The whole world has been on the lookout for measures to effect peace and coexistence, and it has been discovered that an approximate solution to world peace is found in sporting activities. The effect of the other side of war is sport. As sport consolidates, war devastates. This paper is prepared to mirror those facts behind the world of sport and globalization.
Introduction
Whenever, people gather to create values to their activities, the importance of sporting activities is readily emphasised. From primary to university level, physical education programme involve the development of the totality of man as well as serving as a social force for globalization.
This assertion seems apparent in a well balanced programme (theory and practical) that aims at physical, mental psycho-social and moral development of an individual including other values that may be derived from the participation.
Indeed, it can safely be claimed that any nation that does not desire to be lost in the backwoods of international relations and affections, should be seen to deliberately direct national policies to the world bodies that control the various aspects of sports. Such institutions include the Federated International Football Association (FIFA), which is the highest controlling body for the promotion of standards and development of football (soccer) for the entire world and also the regional counterparts like the Confederation of African Football (CAF), European Union Football Association (UEFA) and the West Africa Football Association (WAFA) others are various national equivalent like the Nigeria Football Association, the Nigeria Hockey Association, the Nigeria Olympic committee (NOC), the Golf Association of Nigeria. In Nigeria the federal ministry of sports oversees sporting activities in the country through various federations. Associations and councils among which are the Traditional Sports Federation, the Swimming Federation, the Athletics Federation, the Table Tennis Federation, the Karate Federation, the Golf and Squash Federation, the Wrestling Federation, the Boxing Federation, the Basket Ball Federation.
The importance of sports is taken seriously by nation as a veritable tool for global unity. For example, issues of sports sometimes form the major areas of debate in even the federal houses of assembly. In Nigeria a number of the Nigerian national house of assembly Hon. Nuke Orator, on 25th April 2001 on the floor of the house moved and the house passed the motion that the house committee of sports should investigate and conduct public hearing on the falling standard of soccer in the country.
Significance of Sports
Sports in all its ramifications is a yardstick for measuring the real man. This is so, because it provides a pool for selecting from combinations of presentations from which qualified boys and girls are sent forth for designated events with the objectives of providing incentives for excellence, by way of recognitions and decorations.
THE EMANCIPATING POWER OF SPORTS: Sports take the whole world as one loving family. It is string that makes the centre hold among nations. The University of Sports introduces the element of one's humanity and eliminates that racial prejudices that is often ordinarily the case. As laudable as this point FIFA has still been accused of double standard against the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) its insensitively to the welfare of Nigerian players. A typical case of marginalization was the death of John Ikoroma who died while on trials in the United Arab's Emirates.
In any case, the importance of sport both nationally and internationally cannot be over emphasizied.
On the events of the Declaration of Punta Del Este the following resolutions were taken:
On the threshold of a new millennium, the third International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS III) met in Punta Del Este (Uruguay) from 30 November to 3 December 1999. In a spirit of true global cooperation and mutual understanding, the participants adopted this Declaration intended to mobilize governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals throughout the world.
The Ministers reiterate the importance of physical education and sport as an essential element and an integral part in the process of continuing education and human social development. These activities can also contribute to social cohesion, mutual tolerance and the integration of different ethnic and cultural minorities at a time when migration concerns all continents. They underline the importance of the United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisations (UNESCO) as a focal point for sport and physical education in the United Nations system.
In this era of globalization, the Ministers note the need for renewed effort for North-South dialogue and cooperation and urge donor countries and international financial bodies to recognize sport and physical education as powerful tools for development to a view to reducing the gap between the developed and the developing countries, and to provide resources for this through official development assistance programmes. They also note the need, and request UNESCO's support, for the inclusion of physical education and sport as Human Development indicators by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the same level as education, health and the environment.
They are deeply concerned to note that, in spite of the expansion of elite sport and sport for all programme in recent years, opportunities for children to participate in physical education have not been significantly curtailed. It is noted that the time required for physical education in schools is not being respected and is been being substantially reduced in many countries because of chancing priorities. The reduction of physical education programmes, they note, has contributed to the phenomenal rise in juvenile delinquency and violence, and rising medical and social costs. Studies undertaken at international levels indicate that $1 invested in physical activity leads to a saving of $3.2 in medical costs. In this context, they endorse the Berlin Agenda for Action adopted by the World Summit on Physical Education in 1999 and encourage Member States to ensure that sport and physical education are incorporated in school programmes or, as a minimum, that their legal requirements with respect to physical education programmes in school curricula are being met.
the Ministers note that, although substantial progress has been made worldwide, women are still under-represented as participants, coaches, officials and decision-makers in sport. They urge Member States and sports bodies to undertake a course of action to raise the involvement of girls and women in physical education and sport in all capacities at regional, national and local levels, using the 1979 United Nations Convention on the elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the 1994 Brighton Declaration and Sport as reference documents.
The Ministers underscore the importance of promoting lifelong sport and ensuring that sport and physical activity programmes are made available to elderly persons and persons with disabilities
The Ministers emphasize the ethical values of sport and urge all countries, both developed and developing, to work together to combat unethical behaviour, including doping in sport. They appreciate the initiative of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in establishing the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and emphasize the important role of all governments in WADA and in eliminating doping in sport in general. They further encourage this Agency to assist developing countries in their efforts to fight against doping in sport. UNESCO's role in this field should concentrate on information and education in particular.
The Ministers support a policy on preserving and enhancing traditional and indigenous sports based on the cultural heritage of regions and nations, including a “worldwide lists of traditional games and sports”, and of encouraging the holding of regional and world festivals
The Ministers note that in the coming milleniuim UNESCO should play a leading role as a catalyust organisaiotn tro reinforce global cooperation, based on the fact that physical education and sport can play a significant role in the socio-economic development of all countries. Hey urge UNESCO, in conjunction with other United Nations specialized agencies and the IOC, to prepare a comprehensive programme for financial and technical assistance to the developing countries.
The Ministers urge the Director-General of UNESCO to allocate sufficient financial and human resources and to reinforce the structure within the UNESCO secretariat in the field of physical education and sport
The Ministers encourage the Director-general of UNESCO to promote periodic regional meetings of senior officials and experts form Member States under the auspices of the Intergovernmental committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS)
In order to ensure progress, the Ministers recommend to the Director-general of UNESCO the holding of a Round Table of Ministers of Sport and Physical Education at the 31st session of the General Conference of UNESCO with a view to undertaking an interim review of follow-up action to MINEPS III
The Ministers recognize the important role that non-governmental organisations play in promoting physical education and sport as an instrument for achieving social cohesion and democracy, and encourage Member States to strengthen their partnership with NGOs in the development of programmes and policies relating to sport and physical education
They underscore the important role the media can play, especially in creating public awareness of the crucial social and economic contribution of sport and physical education to the well-being of a nation and its people
The Ministers reaffirm their commitment to work in unison and with devotion to promote a Culture of Peace with the help of sport and to seek support for their efforts from the highest political level. They welcome the unanimous adoption of a resolution on the Olympic Truce by the United National General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session and reaffirm their resolve to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation beyond the Olympic Games period.
The Ministers request the Director-General of UNESCO to transmit the Declaration of Punta Del Este to the Secretary-General of the united Nations so that it can be taken into account in the framework of the International Year for the Culture of Peace (2000) and in the programme of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010).s
