Feature Article

Promoting Peace Through Sport

By Ashley Foster

Amid a world overwhelmed by negative news stories about violent conflict and war, there are thousands of organizations worldwide that persist in their fight for peace. Each organization strives to promote a more positive, friendly, and united world. One of these non-profit groups, Peace and Sport Organisation, specifically strives “to promote sustainable peace by raising awareness about educating youth about peace using the structuring values of sport.”  But what stands out most about this organization isn’t the content that it teaches, but the means by which it promotes peace.

Peace and Sport Organisation is a unique association in that it utilizes sports to reach a particular demographic of people. Typically, sports are played by younger generations and enjoyed by all ages. This approach exploits the universality of sports as a common ground through which communication can take place. The organization believes that through sports, participants grow to share common bonds on a very basic level, thus setting the stage for discussion on much more pertinent topics, such as conflict resolution through nonviolence. This unique approach brings discussion about peace into the world of sports, rather than asking athletes to come into the world of peaceful demonstration. This structural deviation is significant in that it has the capacity to affect a larger group of people than another approach would. Peace and Sport Organisation builds on the shared rules and values of sport to connect people regardless of their social, political, cultural, racial and even religious differences -- differences that are often the root of many of the world’s conflicts.

Recently, the organization spearheaded activities in Burundi, holding an annual ping-pong tournament for the country’s children. A strategy based on action, this event strategically turned wastelands into playgrounds. In addition, the organization engages in efforts to protect the rights of child soldiers, facilitate the social reintegration of refugees, and develop citizenship in depressed urban areas – all through programs involving sport. The Burundi peace-promotion project uses the universal dialogue of team games to communicate the link among respecting society’s rules, educating youth and advancing social potential through sustainable peace projects.

Why do people not know about this organization – or others with similar purpose? Even with all the positive peace promoting, the media seem to disproportionately cover violence. In fact, a study conducted at Stanford University found that stories that cover crime and violence make up 40 percent of the child-related coverage across various newspaper and television formats.  Furthermore, crime and violence stories make up 74 percent of local news TV stories involving children. Such negative media attention sets children up for failure and may increase the likelihood that they will see violence as a viable solution to problems.

The media have the opportunity to rectify this discrepancy by covering programs such as those sponsored by the Peace and Sport Organisation. Surely there are interesting stories to tell about children who aspire to peace through sport, not to violence through war.