e-debate on how much sport is too much sport ? (In english only)
The issues raised will focus on practical, everyday problems and challenges that occur in Sport & Development and are relevant to everyone with an interest in this field. The e-Debate is split into three rounds of discussion. Caroline Gutton shares her thoughts reflects on the inter-relatedness between sport and education and how one can help the other.
What’s the key to optimising the balance between sport and educational components in health awareness programmes ?
From my point of view, sport can de considered as “too much”, whenever it causes imbalances.
1. Physical imbalance : when the physical limits are exceeded and when doing sport is not healthy anymore.
2. Social imbalance : when one just focuses on his sport and himself no matter what.
3. In sport business: sport and sports people become a “profitable product”, no longer related to sport values (e.g. violence, doping …)
In the ''Health Awareness Programmes'', sport should be used as an teaching tool. It should favour the message we want to share. The rules of the game should be modified to reach the educational objective.
How can we formulate realistic aims for Sport for Development projects aimed at improving health ? Can you name examples of realistic aims?
These objectives can be either individual or collective :
1. For individual objectives: Sport must teach the young men and women how to respect his/her body. Not only in minimising the risk of injuries, but also in avoiding all kinds of addictive behaviour (e.g. alcohol, drugs…).
2. For collective objectives : Sport is a strong means of awareness-raising on public health problems such as HIV, nutrition, hygiene. It can help to induce behaviour change, thanks to a playful approach ('edutainment').
Result of the e-dabate here
