Monday, November 06, 2006
Conference Reflections
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Aaron Beacom: ISRM / EASM ‘Power of Sport’, Newcastle-Gateshead 7 – 10 September 2005
The recent international sports conference at the Sage centre, Newcastle-Gateshead, brought together two rather different organisations. The Institute of Sports and Recreation Management as a body representing the sports profession, worked with European Association of Sport Management, a more ‘academic’ body with a clear research focus. The resulting wide ranging conference had as its central theme, the ‘power’ of sport to effect change in community settings. In consisted of a number of specialist subject panels.
My interest in the general field of sport in international relations led recently to investigation into sport in a number of international development assistance programmes, including the role of sport in rehabilitation programmes for disabled in post-conflict situations. This led to my decision to engage in the ‘sport and international development’ panel at the conference. My paper [updated summary below] explored the rationale behind sports NGOs and government agencies becoming increasingly drawn into international development assistance programmes. It explored issues of reciprocity and long-term sustainability in relation to two particular programmes. It also addressed the increasing trend toward partnerships in relation to such initiatives.
The conference brought together an international audience of approximately 650 delegates. This included delegations from the sports ministries of Zambia and Kenya as well as a delegation from Bejing and a number of representatives from a range of British based NGOs and government agencies. I was pleased to receive considerable interest in my paper, which was followed by a lively discussion on the wider implications of development assistance on the future direction of international sport. Other papers within the international development panel included those exploring theoretical issues relating to international development and those focusing on the experiences and outcomes of particular programmes. One initiative run by a small NGO in Kenya – but with plans to expand throughout sub-Saharan Africa – was particularly noteworthy. The ‘Alive and Kicking’ initiative was designed to respond to the huge difficulty for individuals and organisations – particularly schools – to access affordable and durable sports equipment. Drawing from the residual pool of labour left behind after the exit of a multinational sports equipment manufacturer from the area and using indigenous material in the form of leather and rubber, a number of ‘sewing centres’ have been set up to produce affordable and most importantly, repairable, footballs. These sewing centres provide employment for local people and become centres for community activity in their own right. As no logos appear on the balls, they are used instead to convey educational messages relating to malaria and HIV / aids. A fascinating study, not least from globalisation and sustainability perspectives.
As always, such a conference provided plenty of opportunity to network and a number of possibilities for future collaborative research, were identified. As well as the creation of research opportunities – first on the list an academic paper based in the conference paper – the experience provided additional benefits. Prior to the conference, through use of the Open Learning Unit (thanks to Mercedes here) I was able to improve my skills relating to the production of Powerpoint presentation. During the conference I was able to collate a substantial body of information, particularly in the form of case studies, that will be used to enhance delivery of a range of modules including ‘International Perspectives on sport’, ‘Sports Governance’ and ‘Sport and Disability’. While at the conference, I was able to view a poster presentation by a group of students from Northumbria University, on a number of related development issues. I was struck by the quality of these presentations. I was reminded again, how intellectually challenging such an exercise can be and of its effectiveness as a mode of assessment.
Finally, if there are any colleagues out there, who have an interest in international development assistance issues, I would be delighted to hear from them. Their interest could be from a political, economic, social or ethical perspective. There are l am sure, lots of opportunities for collaborative work
Aaron Beacom
September 2005.
New Boundaries for International Assistance:Sport aid in international development
Dr. Aaron Beacom
College of St. Mark and St. John
Context
As the status of sport in international society evolves, assistance with the development of sport is emerging as a valuable asset in the international aid portfolio. The development of such aid packages highlights wider changes to the international aid agenda and its contribution to enhancing quality of life, as well as indicating the shifting priorities of sports organisations as actors in international society. More established programmes such as ‘Olympic Solidarity’, have for some time enhanced the capacity of sports International Non-governmental Organisations (INGOs) to actively engage in international society. Such programmes focus on the needs of elite athletes in developing countries and as such fulfil the dual role of contributing to the international sporting infrastructure necessary for the development of international competition, as well as providing support for individuals and groups within the recipient state. Alongside such elite athlete support, the increasing inclusion of sport and recreation programmes in community development projects, provide a vehicle for individual and communal rehabilitation. This is particularly the case in relation to aid for the disabled in post-conflict situations. Through a consideration of sport in an increasing range of aid contexts, the paper assesses how such programmes are influenced and informed by wider debate on the evolution of international development assistance.
Methods
The paper considers sport aid in international development from the perspective of International Relations theory. As such it is concerned with shifting influence between the key actors in the international frame and the changing nature of the international political agenda. International sport aid is located within that agenda.
Research is centred on qualitative interviews with decision-makers in international development assistance, as well as an assessment of archive evidence relating to aid in foreign policy. At governmental and quasi-governmental level, there is a particular focus on the Department for International Development (DFID) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and related activity of British Trade International and the British Council. Outside the UK, reference is made to activities of US Department of State, where it relates to international development and more specifically, sport aid. The enhanced diplomatic dimension of such activity is assessed. This is brought sharply into focus through initiatives such as those launched by the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for the development of sport in Iraq in the wake of the 2003 invasion. The work of such organisations in the context of the development of international disability sport is also noted. At non-governmental level, changes in development assistance objectives of organisations, both sport specific and non-sport specific are considered. In particular, the international development assistance activities of the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) are compared with shifting priorities of mainstream aid NGOs.
Through considering aid activity at both governmental and non-governmental level, the paper is able to relate the influence of changes to foreign and development policy, to the implementation of sport aid packages.
Results
The process of analysis which forms the basis for the paper will involve:
• Investigating the nature of involvement of sports federations in international development assistance through an assessment of strategic planning documentation.
• Identifying the parameters for development assistance set by wider foreign policy considerations.
• Examining the legislative framework through which international development assistance is directed.
• Establishing possible performance indicators for use in measuring outcomes of specific sport aid programmes.
Discussion / implications
Development assistance is ultimately about enhancing quality of life. While sport has a role to play in that process, sport aid cannot operate in a vacuum. The implementation of sport aid is influenced and informed by wider political, social and ethical considerations. Identifying the appropriate level and nature of that influence will form the basis for discussion relating to the paper.
A range of issues emerge from the paper, that have implications for the aspirations and capacity of sports organisations to engage as independent actors in the international arena, as well as their evolving relationship with state institutions. This includes the potential roles of private organisations such as sports equipment manufacturers, in international development.
More fundamentally, questions arise about the capacity of international organisations involved with development assistance, to play a part in international diplomacy.
References (sample)
Literature relating to Development Assistance
Burnell P. (1997) Foreign Aid in a Changing World, Open University Press, Buckingham.
Smillie I. et al (eds) (1999) Stakeholders: Government-NGO partnerships for International Development, London, Earthscan.
Killick T. (1998) Aid and the Political Economy of Policy Change, London, Routledge.
Literature relating to International Relations theory
Der Derian J. (ed) (1995) International Theory: Critical Investigations, Basingstoke, Macmillan Press.
Weiss L. (1998) The Myth of the Powerless State: Governing the Economy in a Global Era, Cambridge, Polity Press.
Literature relating to international sports development
Beacom A. ‘A Changing Discourse? British Diplomacy and the Olympic Movement’, in; Levermore R. & Budd A. (eds) (2004) Sport and International Relations: an emerging relationship, London, Routledge (p.p. 93-111).
Higgs C. ‘Making a Difference: Using Sport and Recreation in the Guyana Project for People with Disabilities’, in; Doll-Tepper et. al. New Horizons in Sport for Athletes with a Disability – Proceedings of the International Vista 1999 Conference, Oxford, Meyer & Meyer Sport
(p.p. 799-813).
