The Objectives of Sport and International Understanding

Abstract

When discussions emerge around, for instance, a boycott of the Olympic Games or some other spectacular sporting event one often hears the axiom, or “natural truth”, that sport contributes to international understanding, or even to a more peaceful world. Notably, the charter of the Olympic Movement, being the mother of contemporary international sporting activities, refers to: “helping to build a better and more peaceful world”. If one looks at how often this objective is invoked, it is obviously of great value. This value can be traced to the psychological need of every group or society to set a goal or to develop an ideology. Another more practical reason could be that this objective serves as a justification for organising sporting activities.