"After Paris Attacks, Sport Can Help Heal Wounds" -- Op Ed

Young people battered by malign influences and radicalism need an anchor in their lives

Like many, I have reflected long and hard over the awful events that took place in Paris last week. Seeing the horrors unfold live on our television screens and smartphones made the barbarity seem even more vivid. The reaction of the French nation and the international community, which came together to show solidarity and to mourn the victims of the horrific attacks, has been inspiring.

But I was also struck as I observed those at the head of the unity march – politicians, writers, cultural and religious leaders – by the absence of leaders from the world of sport in that massive show of solidarity. Of course, that solidarity was being felt throughout the sporting world and was expressed in a variety of ways. But it really was a missing link last Sunday. And it was surprising, too, given the role sport plays on a daily basis in breaking down barriers and often providing the only anchor in the lives of young people battered by malign influences.

The fight against radicalisation is being waged across many battle lines. The work of our intelligence services, police, NGOs and public authorities will continue to be critical. But it is also important that our policy-makers, as they ponder their next steps in the post-Paris world, spend time understanding how sport can encourage inclusion and positive values among the alienated and disaffected.

Mercifully, the vast majority of young people do find purpose, through force of friendship, shared interests and education. And this is where sport plays its powerful and augmenting role. Sport is not a cure- all, I admit, but it can be part of a long-term strategy in the fight against alienation and the conditions that can lead to a sense of separation and even extremism.

Look back at London 2012. We had 350,000 people who wanted to volunteer to help deliver the Olympic and Paralympics Games through our Games Makers Programme. These were people, young and old, drawn from across their local neighbourhoods: they included virtually every sliver of religious and personal belief. The thing that drew them together was a real commitment to do something good and to serve their neighbourhoods. We know who they were and where they are now. And surely at this time, of all times, these people are a resource that should be tapped into. Believe me, they’re capable of reaching out and helping young people. Barely a day passes without someone from this herculean legion stopping me in the street and talking about the life-enhancing experience they had three years ago. In the next breath, they’re almost pleading for a new set of marching orders.

When I look at my own sport – athletics – with 213 member federations covering every corner of the globe, I get a sense of the reach that sport provides. Only last month, I was reminded of this in Egypt at the Arab Athletics Federation General Assembly. I was talking with colleagues drawn from Iraq, Morocco and Algeria and many others across the region about how we can increase participation and better reach local communities. Our time was almost entirely focused on how to use our sport to engage with the next generation and build those essential bridges.

This is what sport does. It does it on a daily basis, and in every country of the world. We must make much more of this phenomenon: it can be a tool in our battle to help give young people a renewed purpose and self-belief.

The International Olympic Committee, through its recent Agenda 2020 proposals, is now much more attuned to working with politicians and NGOs to embed sport into wider social policy. There is now a greater recognition under President Thomas Bach that the worlds of sport and politics must engage in a new dialogue. This approach must also be reflected, I believe, in any new initiatives launched in the aftermath of Paris. Sport needs to be at this table.

In addition, the race to host the 2024 Summer Games is starting soon – and it is likely that bids will come from the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This bid process offers yet another ground-breaking opportunity to bring to the fore the positive benefits of hosting the world’s greatest sporting event. We made some progress through London 2012 but more can be done to make sure that this really forms part of the legacy of bidding for – and ultimately hosting – major sporting events.

As we head to the general election in May, and the political parties set out their stalls, let’s hope a renewed commitment to community sports is embraced by all. Sport remains the most powerful social worker in all our neighbourhoods, and, globally, the deftest and most effective soft power. Both these qualities are needed now more than ever.

Written by Sebastian Coe

Originally published in The Telegraph

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