In a recent CBC radio interview, a volunteer who went to Haiti to help orphaned children noted among her qualifications that she was a soccer mom, an expression sure to resonate with the fraternity of parents involved in community sport. What she sought to convey, it seems, is that the skills acquired in sport volunteerism were of the kind that transferred to other demanding and complex social situations. And yet when it comes to social innovation or community development, we do not always consider the role that community sport plays in bringing people together around a number of common interests. We do not always think of what sport does in building resilient and productive communities.

Avercamp(1585-1634) Winter Sport in Holland

It’s not as if everyone in the sport sector agrees that community sport can meaningfully contribute to social development. And some might argue that the case for community as a social good is overstated, or at best unknown. This may be due to the discrepancy between what Canadians believe sport can do for society and how well sport is fulfilling its potential to do so. However, there is a growing and robust discussion within the sector about the intentional use of sport to improve our lives, including the power it has to give various groups, such as new Canadians, a connection to others and a sense of belonging.

We do know that sport is where most Canadians get their first exposure to volunteerism, and where we find the most volunteers. We know there are over 30,000 sport and recreation organizations spread throughout Canada, where people come together as neighbours and often leave as friends. These organizations are created and operated by people in their own community, the vast majority of which do not rely on any government funding. In the simplest sense we can observe that people belong to community sport, and community sport belongs to people.

Studies have shown that social relations affect our well-being, and that the frequency and intensity of social interactions improves our overall health. Social networks to which people belong, like community sport, provide the kind of shared values, group identity and historical narratives or traditions that show us how we can do things by ourselves, for ourselves, together.
Do we need to broaden our concept of how and where social relations develop in our communities? Are we correct to believe that community sport is a vehicle to develop the kind of face to face interactions, the shared values and the trust needed to develop social capital? I know from personal experience that sport is one place where I trade in my most valuable currency – my kids. I entrust others to look after them, in the same way as I do when they are entrusted to me, or to a soccer mom. It is a place where, notionally at least, I can have my children join others in a collective effort to fulfill our human potential. It sounds corny, I know, but as Ken Dryden has observed, sport is one of the few places where we can see how our kids interact with others.

Many of the institutions we’ve relied on for socialization have been challenged in the past few decades, whether it be the family, church or school. By design or by default, community sport is now perceived by most Canadians as second only to the family in transferring values to young people. Research also suggest that sport contributes to the development of interested and caring adults, to an ability to work with others, to a sense of acceptance and a sense of belonging to a social group. Not everyone wants to be part of that experience, but those who do tend to be part of something that matters to everyone involved.

As we consider the experiences and processes that unite us, we would do well to consider what community sport can do. A good starting point might be the True Sport Report, which looks at the many contributions that sport can make in that regard.

Sport is a profoundly social activity. It teaches many lessons about relationships. It reinforces the importance of commonly accepted rules of behavior. It assumes that everyone needs to contribute to the broader goal of the group and that there are many roles in which contributions can be made. It also leads to the understanding that practice and study improves your chance for success. Sport can be a powerful tool to reinforce social truths but also to model new social ideas. The socialization benefits of sport can be extended to more people by adjusting the categories of those participating. The segregation of competitions in the Olympic Games by male and female is one example of this. The Paralympic Games are another example.

After spending seven years recovering from a traumatic and disabling accident I reached a turning point in my life through sport. Murder Ball was the name of a sport for quadriplegics. Because my disability was more severe than that of the other players I had to recognize that I was not an asset to the team. But I became immersed in the competitive spirit which I found extremely healthy and which spilled into other areas of my life. Eventually I found a role which made me valuable. I would get my foot pedals in the spokes of one of their better players thereby keeping them away from the action. By tipping the scales my team started to win. Eventually I found another role where I could contribute -- fundraising and organization. This early discovery would lead my life in interesting directions.

I have a particular interest in individual sports. I have helped organize sailing for people with disabilities and helped invent a device to go hiking in rugged terrain. The Trailrider can only be operated with the help of two or more able-bodied people. It has been used to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the base camp of Mount Everest and has fostered many lasting relationships. I was actually surprised by how letting others feel a sense of responsibility for my well-being could be a very bonding experience.

Sport for people with disabilities has been responsible for changing attitudes of the general public. People can relate to athletic achievement and the cultivation of sport heroes has helped make the general public feel a human connection and identification with people with disabilities. This attitude is a vital precondition to social change at the level of government policy. The Paralympic Games change every country that hosts them. I remember Italian mayors telling me how their Paralympic Games had opened a window for new policies of access and inclusion. The Games had reached a critical mass to gain the attention of the general public. Their connection with the Olympics has been very helpful in achieving this.

The Paralympic Games have already changed Vancouver and British Columbia. Many decisions have been made to improve access and inclusion, overcoming political hurdles because of the knowledge that the world would be arriving and scrutinizing our achievements. The Measuring Up Program has encouraged communities to reevaluate themselves and recognize shortcomings and opportunities.

The role I played in the 2006 Olympics required me to accept the flag on behalf of the city, the province and the country. I resolved to make this symbolic ritual memorable and equal to the quality of any able-bodied mayor. I remain amazed by how this one gesture moved people around the world. People with disabilities living in appalling physical and social conditions in other countries were inspired to work for improvements where they lived. Recently a woman visiting from the former Yugoslavia shouted to me on the street asking me to slow down. She ran up to me and told me that the image of the flag ceremony had inspired a commitment to public accessibility which had resulted in real change where she lived.

Sport and disability and belonging are intimately connected. The more we recognize this the greater the chance that we will get the most out of the opportunity. The responsibility is ours.