The high regard humanity has for sports is evident in events such as the Olympics, World Cups, and World Championships, all of which draw participants and audiences from around the world. Elite athletes have had some of the most famous faces since ancient times, when sports such as javelin throwing and wrestling trained soldiers for war. The ancients also understood that sports and physical activity are necessary for healthy minds and bodies, and that athletic events give nations the opportunity to come together peacefully and individuals the chance to earn rich prizes and respect for themselves and their city-state. And not much has changed.
Want to Know More?
Check out this National Geographic video about athletics in ancient Greece!
The Importance of Sports
Sports has the power to inspire and it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sports can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful that government in breaking down racial barriers.[1]
– Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa
Just as they did among the city-states of ancient Greece, sports and athletic events bring together people of diverse backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities and unifies them as athletes and fans. But while communities and nations have a lot to bicker about these days, schools the world over incorporate sports into their curricula. More than just about physical fitness, participation in sports teaches us about endurance and teamwork and engenders friendships. Sports also embody the chance for a better life, especially for marginalized youth, to achieve fame and elevate their status. This is as true in North America as it is in Africa.
Sports offer major economic benefits for nations as well as individuals. A country with global recognition as a sporting destination sees significant financial benefits – tournaments such as the World Cup can generate billions of dollars in the local economy and development. They also generate diverse employment opportunities, from coaches and agents to developers to manufacturers and retailers, that can bring prosperity to scores of un- and underemployed individuals.
A Global Stage
Sports such as soccer (or football, if you prefer) and basketball have become universal. Show up with a ball, and people will gather to play. Soccer is the most popular sport in Africa, and is played for amusement as well as professionally. But did you know that alongside western sports such as basketball and rugby, traditional African sports also continue to make headlines? In Senegal, for example, the national sport is “Laamb,” a wrestling game with spiritual overtones and boxing techniques wherein opponents try to flip one another onto their backs. The first to succeed wins. Once a recreation for fisherman and farmers, today renowned wrestlers can earn as much as $200,000 per match!
Want to Know More?
Check out this Africa.com article on Popular Sports in Africa!
Check out this Talk Africana article on Laamb Wrestling!
Sports and African Youth
Africa has a large and youthful population with a great deal of athletic talent. They play soccer and race one another on foot and bicycle. This talent is largely unrecognized, however, due to lack of development in the sports sector. As many West African countries are working on developing into middle-class economies, sports is a sector of great interest. The Gambia, for example, includes sports in its national development plan. Not only is this small country interested in developing a robust sports sector that welcomes spectators and athletes alike to globally recognized facilities, they also wish to provide opportunities for local talent to thrive.
In a statement released to acknowledge World Kids Athletics Day (May 7), the president of The Gambia Athletics Association, Dodou Joof, emphasized The Gambia’s dedication to promoting athletics programs and a culture of physical activity throughout the country, as “every child deserves a chance to participate in sports and develop their full potential.”[2] Poverty in The Gambia, however, is rife. Children need a ball to play soccer. Gambian runners are swift as the wind, but they run barefoot; when attending tournaments, they are given shoes to wear for the first time, shoes which are unfamiliar on their feet and actually slow them down.
You Can Help!
Blackbird Global Foundation is gathering running shoes and soccer balls to send to The Gambia so that children have the opportunity to participate in activities which greatly enhance their mental and physical development and promote healthy habits. You can help us promote and develop athletics and a culture of healthy and active lives in The Gambia! $50 can send a pair of running shoes for an athlete to train, and just $15 can purchase a soccer ball that will encourage whole villages to play. Donate Today!
[1] https://www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk/more-than-just-a-game-benefits-of-sports-in-africa/