Conference Agenda for 9 December

Prof. Ian Henry & Dr Mahfoud Amara, University of Loughborough Erolld Belegu, President, Kosovo Basketball Federation John News, Participation Manager, Sport Northern Ireland.

Chaired by Dorothea Hodge, Social Market Foundation

Sport can make a powerful contribution to peace-building efforts. At the grassroots level sport creates an environment which allows citizens to interact, work towards common goals, abide by common rules and share space and equipment. Sport also has positive impacts on health, wellbeing and education. It can assist in building skills such as leadership and team work that are vital to the development of post-conflict societies. At the elite level sport can positively contribute to establishing distinct identities and building social cohesion.

The panel will address:

• The relationship between sport and peace building efforts.
• Building national sports: Traditional sports or imported sports? Team sports or individual sports?
• The role of empathy, cultural background, knowledge about religious attitudes, and the rules and behaviour in the society in sport projects.
• The importance of ensuring that everyone in society gets a chance to participate.

Please click on links below to listen to the audio:

• Dorothea Hodge
• Prof. Ian Henry
• Dr Mahfoud Amara
• Erolld Belegu
• John News
• Azad Pahlavan
• Question & Answers

Inclusive sport has shown to be strongly linked to building social cohesion and social capital. Indeed, sport can provide a forum for building vital skills, a public space for individuals to challenge stereotypes and overcome prejudice and a means to promote good health and education. The panel aims to address key issues around disability sport, encouraging women into sport and developing opportunities for youth sport.

The panel will address:

• How governments can ensure that sporting opportunities are inclusive.
• What are the social, economic and political benefits of promoting an inclusive sporting culture?
• With particular reference to Middle Eastern societies - what barriers still remain for the participation of women in sport? Do positive sporting role models exist for women?
• What are the instances of best practice among established youth clubs and among coaches?
• Can sport promote mutual understanding and cooperation among youths in post-conflict or divided societies?

Please click on links below to listen to the audio:

• Introduction
• Tess Kay & Ruth Jeanes
• Tess Kay
• Trevor Smith
• John Morgan
• Question & Answers