Sport is a great way to bring people together

Sport is a great way to bring people together

Philippa Docherty, Contributor, Jakarta

It's a strange world we live in, where violence, prejudice and racism dominate society, but when an international sporting event occurs, cultural, racial and religious differences are put aside.

Sport is a provocative way of bridging the gaps between people of one nation, and also of bringing together people from different nations to compete against one another.

The 2002 World Cup is a prime example of the atmosphere of unity created by sports. People have forgotten their problems, as the games are psychologically beneficial not just for the athletes but also for the fans.

The usual pictures of protests, demonstrations and rallies on the streets of South Korea have turned into cheers for various nations.

The World Cup has not only raised the hopes and confidence of South Koreans, it has also shown the world a picture of "collectiveness"; not judging people for who they are, not creating violence because people are not the same color as you, but just coming together for the same purpose and having fun.

This just proves that people can work together, spectators providing the emotional support by cheering their teams on, and the financial support by buying tickets and team merchandise. In return, the supporters get the excitement and enjoyment of the game. It is a wonderful and continuous cycle.

It is amazing when you think about it; countries of different racial, cultural and religious backgrounds coming together for a few months of the year to compete to achieve a specific goal

But sports are also important for young people to learn the lessons of life.

By taking part in a sport at a young age, children can achieve not only a certain skill in the sport, but they can also learn to communicate, gain confidence and avoid boredom.

Sports benefit youngsters because they are mentally stimulating and fun. They provide a challenge for children and help create friendships and peer groups for youngsters.

Taking part in sports seems to have the effect of making people more outgoing and talkative. By competing at a young age, people learn how to win and lose gracefully, and to always be proud of what they have achieved.

And, when you compete in a team sport, you are forced by circumstance to "come out of your shell" because, like it or not, you have to get on with your other team members.

Competitions held between different schools create a feeling of unity, and educate children. Sports give youths a feeling of solidarity and belonging in society, providing a more mature outlook on people and life in general.

I know this from my own experiences as a student athlete at the British International School (BIS) Jakarta, which, in fact, symbolizes a bridge linking people from all corners of the globe, removing the barriers of culture and nationalism.

Having spent most of my childhood in the school, I have had numerous experiences where we have worked together and trained for different tournaments.

The most memorable tournament for BIS took place in November 2001, in which the boys soccer team achieved its dream of winning the SEASAC tournament, a regional event.

It was not only their skill that helped them win, but also their sheer motivation, determination and spirit, as well as the ultimate requirement of working together as a team.

The SEASAC soccer tournament takes place each year, with international schools from all over Southeast Asia competing against each other..

It is like a mini-World Cup: international schools from across Southeast Asia, with students from different cultural and religious backgrounds, coming together to play soccer.

These gatherings not only foster a sense of team spirit, respect and pride for each other, but act as a link between the different schools.

Special friendships are created between you and your teammates and a respect is formed for one another. And toward the other teams, there is no hostility.

Sport creates a world of its own; working together as one to perform and achieve a specific goal. Racial, social and national differences are put aside and "collectiveness" takes over, promoting a strengthened, more mature and broader outlook on life.

And that is the way it should be.