and provides better social interaction among people as well as fills them with a feeling of brotherhood. It builds love, friendship, and trust among people from different origins but playing the same sports. Sports also brings together, people from various walks of life and creates mutual understanding and relationship among them. It provides a platform for fostering a spirit of national amalgamation, surpassing the barriers of colour, language, origin, and tradition.
Sports plays a role in encouraging the people to stay fit and healthy. If the people of a country are fit and healthy, then automatically, it leads to development of the individuals and then the development of country as a whole. Also, a country is recognized by its sports persons and achievements in sports. For instance,if our country wins FIFA world cup, the world will respect us. This will automatically leads to improvement in relations with other countries and ultimately, the development of the country. Also by hosting big sports tournaments, a country can earn a lot which helps in the development of the host economy as well. Also Sports stars earn a lot of money which also translates into economic development. It plays a role in terms of encouraging the public to stay healthy and fit, builds a spirit of national integration, serves as an avenue for people to entertain themselves thereby relieving them of some stress and instills a sense of pride in citizens every time a sportsperson performs well at an international level. Extensive research has been done on the role of sports in nation building and its ability to positively affect a nation and catalyze the unification of its people under a common goal, thus increasing the strength and unity of the country.
“Sport is a universal language. At its best it can bring people together, no matter their origin, background, religious beliefs or economic status.” Commonwealth Sports Correspondent, Alisha Lewis (2012) included this quote by former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan of the blessed memory, in his research where she found sports to be an effective tool for nation building due to its widespread popularity all around the world. In her findings, Lewis attributed the role of sports of in nation building to its unique ability to go beyond national, political, cultural and socio-economic limitations and barriers.
By analysing the very nature of Sports, she found that the social success of Sports amongst people was due to the social nature of sports itself: bringing coaches, players, spectators and volunteers around the world together under a common goal.
This common goal creates a bond between diverse masses that break down cultural barriers in any nation and then builds the nation through unification and love for fellow country men and women.
No doubt,sports has the potential of contributing to cementing relationships among Nigerians, irrespective of backgrounds: economy, political, social, cultural and other divisive expressions and ensure the much needed unity, love, peace and realistic development of the country.
Bello Shehu Shuni, is a Public Affairs Commentator.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
