Review - Sport as a Mediator between Cultures

Sport as a Mediator between Cultures successfully occurred from 15-17 September, 2011, at Wingate Institute of Physical Activity and Sport, Israel.

With delegates from over 30 countries and representation from politicians, academics, professionals in the field and students, it was an event filled with discussion and idea exchange which strengthened and built new partnerships.

The scientific programme had a diversity of speakers, including keynote speeches from Fred Coalter, who called for increased scrutiny in defining `development´ and refining expected outcomes in the field of sport for development and peace; and Cora Burnett, who shared her theories and practical experiences with monitoring and evaluation tool creation and implementation in Southern Africa. A panel discussion between Wilfried Lemke, UN, Elizabeth Longworth, UNESCO, Manfred Lämmer, German Sport University Cologne, and Gudrun Doll-Tepper, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, emphasised the need for the sport for development and peace community to come together to form stronger partnerships from the grassroots level to policy making organisations to advocate, secure funding and ensure quality programming.

During her final report, that concluded the formal conference programme, ICSSPE President Margaret Talbot linked the various discussions and emphasised the importance of the intrinsic values of sport and physical education as well as physical learning, the process of learning in and through the body. She also suggested possible future directions for the sport for development and peace field, pointing out the importance of increasing research initiatives that focus on the use of sport in mediating across borders, sharing knowledge achieved in order to improve upon practice and policy and widening of a sustainable networking.

During the conference participants had the opportunity to take part in workshops presented by Budo for Peace (Martial Arts), Football 4 Peace (Football), Mifalot (Football) and Kickfair (Football), all non-government organisations currently working in the Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian region to use sport to build respect and integration between cultures. Staff members from all organisations showed and explained teaching techniques and pedagogical tools they use in their programmes.

On the final day, all participants, speakers, organisers and Ministerial representatives took part in a field trip to two development and peace projects. The first stop was Ultimate Peace, which uses the sport of Frisbee to build friendship and understanding between youths. The second journey was to Football 4 Peace, an organisation that uses football games and skills to create a neutral setting to foster understanding, respect and friendships between cultures.

To see some photos of the conference, please click here

To download presentations held during the conference, please click here