How can we use sports to build a better world for young people to thrive?

In a world which faces challenges like conflict, violence, climate change etc, How can we use sports to build a better world for young people to thrive?

The concept of thriving draws from the field of positive psychology which emphasizes on the need to build a scientific understanding of positive human functioning and initiate effective interventions which can enable individuals, families and communities to thrive (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Thriving is a condition beyond mere survival, implying growth and positive development. It is a state where people experience positive emotions, positive psychological functioning, and positive social functioning, most of the time, living within an optimal range of human functioning.1

Contributing to building a peaceful and better world through sport is a Fundamental Principle of the Olympic Charter. Entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal”, the Olympic Truce Resolution was adopted by consensus of all 193 UN Member States and co-sponsored by 173 Member States at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 2 December 2021. It demonstrates the recognition by the UN’s international community of the power of sport and the relevance of the Olympic Games to bring the world together in peaceful competition, providing hope for a better future.

An important part of sport is its ability to be inclusive. Young people irrespective of their caste, creed religion, gender and sex should be given equal access.. How can young people be more resilient? How can playing sports help them lead to prevent the spread of hate?

In areas or communities where there are conflicts and where there are opportunities of young people being influenced to spread hate, Young leaders should play a important role in managing conflicts. Sport should be put at the service of the peaceful development of humanity as it is a tool which brings people together beyond their identity and breaks societal barriers. Sport is a powerful means to build bridges, bring people together and shape peace; it builds friendships and draws lines of respect across borders.2

One of the key parts of thriving is it helps to manage difficult scenarios and find solutions to challenges they face. When people play sports, they learn different skills which help build a character and identity. While playing in a team, an individual gains a sense of belonging and identifies themselves as part of team. Playing in team with diverse representation also helps young people to respect and hear diverse voices.

Sport can be also used to integrate people from different communities. When young people are develop life skills such as managing conflict, ability to take initiative and solve problems, it gives them the ability to thrive in this fast changing world. In our peacebuilding efforts, We need to create more young leaders who can provide leadership in their communities.

The cost of a conflict on young people who are our future is huge. As a responsible citizen, young people should be empowered to lead from the front and work to prevent any division in the society. When young people become responsible citizens and become resilient, they build amongst themselves the ability to thrive.

1 Project Thrive; A research study by Quantum Consumer Solutions Pvt. Ltd for Dream a Dream to explore the nuances of thriving among young people from adverse backgrounds.

2 https://olympics.com/ioc/peace-through-spor