Throughout the history of humanity, sport played a vital role in developing the physical ability, a sense of community living and cohesion among people. Brotherhood and inter-dependency are fundamental to a happy and satisfying life and hence, no individual can survive as a detached island aloof from the fellow beings.
From the time immemorial, human being developed several activities to promote this cooperation and harmony, some of which later turned out to be sports. Today the world sees sports as means to integrate communities and nations and to promote peace and harmony and we have a myriad of competitions to celebrate the spirit of sports. Sports assumed another significance, when the world recognised its power and value in mitigating violent extremism.
Qatar, yesterday stressed the need to empower young people with life skills and values that would prevent them from engaging in violent extremism. During a speech at a high-level event organised by Qatar’s Permanent Mission in partnership with the United States, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and Football for Peace Foundation on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi said that Qatar is concerned with the impact of unresolved conflicts and poverty in many unstable and poor areas, where there is a limited employment and educational opportunities coupled with social, political and economic marginalisation they are unable to meet their needs, adding these issue are of the utmost importance for the State of Qatar. The country’s development programmes are aimed at addressing social issues leading to sustainable development, using various educational, professional and sports means, H E the Minister said.
H E Al Muraikhi referred to the various initiatives by different Qatari entities such as Qatar Charity’s sports initiative for peace and development in Darfur, and schools funded by Qatar Fund for Development and Education Above All Foundation where sports is an integral part of education.
Sport plays an important role in society as it is capable of conveying basic rules and essential values of peaceful coexistence, such as tolerance, team spirit, loyalty and fair play. Sport can impart the value of discipline, endurance, courage and self-motivation. The ethics of sport lays the foundation for a more peaceful and humane world. In 1978, Unesco declared sports and physical education as a fundamental right for all. But the right to play and sport has too often been ignored of disrespected in many countries, especially in the poor and developing regions.
Qatar’s leadership has been wise enough and far-sighted to foresee the power of sport. The country always strives to promote the spirit of sport by organising different competitions, encouraging sports clubs and most prominently hosting coveted international events such as the IAAF World Athletic Championship and 2022 FIFA World Cup. Yes, sport is a powerful weapon in combating violent extremism and it is not only capable of winning heart and minds, but can bring in harmony and peace.
