Topic: Using Global Sport as an Engine for Development
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: Ryan Schotzko
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Portugal position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Sports are undoubtedly a worldwide phenomenon. They have evolved from simple games involving a ball to complex sports with many rules such as American football, to sports that do not involve physical activity such as chess. But sports are capable of more than maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They can bring families, communities, and even nations together. They also bring a blend of cultures, people, ideas, traditions, superstitions, and rivalries.
The nation of Portugal is no stranger to international sport. Portugal has football, ice hockey, basketball, and rugby teams for both genders, in addition to under-21 and under-18 clubs for youth. Portugal is also aware that sports are capable of building bridges in international communities, with famous examples being FIFA and the Olympics. Companies such as air travel, construction, manufacturing, and advertising also benefit from the construction of stadiums, the transport of international fans, commercials featuring sports stars advertising products,and the manufacture of sports equipment
Sadly, some nations are denied the progress and hope that international sport can bring. Nations such as Syria and Ethiopia are torn with war and violence, and communities are denied the togetherness that international sport can bring. However, there is a solution. The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro saw the introduction of a “refugee team”, with athletes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, and other nations that would normally be incapable of having national teams. Portugal would like to implement a temporary team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, made of refugees. Once that nations that are at war have ceased, and once the countries affected have formed Olympic teams, the temporary team will be disbanded.
