Sport and community development are closely linked, with sport providing avenues for communication and connection between people of different backgrounds. Organized sports can promote values of fair play and sportsmanship, while youth sport programs can prevent crime and drug abuse. Community sports leagues and fitness programs can also improve citizens’ health and well-being, while sporting events can raise funds for local communities.
Sport and community development are connected on multiple levels which, if properly exploited, can improve the lives of citizens and promote a healthy culture. While seemingly unrelated to community development, sport opens avenues of communication between people of all levels of society and backgrounds, and allows at-risk populations an avenue to safety. Organized sports often emphasize the values of fair play and sportsmanship and therefore can make a real contribution to improving citizenship. Citizens’ health, life span and quality of life can be improved by sports and fitness programmes. Sports and community development are also linked economically, when funds raised from sporting events are reinvested in the local community.
One of the key links between sport and community development is the opportunity for citizens of different worlds to meet on a common playing field. In a corporate sports team, for example, employees may mingle with company executives at the same level, allowing each to get to know the other as an individual and teammate. Families from diverse racial and economic backgrounds may be brought together with the common goal of cheering on their children at an intramural sporting event. By learning to see other citizens as teammates and fellow sports enthusiasts, sports can strengthen the level of connection people feel with their city.
Youth sport programs can play an important role in preventing crime, gang activity and drug abuse, while promoting the values of sport. In areas with severe levels of youth crime, an adult supervised option can be provided after school sports for at-risk youth. By participating in sport, young people learn the values of fair play, hard work and dedication, while remaining under the eye of the coaches. Once these values are instilled, students may also be more likely to apply them to their education and future, as well as their sport. By offering sports programming to at-risk youth, the community can benefit by creating citizens who are invested in their future, their hometown, and the well-being of those around them.
Many 21st century countries are experiencing an obesity epidemic due to poor diet and inadequate exercise. By offering community sports leagues, fitness classes, and other health-oriented programs, a community can reap the benefits of a healthier population. People who play sports may be less likely to be overweight, suffer fewer weight-related diseases such as diabetes and heart problems, and have a better self-image and quality of life. Work productivity can improve as healthier people are less likely to need sick days, thus strengthening the local economy. By linking sport and community development, a city can help promote healthier lives for its people.
Sport and community development can be mutually beneficial economically. Sporting events and teams can raise funds through ticket sales, concession sales, and by hosting tournaments and special events. If a portion of this money is paid to the city, the community is eligible for increased funding for programs, improvements, and new developments. By sharing the profits, community sports can help pave the way for cultural events, infrastructure, and awareness programs that benefit the community as a whole.
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