The Value of Sport

By NOLLAIG MURPHY

The role of sport in creating opportunities to bring disparate people together by strengthening ties, and celebrating common ideals of fair play, participation, and common goals is well known. Furthermore, where younger people are concerned, parents and guardians often see participation in sport to way to strengthen their children’s resilience and social skills. For some households, participation in sporting activities is even more meaningful, especially for those who may be forcibly displaced, or have experienced periods of upheaval. For people who have arrived in a new place and are in the process of making efforts to make new connections the value of becoming involved in a sports club to forge new connections and bonds cannot be overestimated.

In recent weeks, IRD Duhallow’s Equality Working Group coordinated the provision of a number of hurleys and helmets for the use of children living in the Drishane Direct Provision Centre in Millstreet. Thanks to the Social Inclusion Community and Activation Programme, this support was made possible. The purpose of this project was to encourage young people to become involved in sporting activities and to establish connections through playing sport with their contemporaries. It is hoped that having access to the adequate equipment required to play, young people will be supported to take up sport.

For people from minority groups the importance of taking part in locally played sports and extracurricular activities has been seen as important factor in the progression of social inclusion. Zak Moradi is quickly becoming a familiar face on Irish media, he is also an articulate public speaker who gives a compelling account of his journey from Kurdistan in Iraq to Leitrim in the post 9/11 period. For Zak, his initial involvement with Leitrim hurling has led to him becoming a familiar face highlighting the benefits of integration in sport. He is also very definite in his belief that diversity in Irish sport will be a key feature going forward. Zak is also involved with St. Thomas David GAA club in Dublin and is an advocate for sport as a conduit for inclusion.

In recent years, we have seen prejudices coming to the fore all too regularly during various sporting events, leading to widespread outrage and condemnation on behalf of spectators on a global level. Yet throughout history, we have seen the strength of iconic sports people such as Jack Johnson and Muhammad Ali pave the way for younger generations of athletes to aspire to. We have seen athletes such as Jesse Owens reaching unprecedented heights in track and field exercises. Tennis star Naomi Osake and NBA player Lebron James have made amazing strides in their respective careers yet have also encountered racism. Nelson Mandela is credited with saying that “sports can create hope where there once was only despair, it is more powerful that governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination”. Inclusion and diversity in sports has benefits for all communities as it reflects the reality of the diversity of multi-cultural societies, including that of modern-day Ireland.

This article is supported by the Communities Integration Fund