Sport is a great way to bring people together<\/p>\n
Philippa Docherty, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
It's a strange world we live in, where violence, prejudice and
\nracism dominate society, but when an international sporting event
\noccurs, cultural, racial and religious differences are put aside.<\/p>\n
Sport is a provocative way of bridging the gaps between people
\nof one nation, and also of bringing together people from
\ndifferent nations to compete against one another.<\/p>\n
The 2002 World Cup is a prime example of the atmosphere of
\nunity created by sports. People have forgotten their problems, as
\nthe games are psychologically beneficial not just for the
\nathletes but also for the fans.<\/p>\n
The usual pictures of protests, demonstrations and rallies on
\nthe streets of South Korea have turned into cheers for various
\nnations.<\/p>\n
The World Cup has not only raised the hopes and confidence of
\nSouth Koreans, it has also shown the world a picture of
\n\"collectiveness\"; not judging people for who they are, not
\ncreating violence because people are not the same color as you,
\nbut just coming together for the same purpose and having fun.<\/p>\n
This just proves that people can work together, spectators
\nproviding the emotional support by cheering their teams on, and
\nthe financial support by buying tickets and team merchandise. In
\nreturn, the supporters get the excitement and enjoyment of the
\ngame. It is a wonderful and continuous cycle.<\/p>\n
It is amazing when you think about it; countries of different
\nracial, cultural and religious backgrounds coming together for a
\nfew months of the year to compete to achieve a specific goal<\/p>\n
But sports are also important for young people to learn the
\nlessons of life.<\/p>\n
By taking part in a sport at a young age, children can achieve
\nnot only a certain skill in the sport, but they can also learn to
\ncommunicate, gain confidence and avoid boredom.<\/p>\n
Sports benefit youngsters because they are mentally
\nstimulating and fun. They provide a challenge for children and
\nhelp create friendships and peer groups for youngsters.<\/p>\n
Taking part in sports seems to have the effect of making
\npeople more outgoing and talkative. By competing at a young age,
\npeople learn how to win and lose gracefully, and to always be
\nproud of what they have achieved.<\/p>\n
And, when you compete in a team sport, you are forced by
\ncircumstance to \"come out of your shell\" because, like it or not,
\nyou have to get on with your other team members.<\/p>\n
Competitions held between different schools create a feeling
\nof unity, and educate children. Sports give youths a feeling of
\nsolidarity and belonging in society, providing a more mature
\noutlook on people and life in general.<\/p>\n
I know this from my own experiences as a student athlete at
\nthe British International School (BIS) Jakarta, which, in fact,
\nsymbolizes a bridge linking people from all corners of the globe,
\nremoving the barriers of culture and nationalism.<\/p>\n
Having spent most of my childhood in the school, I have had
\nnumerous experiences where we have worked together and trained
\nfor different tournaments.<\/p>\n
The most memorable tournament for BIS took place in November
\n2001, in which the boys soccer team achieved its dream of winning
\nthe SEASAC tournament, a regional event.<\/p>\n
It was not only their skill that helped them win, but also
\ntheir sheer motivation, determination and spirit, as well as the
\nultimate requirement of working together as a team.<\/p>\n
The SEASAC soccer tournament takes place each year, with
\ninternational schools from all over Southeast Asia competing
\nagainst each other..<\/p>\n
It is like a mini-World Cup: international schools from across
\nSoutheast Asia, with students from different cultural and
\nreligious backgrounds, coming together to play soccer.<\/p>\n
These gatherings not only foster a sense of team spirit,
\nrespect and pride for each other, but act as a link between the
\ndifferent schools.<\/p>\n
Special friendships are created between you and your teammates
\nand a respect is formed for one another. And toward the other
\nteams, there is no hostility.<\/p>\n
Sport creates a world of its own; working together as one to
\nperform and achieve a specific goal. Racial, social and national
\ndifferences are put aside and \"collectiveness\" takes over,
\npromoting a strengthened, more mature and broader outlook on
\nlife.<\/p>\n
And that is the way it should be.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sport-is-a-great-way-to-bring-people-together-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }