Sport as a Vehicle for Cross-Cultural Education

Alliance for International EducationDoha, Qatar

October 2012 R. Baker, C. Esherick, Ahmed AL Emadi, & P. Baker

Sport is• A universal language

• A valuable vehicle for nations and societies to build relationships

• A vehicle for individuals from diverse cultures to engage with one another

• A vehicle to promote cross-cultural understanding

The purpose of this session is fourfold:

a) to examine the foundations of the use of sport for socioeconomic, diplomatic, and educational purposes;

b) to provide examples of successful use of sport toward these ends,

c) to identify strategies through which sport can be a valuable mechanism in enhancing cross-cultural understanding, and

d) to address the assessment of social, economic, diplomatic, and/or educational objectives of sport-based initiatives.

The foundations of the use of sport for socioeconomic, diplomatic, and educational purpose• Sport is a valuable & visible contributor to the global

economy (Fort 2003; Plunkett 2010). • Sport is also a social institution that can influence society

on a large scale (Coakley, 2007). • Given its structural power and universality, sport is useful in

promoting socioeconomic, diplomatic, and educational objectives (Wolf, 1990).

• Top-down social, economic, diplomatic, or educational initiatives are common, and receive the majority of resources and attention, but the bottom-up tact is essential in humanizing stakeholders and building mutual understanding (Beer & Nohria, 2000)

The foundations of the use of sport for socioeconomic, diplomatic, and educational purpose• Top-down change might have a more immediate

economic upside; whereas bottom-up change may be more costly but yield sustainable results.

• Facilitating direct contact via sport among diverse groups can lessen hostility, break down stereotypes, remove fear, increase knowledge. and foster more tolerant attitudes (Allport 1954).

• The very nature of sports creates close proximity, promotes common objectives, and requires joint contributions for success.

• On a local level, sport is an arena for individual engagement and exchange.

Sports are an ice breaker• they permit us to have

conversationswith people we don't like or don't know or don't trust

• those conversations lead to world trade or to peace or to education or to opportunity

A Video Sample

Examples of successful use of sport for cross-cultural understanding

Strategies utilizing sport to facilitate cross-cultural understanding

Assessing social, economic, diplomatic, and/or educational objectives of sport-based

initiatives• Consider Mixed Methods Approach–Quantitative Pre- Post- Survey–Qualitative Analysis of Comments–Video Analysis

• Conduct Follow On–Action Plan Implementation– Surveys– Social Media

Questions?

*Dr. Robert E. Baker rbaker2@gmu.edu George Mason University

*Mr. Craig Esherick cesheric@gmu.eduGeorge Mason University *Dr. Ahmed AL Emadi ahmed1963@hotmail.comQatar University *Dr. Pamela Baker pbaker5@gmu.eduGeorge Mason University