Headlines - 18 October 2024

18th October 2024

HEADLINES

By James Saunders

THE POWER OF SPORT

I have always been a fan of grassroots sport and the benefits that come with being part of a team: teamwork; collaboration; tolerance; character; empathy. All are things that sport can develop within us. Scaled up, sport can be a powerful vehicle for change. Sport is big business these days which can be both positive and negative. With such a high profile, sport has a lot of responsibility resting on its shoulders. Do you remember the time that Ronaldo once pushed a bottle of coca cola to one side and claimed we should drink water? That act alone caused the market value of coca cola to drop by 4 billion dollars. Sport is powerful!

However, behind every visit to Wembley; to Wimbledon; to Lord’s; to Twickenham, and to Silverstone, is an inspirational tale of community. It is the families, the school fields, the parent taxi services, the community groups, the volunteers and the wet Sunday mornings of commitment that make everything possible. Sport begins and ends with communities.

Without those communities we would not have the spectacle that plays out for us on the national and international stage. Only once I had children did I truly appreciate the altruistic power of the sport. It is as much what happens off the pitch as what happens on it. I have seen how lifelong friendships have been formed that have broken socio demographic boundaries. I have seen teammates binding across cultural and ethnic divides. This is what sport can do and the good it can achieve.

We have seen over the last few years the many positives that sport can bring to society and our values. We saw a sporting movement form out of Black Lives Matter which had an impact across many disciplines, including Formula 1 and Football. We have also seen Formula 1 taking a moral stand against Russia in response to their invasion of Ukraine. We

have seen the positive impact that the Lionesses have had on Women’s football in the UK after their many stellar performances.

Sport is great at highlighting the inequalities and injustices in society. I remember Andy Murray in an interview back in 2017 had to remind a reporter that women exist.

Sport, as we’ve seen time and time again, serves as a mirror to society – it reflects the best of us, but also exposes the areas where we still have room to grow. From gender inequality to racial discrimination, sport has become a platform for addressing social issues in a way that few other sectors can. Whether it’s Serena Williams championing gender equality in tennis or Marcus Rashford leading the charge against child food poverty, athletes are using their platforms for causes that transcend their sport.

For families, these stories offer an important lesson. Beyond the benefits of fitness and socialisation, getting children involved in sport can foster their sense of justice, responsibility, and empathy. Whether they are learning to respect their opponents on the field or standing up for justice in school and beyond, these lessons have real-world applications that can shape them into thoughtful, conscientious adults with a strong sense of moral and social capital.

Moreover, the benefits go both ways. Parents, too, are key players in this ecosystem. By encouraging your child to join a team, drive them to practice, and cheer them on from the sidelines, you’re doing more than just supporting their ambitions – you’re building a bridge to lifelong values that will serve them far beyond the game. It’s an investment not just in their physical development, but in their moral compass.

So as we work through another season of Saturday morning matches, weekend tournaments, and afterschool practices, let’s remember: sport is about much

more than winning and losing. It’s about community, character, and change. And that change starts with us – in the stands, on the sidelines, and at home.

Ultimately, whether it’s a local football pitch or the global stage, sport reminds us that we all have the power to make a difference, no matter how small the contribution may seem.

At Honywood we have a range of opportunities for learners to get involved in sport and I would encourage everyone to get involved where they can. On another note, we love to hear about the things our learners get up to out of school too. Please do share any sporting successes with us. We are proud of what our learners achieve through their dedication and hard work and love an opportunity to raise their profile and share their accomplishments with our community.

I wish you all a lovely weekend

James Saunders