Why sport?

 

A constant sporting activity is a worldly acknowledged mean to prevent from violence, criminality and drug-abuse. Sporting activity gives young people the chance to improve their social relations, have new friends and an active social involvement, share common games. Traditional school education does not often allow young people with difficulties to feel at ease. They are therefore excluded or rejected. School system rarely gives them a second chance.

 

Core of the present project is a new school pattern, connected to sporting - and environmental education, in order to provide young people with difficulties with new skills so that they will be likely to find out their job. Open - air sports for young people as a mean of personal development (human and cultural) and social integration.

 

 

The social dimension of sport

 

During the European Year of Education through Sport, the European Commission has emphasized the importance of the sport. One in every three Europeans regularly practices a sport or takes some form of physical exercise. Yet more needs to be done to make sports an integral part of people's education and life. Sports participation can contribute to all-round development, teaching social skills and a spirit of fair play, as well as self-awareness and a sense of competitiveness.  
 
The overall positive effect of sports for the well-being is still underestimated: alongside the increase in strength and fitness as well as the cognitive abilities, it directly improves the psychosocial life: it promotes positive social behaviour such as teamwork, respect and responsibility!  
 
In the following sections you will find useful information on your body, your brain, your social environment and how sport is interlinked with and affects all these parts.

 

In the Eurobarometer 213 "Citizens of the European Union and Sport", November 2004, A strong majority of citizens in the European Union cite the improvement of health as being the principal benefit of sport (78%). This perception of sport as being of benefit to one's physical and mental health remains stable compared to last year (80%).

Sport, as a means of improving ones health, is unanimously recognised within the European Union of 25 with a result of above 90% in the Southern and Mediterranean member States : Cyprus (93%), Greece (92%) and Malta (91%). A percentage above 90% is also present in Sweden (91%).

The analysis per age group (compared to 2003) confirms that sports as a factor for having fun and as a tool to be with friends, is also an aspect which is more important for young people than for older ones. The 15-24 age group considers more strongly sports as a tool to develop the physical capability and to a better self esteem.

Team spirit (52%) ranking highest, followed by discipline (46%) are the values which sport most promotes, according to European Union citizens. Six other values have been mentioned by about one third of interviewees: friendship (38%), effort (36%), self-control (33%), fair play (32%), respect for others (32%) and sticking to the rules (31%).

 

Sport, "powerful" vector for integration of immigrant populations -

Close to three in four European Union citizens (73%) view sport as a means of promoting the integration of immigrant populations. It is one of the most positive images of sport. Many Europeans consider sport as a possible way to develop dialogue between different cultures which co-exist within the Union . More than 80% of the Maltese (85%), Danes (84%), Spaniards (81%) and Swedes (81%) agree with this statement. On the other hand, this proportion seems lower in several central European countries. Slovakia is the best example as it is the only country where the number of answers for this proposal is less than 50%.

 

 

Sport, lever against discrimination for 2/3 of European Union citizens -

Sport is perceived as acting as a means of fighting against discrimination according to two thirds of European citizens (64%). Nevertheless there are some differences between countries: although a vast majority of interviewees seems "to rather agree" with this proposal in 20 out of 25member States, the agreement falls below 50% level in Sweden (40%) and Germany (43%).

 

 

The place of sport in the school programme

 

4 in 5 European Union citizens (77%) claim that they are in favour of more time being dedicated to sport in the school timetables, a result which is almost identical to that observed in 2003 for the "old" 15member States (76%).

The analysis by country shows that the response rate varies between 65% in Estonia and 93% in Greece . Once again, the Eastern Mediterranean countries ( Greece , Malta and Cyprus ) are most inclined to request a more significant presence of sport in the school programme.

Increasing the presence of sport in the school programme, and thereby accentuating the role of sport within the education system relies on better co-operation between the educational institutions and sports organisations within the various countries. 8 in 10 citizens of the European Union are of this opinion (82%).

 

 

The place of nature and outdoor sports

 

Physical education, particularly if outdoors, in contact with the environment is a unique chance to support the young at risk for dropping out. Physical education gives the young both community and individual experiences, which improve their personal growth and self-determination. Leisure and sport let the young, the kids and in particular, at-risk young people enhance their culture, their knowledge, and public life. Meeting the wild is instrumental to the project; to the young, this often means freedom, independence, getting out and breathing. Environment is synonymous of energy and inspiration; it implies vigor, impulse, and creative potential. Therefore, it leads the young and particularly those determined to drop out, to new stimulus and further learning. It is a proper moment to determine sense of respect for a crucial planet resource: the environment, the wild that is an increasingly current topic.