From time immemorial, sports and games have appeared as sources of inspiration, harmony and peace among the different nations and cultures of the world. It boosts up physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being and development. But there is also a growing understanding that sports programs merit support because they are powerful vehicles for achieving broader goals, particularly in advancing development and peace agendas.

Sport as a vehicle for Development and Peace

Sport has remained on the sidelines of mainstream humanitarian and development programming. Sport offers a cost-effective tool to meet many development and peace challenges and helps to achieve the MDGs [Millennium Development Goals]. The categories below represent eight of the primary areas in which sport is used to advance a broader development agenda:

Sport and Economic development:

At the governmental level, there is a “Ministry of Youth and Sports” in our country, but as a UNICEF report puts it “…unfortunately adolescents in Bangladesh do not have adequate access to sports and swimming for their healthy growth.” UNICEF points out that “sports equipment are expensive for the general population. In the urban and semi urban areas adequate sports ground is not always available…” This inadequacy is even more marked for girls than boys.

Economic theory teaches that with growth, both household incomes and government revenues increase. If Bangladesh was to experience sustained economic growth, it is likely that, following the experience of other nations, the level of sport participation in the country would increase.

Sport as a means to build skills for employability:

Some research suggests that being involved in sport can equip young people with specific ‘core’ and ‘soft’ skills that may raise their level of employability. Suggestion from ILO and initiatives from Bangladesh government would allow for a better understanding of the present situation of the sports sector and to uncover any potential employment opportunities and skills that young people may find useful in the sports sector.

 

Md. Atik Ullah Zaman 

Teacher, Physical Education