Topic: Using Global Sport as an Engine for Development
Country: Spain
Delegate Name: Timothy Gombis
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Spain position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Spain has a considerable amount of influence within the international sports community, especially within football (soccer) and basketball, as well as the Winter and Summer Olympics. Such sporting events have contributed to massive business growth from the franchises that are represented in Spain and have grown the national economy. Sports have also played a role in unifying cultures, especially with large amounts of refugees entering Europe. This inflow of refugees can also be welcomed by taking part in sports and erasing cultural borders between natives and foreigners.
Economically, using sports as a tool for development is good in the short-term by generating jobs: construction workers and security are employed to ensure the event can go undisturbed. In addition, sales from paraphernalia and products of sports franchises can generate tax revenue and can fund more projects that sports organizations introduce. This has certainly been true for Spain, as in 2013 revenue gained from sports goods leveled out around $279 million USD.
International competition can only be seen as a fuel for cultural relations. For years, the Olympics has been successful in bringing countries from the far side of the planet into the limelight and farther into the political mainstream. Spain has been contributing to the phenomenon for decades, investing millions into teams and organizations that bring communities together. The refugee crisis across Europe has also affected the workforce in receiving countries. According to the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees, in mid-2015, approximately 5,798 refugees were relocated in Spain, and those numbers are expected to increase yearly.
However, a humanitarian approach should be considered when debating these topics. Nations such as Qatar have abused human rights in an effort to curb costs, mainly by keeping wages to below a living one and by keeping workers ill-equipped. Spain heavily supports the encouragement of human rights in the endeavor of creating jobs and generating revenue within developing countries
"Spain." CIA World Factbook. CIA, 3 Nov. 2016. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.
"Revenue of Sports Goods Manufacture from 2008 to 2020." Statista. Statista, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.
"List of Countries by Refugee Population." Wikipedia. UNHCR, 5 Nov. 2016. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.
