The Power of Sport
As the world seeks to find a better place, more peace, tolerance and inclusion, we are eloquently reminded of the power of sport by one of the world’s great leaders.
In a discussion with subscriber John Davis (his podcast “For the Good of The Game” is here) this past week, I was reminded of the great Nelson Mandela’s power of sport quote and speech from Laureus World Sports Awards over 20 years ago in Monaco.
Nelson Mandela is a critically important figure in our history. He is a beacon of leadership, hope, tolerance, patience, collaboration that needs to never be forgotten. It will be 8 years this December 5 that marks the passing of Mandela.
The younger generation may not remember Mandela, and his impact on apartheid and is well documented. It is very important we remember his impact on sport as well.
Some will forget that Mandela was a driven athlete, an amateur boxer who ran two hours every morning as a young man. He kept himself in excellent shape during his 27 years in prison. But it was a sport to which he had little attachment which would change his life and cement his legacy.
A key moment in Mandela's sporting life was the 1995 Rugby World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mandela had been sworn in as president of South Africa only the year before, the nation's first black president, and there were plenty of heavily armed whites who were none too pleased with the tides that had changed their entire existence. The possibility of rioting, or worse, loomed large over the match between South Africa and New Zealand. As Mandela would say later, it was the most nervous he'd ever been in his life, even more so than the morning in 1962 where a captured Mandela would be sentenced to either life in prison or death by hanging.1
“Sport has the power to change the world” Mandela said in his address in 2000 in Monaco. Unfortunately in 2021, we need to harness this power more than ever.
Leadership in youth sports comes down to everyone playing a role in creating a positive environment and experiences. Not just parents and coaches, although the initiative falls to them as they are at the front of the bus of the experience side.
Education is how we will steer the lessons from Nelson Mandela and examples of his leadership as reminders of the power of sport. History lessons are critically important part of this passing of wisdom and knowledge.
From Mandela’s talk in 2000:
I am happy to be with you tonight at the first Laureus World Sports Award. Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.
The heroes standing with me are examples of this power. They are valiant not only in the playing field, but also in the community, both local and international. They are champions and they deserve the world’s recognition.
Together they represent an active, vigorous Hall of Fame. A Hall of Fame that goes out into the world, spreading help, inspiration and hope.
Their legacy will be an international community where the rules of the game are the same for everyone, and behavior is guided by fair play and good sportsmanship. I ask you now to rise and join me in commending the original inductees into the World Sports Academy Hall of Fame.
It is now my great pleasure to present a very special Laureus award – the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award – given to a world athlete who exemplifies the highest virtue of sport, honor, courage, joy and perseverance. Our first honoree is a man who is both an athlete for the ages and a beacon of hope for the millions.
He began life in poverty and rose to the highest level of fame. To watch him play was to watch the delight of a child combined with the extraordinary grace of a man in full.
Ladies and gentlemen
It is my honor to present the inaugural Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award to Edson Arantes do Nascimento or as he is known to world – Pele.2
Pele is a topic for another day and a unique story in his own right rising from poverty to become arguably the best soccer player of all time.
This speech should be mandatory reference material for all coaches, parents, athletes, officials and volunteers involved in youth sports.
Every year around Remembrance Day (Memorial day in the USA), there is a very important message around remembering the sacrifices of our veterans and their impact on our quality of life today. The same applies to Nelson Mandela, and the date of his passing should be an international holiday. Equally, we should never forget.
I have always believed that exercise is a key not only to physical health, but to peace of mind. Exercise dissipates tension, and tension is the enemy of serenity. - Nelson Mandela 3
While we may not be able to implement an international holiday, we can resurrect and continue his message on courage, honor, fair play, joy, perseverance and all the values that come from being involved in sport.
Sport also has the power to divide, create conflicts and barriers between parental groups, coaches and all stakeholders. Sport has the power to discriminate and exclude many and continues to do that in various circles.
This is why Nelson Mandela and his stance on the power of sport is such an important message to absorb, remember, share and adopt in our day to day involvement in sport.
The below are resources used for this article. Mandela’s speech is below.
2 https://www.paradigmsports.ca/sport-power-change-world-nelson-mandela/
3 For Nelson Mandela, sports were major weapon against racism
Thanks Greg! A wonderful tribute and thought-provoking piece. There have been but a few and may not be many more like Nelson Mandela. I can think of few other examples of human resilience greater than his story. Thanks for the "shout out" -- I appreciate the mention!