Topic: Using Global Sport as an Engine for Development
Country: Lebanon
Delegate Name: Chloe Wendlandt
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Lebanon position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Sports can be used as a way to bring opposing countries together to celebrate and enjoy events. Occasions such as the World Cup and the Olympics are examples of how people of all countries can join together and relate to one another while putting their differences aside. Amid the conflict occurring in Syria, Lebanon’s neighbor, Lebanon uses sport as a tool for creating peace and unity in its communities. Lebanon has been involved in the United Nations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) and has built playgrounds near refugee camps to encourage children to play and be active. Lebanon would like to continue making use of sports as an engine for development.
Especially for the youth of Lebanon, sports are extremely important in creating a positive outlet for people to find joy, peace, and unity. Children who are Syrian refugees are often deprived of being kids, which is why Lebanon makes such an effort to build readily available playgrounds near refugee camps. One playground in specific is known as the Ibtasem playground. Located in Bar Elias, a city in Lebanon containing roughly 150,000 refugees, it was planned and built after consultations with the children to create a park that would appeal to them as much as possible. The Ibtasem playground and many others that have been built restore the rights and freedom of children in a time when they might be neglected.
In 2014 and 2015, Lebanon participated in the IDSDP. The IDSDP allows people to develop socially and as a community through sports and active activities. In 2015, the organization Right to Play hosted a football game in Lebanon. The 12 teams, while trying to win, were also put up to the task of showing good sportsmanship, respect, and gender equality. Similar events were held on IDSDP as well as constantly throughout the year in Lebanon.
Currently with the environmental conditions and crisis in Syria, it is unlikely that Lebanon would be able to host a major sports event like the Olympics in the near future.
Sports for Lebanon are not used so much for generating money as they are strengthening the unity of its people and creating a happy atmosphere for those who escaped from Syria. Lebanon believes that sports are a powerful tool for development and would like to pursue more sports programs in the future.
"IBTASEM: A Playground for Refugee Children as Emergency Response." CatalyticAction. N.p., 13 May 2016. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
"Ibtasem Playground for Syrian Refugee Children, CatalyticAction, 2015 – Playscapes." Playscapes. N.p., 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
"A Shared Love for Sport and Peace." News Item. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
