Invest in sports, it unites our people

By Frank Kweronda

The recent Gold medal win by our very own Ivan Byekwaso at the recently concluded INBA Natural Universe Bodybuilding Championship in Texas made me think twice on how sports can be a good unification factor instead of us engaging in funny riots and disagreements all the time.

Sports, particularly athletics and football have the ability to bring people together.

All sports played are more than games, as they have a socio-cultural impact and can therefore connect people all over the world. Sports play a very important role in fostering peace and friendship across the world. Sports are the only common link which can unite the people of our country.

“Of late whenever we play football in Mandela stadium, you see all the people gather to cheer the national team – any sport event is always seeking peace”

Think Unification! In a football team, players play together for a common goal. In a fan club, fans rally behind their favorite team to provide moral support. It does bring people together, on and off the field.

It makes me wonder if people can be united through any major sport event). It bands friends together, it allows for an epic conversion topic and it is a great way to meeting new people.

Whether a person is interested in rooting for their favorite team or simply drawn to the spectacle of major events, sports can unite individuals for a common purpose. Now a group of international organizers is betting that this uniting quality can lead to greater world peace. "It is not a question of whether sport contributes to the betterment of society; we are all in agreement that it does. The real question is how to make it contribute in more impactful, tangible ways,"

I find it strange that some people believe sports are an insignificant part of life. They view sports as merely games, hobbies and recreation with little regional, national or global importance.

I beg to differ. Sports have an extremely important role and place in society.

They provide people with entertainment and something to get excited about and they are topics for conversation. They provide a common bond for complete strangers and a common "team" to cheer for.

"In many parts of the world, communities are divided within themselves and from each other,” "In good times and bad, sport is the glue which binds communities together. Sport provides a sense of identity and of social cohesion.

The politicians are always interested in anything that draws huge crowds - and football leaves them shaking in their boots because no African politician can pack stadiums the way soccer does. Indeed, if it were a political rival, football would have been assassinated!

Sports may not be the most important thing in life, but often times, they have the wonderful ability of being able to bring people together.

I therefore believe passionately in the power of sport to unite people, to create a common sense of purpose values. "In that way we can play a role in achieving sustainable peace and social cohesion and to enhance the lives of today's youngsters and those of future generations. And we do so by enabling members of those communities to learn a range of teaching, coaching and technical skills which will allow them to teach others the lessons of leadership, respect and tolerance, empowerment, teamwork and responsibility."

If only we could invest more in our sports, it would also be counted as investment for peace and unification of our people. I'd imagine Sports will give religion some serious competition given how it unites people.

The writer is a Civil Engineer