Sports is more than just supporting a team, winning a game, carrying a trophy, or even keeping fit. In many ways, it has a unique way of positively impacting a community. It contributes to the development of communities, increases employment opportunities, and creates an atmosphere for people to come and work together peacefully and with respect. Still not convinced on why you should encourage sports and recreation in your community? Consider these few ways sports can impact your community.
1. The creation of role models
One of the unique ways sports positively impact a community is by creating role models and heroes. Many successful athletes such as Manny Pacquiao, Muhammad Ali, David Beckham, the William sister, the late Kobe Byrant, and so on; are revered because of their incredible success in their career in sports and because they represent hope. They have had to overcome challenges many communities face.
This creates more relatable heroes many in the community can look up to. Other figures such as Jorge Hankand local community sports and recreational coaches, who aren’t athletes but have contributed to sports’ thrill and excitement, also give the community role models to admire and aspire to. Sharing a common hero serves as a developmental tool as it strengthens a community’s unity and gives its individuals hope and a purpose.
2. Keeps kids active
Children that enjoy watching sports or look up to athletes are more likely to play sports themselves. Studies have shown that physically active children tend to do better academically. This is because constant physical activitytends to enhance a child’s cognitive functions, which causes them to have better memory and improved concentration. Health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are prevented in the community amongst children through sports engagement. Children who play sports are also kept away from other activities that may get them in trouble as a lot of their time is spent practicing and indulging in their preferred sport.
3. Improves relations within the community
Have you walked into a bar to catch a game but ended up sparking up a friendship with a stranger over your shared interest in a team? That’s the beauty of sports! Sport is a universal language spoken and understood by many. In this sense, it can connect several people within a community, regardless of an individual’s ethnicity, culture, language, religion, or team of preference.
It creates a conversation amongst people, building relationships and creating a common ground for them to connect over various local and international sporting events. This shared ground and universal language breaks down barriers and encourages unity. A perfect example of this is South Africa’s win in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which helped communities across the country heal after years of Apartheid.
As you can see, sports bring several effective and positive impacts to your community’s well-being. It is time to acknowledge this and encourage the implementation of an atmosphere of sports for your community to grow in peace and unity.
FAQs
In addition to promoting physical health, sports foster social connections and encourage community building. Whether playing on a team, attending sporting events, or simply discussing sports with friends and colleagues, athletics provide a common ground for people to come together and connect over shared interests.
What are two ways that sports impact a local community? ›
Health, recreation, and entertainment are three benefits to those who play or watch sports. What are the two ways that sports impacts a local community? Sports has economic impact on a local community as well as an impact on the city's image.
What is a positive impact from sporting events on the local community? ›
Events, and successful athletes and teams, can help to bring communities together, encourage people to participate as players and volunteers, and boost economic activity. While direct effects may be short term, they can help to provide a catalyst for ongoing development and engagement.
How sports bring communities together? ›
Sports have the uncanny ability to bring people together as very few other things can. Part of the reason for this is that with any sport, the construct of the game is all about fair play. When people participate, they know that they're competing against other people, and that's what helps to bring them together.
How does sport impact greater society? ›
Social. Sport improves social connectivity and inclusion. It builds communities, enables diversity through larger social networks and creates friends for life.
How do sports impact people? ›
Sports teach teamwork and problem-solving skills
Fighting for a common goal with a group of players and coaches teaches you how to build teamwork and effectively communicate to solve problems. This experience is helpful when encountering problems at work or at home.
How do sports affect the community and the individual? ›
Additionally, sports provide opportunities for personal growth, teamwork, and leadership development, which are invaluable skills in all aspects of life. On a societal level, community engagement in sports fosters social cohesion, strengthens community bonds, and promotes social inclusion.
How do athletes help their community? ›
Supporting local mentoring programs or after-school tutoring programs, visiting schools to encourage underperforming youth to work hard in school and pursue higher education, sponsoring drawing or essay contests, supporting anti-bullying campaigns in local schools and offering scholarships to graduating students.
How do sports contribute to overall community and societal development? ›
Much like a country's educational system, media or political and social movements, sporting events bring disparate people together by strengthening ties and celebrating the common ideals of fairness, sacrifice and hope.
How do sports make a positive impact? ›
Playing sports helps you stay in shape, teaches you how to organize your time, boosts friendships, and builds relationships with your peers and adults. Through athletics, you gain skills that can best be acquired on a court, track, or field.
Economic Impact
Sports represent a billion-dollar business—that's no secret. But what you might not realize is the immensely positive impact sports have on local economies, mainly through tourism dollars. In 2010, the New York City Marathon boosted the city's economy to the tune of $340 million.
How do youth sports help the community? ›
Promote social connections
Youth sports help build social skills by bringing kids with similar interests together, encouraging interaction and creating a community of shared interests and goals.
How are sports beneficial to society? ›
From a social standpoint, sports are a powerful tool that brings people together and creates a sense of community. They develop connections that bond together people from all walks of life.
Are sports good or bad for society? ›
Research shows that physically active children are less likely to be obese, have lower health care costs and have reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. Teens who participate in team sports are less likely to use drugs, smoke cigarettes and carry weapons.
How can sports promote social change? ›
Sports can foster positive social change by promoting teamwork, discipline, and resilience. While financial gains are significant, the core focus should be on athlete well-being, ensuring physical and mental health.
What impact does sport have on the environment? ›
Along with emissions, the sport sector also creates a substantial amount of waste. Cardboard, plastics, glass bottles, food surplus, uniforms, paint, batteries, and construction materials all fall into the category of waste caused by sport.
Children that enjoy watching sports or look up to athletes are more likely to play sports themselves. Studies have shown that physically active children tend to do better academically. This is because constant physical activitytends to enhance a child’s cognitive functions, which causes them to have better memory and improved concentration. Health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are prevented in the community amongst children through sports engagement. Children who play sports are also kept away from other activities that may get them in trouble as a lot of their time is spent practicing and indulging in their preferred sport.