A Norwegian historical perspective on sport and development
If the local population and their needs are not taking into sufficient consideration, any foreign development project has little grounds to succeed, says NSSS Master candidate Solveig Straume.
This article is based on the October 2005 session of the Discussion Forum on Sport for Development and Peace at the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences.
Master candidate Solveig Straume gave an introduction to sport and its correlation to development.
Key factors for success
Local involvement and emphasis on local needs are some of the key factors in the success of any development project. Before any country or organization supporting a project establishes itself, it is important to take into consideration how the local population and surroundings will be involved and how their needs are going to be met.
It is also important to share culture rather than wanting to introduce a new culture. A different approach have forced many foreign projects fail prematurely.
Different development models
Straume looked at sport and development from two perspectives, one as a development of sports and the other as development through sport. She explained that the focus was on sport as a tool for development, which she referred to as ‘the role sports plays in the development of society as a whole’.
Sports development aid models, she said, can be divided up in to three models:
- Political Ideological Model, e.g. from Soviet Union which was aimed at spreading communistic ideas.
- Elite focused model, which involved the exposure of African coaches and athletes to modern facilities and equipment in Europe, also exposing them to competitive modern sports.
- Sport for All, which had its origin in Europe in 1966, this meant sport for everyone in communities.
Sport for All
The 1980’s and 1970’s saw the raise in development aid to developing nations. In Norway there was a common policy for all development projects supported by
NORAD that bilateral and multilateral aid was to be given equality aiming at poverty reduction.
Tanzania was suggested as a priority country.
In 1984 the Sport for All projects began in Tanzania. with focus on physical education in primary school as well as providing courses to Chang’ombe teachers. The project aimed at assisting in organizing the community sports structures and supplying sports equipment.