I’M not averse to using the phrase “the power of sport” and I have definitely waxed lyrical about the amazing benefits of sport that can help everyone in our society.
In fact, we used this as the theme of our 2019 conference, the last “in-person” conference that we delivered.
At that point we looked at how participation in sport helped people deal with problems in their own life and heard from an array of guests, who had themselves benefitted in the main from active participation in sport.
When we look at the work of organisations such as Street Soccer, SAMH and of course my favourite, Scottish Sports Futures, (I am showing some bias here as I am privileged to be chair of such a caring organisation), there is no doubting the transformation that using sport as a “hook” has in helping people deal with the many issues that life throws at them.
The good news now is that the benefits of sport doesn’t stop there, it’s not the exclusive property of young people and there is another side to the power of sport that we may not be just as familiar with as yet: the power to help those, who number around 850,000 in the UK, that are suffering from dementia.
Sport is being used as one of the tools that help unlock memories and it plays a major role in reminiscence activities. Reminiscence activity is known to act as a positive intervention that can help bring back memories of the past by recalling past experiences and helps to improve participants’ self-esteem and communication skills.
I would expect this gives much needed joy to the sufferer and relief to friends and family who now have a communication tool to help break down barriers.
A new booklet which has input from across the four nations, was recently launched by Scotland’s Sporting Heritage Network and Football Memories, with support from Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre. It has case studies, training, useful checklists, and resources on how to launch an effective memories activity using sporting heritage: sportingheritage.org.uk/content/what-we-do/projects/sporting-heritage-memories-and-reminiscence-project/memories-handbook
I don’t think anyone has ever captured it better than Nelson Mandela, when he said: “Sports have the power to change the world.
“It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sports can create hope, where there was once only despair.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here