-Kehinde Ayeotan
Sport As an instrument To Reduce International Tension And Conflicts
Participating in a sporting activity can be a helpful way of reducing stress levels and increasing feelings of physical and mental well-being. You might feel like you are simply too busy or too stressed to join an organized activity, but engaging in a solitary sport can also provide stress-relieving benefit.
Regular exercises should be a part of everyone’s everyday stress management routine due to its numerous physical and mental rewards.
Sports provide physical and mental stress relief; sport can help certain mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
For most people, sport paves ways for socialization which help you to meet people from different countries, continent, states, communities, people from different culture and background.
Popular sports events like the football world cup, Africa Cup of Nation, English Premiership, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Africa league and inter-house sports competitions etc. Are essential in relief international tensions and releasing patriotic emotions in a safe way.
There is no doubt that rapid growth of international tensions and political difficulties between countries is one of the elements of worries among people and governments and sport can ease these unpleasant situations, popular sports events like quadrennial Olympic and football world Cup, National Cup games can play essential roles in easing tensions.
Sport for peace was set up during the preliminary stage of the Olympic games 2008 to address the question of whether sport or major sporting events can foster common ideas.
In ‘sport for peace’ athletes from all over the world came together to promote the value of sport such as fair play, tolerance, the Olympic idea of freedom, international and intercultural understanding. As a political independent initiative “sport for peace” offer a neutral basis to foster the spirit of fair play, the sense of community and elimination of prejudice.
It is believed that international events such as the Olympic Games play a vital role in maintaining the world peace and to show nationalism in a proper way. It is true that events such as world football cup or the commonwealth games can be used as a tool to maintain the world peace and to show patriotism in a secure way.
It can be seen that during the international tournament, athletic from the various nation are competing against each other in a sportive way although their countries of origin might be at war or conflicts, they shake hands and greet each other.
The International sporting event has been a source of attraction for everyone and a large number of people do attend an event like that to express their love and support for their country.
However, an event like football or cricket world cup provides an opportunity to people to understand and explore the culture and norms of their rivals country.
They closely observed and spend time with each other, this will surely help in removing the conflicts and dispute to some extent for instance during 2014 world cup after elimination of North Korea, the supporters of both South and North Korean joined hands together to support South Korean by sidelining their personal differences.
It is a fact that every four years the whole world watch international sports events such as the Olympic and the football world cup in which athletics show their best performance to make their country proud of them
The Olympic Games are one of the best examples which had proved how sporting event can bring nations together at least temporarily which play an important role in easing international tension.
Sport is far more than a game. One only has to savour the global excitement during the 2013 African Cup of Nation final between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Burkina Faso which saw Nigeria defeat Burkina Faso 1-0.
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Few minute to kick off the match, the stadium had filled to it capacity, fans were looking forward to the match both those present in the stadium and viewers who are watching it via satellite. Many people especially Nigeria were so excited so was I not just because Nigeria is my own country playing in the final for the first time since 1994 and not also because Nigeria has such a strong side.
I was looking forward to it because the competition may do more to bring our continent Africa and my country Nigeria together. Four minutes to the end of 2013 Africa cup of nation. Nigeria took the lead, there was jubilation everywhere in the stadium by the fans and the supporters and those who are at home viewing via cable. It was party galore in every part of Nigeria.
At the time, when war, violence and ethics and religion tension continuing to obscure our common humanity, the Nations Cup, Nigeria premier league, Inter-house sport, West Africa poly game e.t.c. as the real potential to break down barriers and challenge disunity.
I sincerely believe that all of us will carry the spirit of the sport and be part of a family of communities and the nation of people celebrating a common humanity, in our daily lives and works.
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