Sports and Development

What is the difference among Sport, Leisure, Recreation, Play and Physical Education:-

Leisure is that time that a person has to do with as he or she pleases, that time that is not devoted to
work, doing chores, running errands or fulfilling family and other obligations.

Recreation are activities that people engage in during their leisure time, e.g read a book, travel, play a
game, work in the garden, watch television or become involved in a sport.

Sports refers to physical activities that have a history and precise rules about how a game is played it
may also refer to more casual activities such as aerobics or even walking. Sports played in the Caribbean
range from cricket, volleyball, swimming, tennis, rugby, track and field, netball to name a few. Sports
can help in the process of development in material and non-material ways through the generation of
income, improvement in educational opportunities for Caribbean nationals, for example in scholarships
and the creation of employment, increased and levels of investment among others. Sports can
contribute to the development of our region in the following ways: _

a) Sports Tourism b) the generation of income c) educational opportunities

d) Health and Fitness e) Discipline and morale f) Presence on the World Scene

g) Sense of Caribbean Identity

Play is a spontaneous activity that children engage in where they make up the rules or there may be no
rules or even no objective other than immediate enjoyment.

Physical Education this is taught in schools and is concerned with specific curriculum objectives, for
example, health and fitness, movement for coordination, poise and grace, teamwork and nurturing
values such as cooperation and good sportsmanship.

In highlighting sport and its potential for human development there are two distinct levels one should
keep in mind. First is the world of the professional or competitive sport which is frequently publicized by
the mass media. ( the world of the elite athletes where sport is characterize as ‘entertainment’).
Secondly there is that offered in schools or engaged in recreational purposes where people who are not
athletes participate in sport as a form of physical activity usually for intrinsic rewards such as enjoyment,
health, fitness and maintaining social relationships. Sport may or may not be played on a competitive
basis.

Also bear in mind that there is a tendency to restrict any discussion about sport to youth and the able
bodied. For example most ministries of government that have responsibility for sport tend to be tied to
youth development. People see sport as an avenue for human development, however for this to work it
must be relevant to everyone, since sport can contribute to the good of the individual and society.
Sports Tourism

The Caribbean region is dependent on the tourism industry for its foreign exchange earnings and job
creation than any other region of the world. It is also currently facing stiff and growing competition
from other exotic and warm weather countries as well as from the U.S.A. and Canada which have far
more resources to diversify their tourism product that the Caribbean. Diversification of our tourism
product has already started and include Sports Tourism. Example Aruba’s Hi-Winds Pro-Am Windsurfing
Championships, jamaica’s Johnnie Walker World Golf Classic, Sandy Lane Gold Cup , The annual Sir
Garfield Sobers International Schools Cricket Tournament, Run Barbados Series (10k and Marathon)
International Polo to name a few. These events are held annually and provide excellent opportunity for
sustainable tourism development. That is, the provision of jobs in the summer months when the
occupancy rates within the hotels is low.

Economic benefits : Sports have a multiplier effect

Revenue for the government from the regulatory fees and taxes collected. Government can then use
this revenue in its social and economic development programmes. Sports also lead to improvement in
infrastructure such as stadia, roads and port facilities in order to host sporting events. Benefits are also
derived from the upgrade of skills and know;;ledge of workers in the service industry. They also get an
opportunity to work with regional and international law enforcement agencies to improve security
networking. Income is also generated by means of the sale of television rights to air events. Some
Caribbean sportsmen play for international clubs and receive handsome salaries which some remit to
the Caribbean by way of investments. Employment is created directly and indirectly, where they pay for
various services and goods. Money is spent on hotels, travel services ( taxies and tour companies)

There are however some economic limitations such as expenditure on infrastructure sometimes
exceeds regional economic benefits, the facilities may not have long term demand, much of the revenue
generated may go to international sporting bodies e.g. ICC , crowd management places a strain on
resources – local transport and security services. Some locals may be excluded from trading in favour of
trans national sponsors example Pepsi at ICC World Cup.

Sports create a sense of Caribbean Identity when for example a West Indian Cricket team beats
international teams such as Australia and more particularly England – the mother country. This helps to
promote regionalism something which does not happen at the political level.. A sense of identity is also
created when Caribbean people excel in other international sports such as the Olympics,
Commonwealth Games and World Championships. Sports promote regionalism/Nationalism in the
following ways – when people travel throughout the region to watch sporting events and while visiting
each other’s countries they recognize the similarities of each country thus reinforcing Caribbean
identity. Secondly identifying with a particular style of playing cricket, e.g hitting across the line the use
of fast bowlers as oppose to using spin bowlers. The success of any Caribbean national is seen as a
success for all as we can lay claim to the individual as our own e.g Usain Bolt. The hosting of regional
sporting events such as world Cup forced Caribbean leaders to develop policies with regard to
immigration such as a Caricom passport.This will facilitate unhindered movement of people travelling
throughout the region. Sports can help Caribbean people to see the similarities and forget their
differences thus helping to integrate the culturally diverse nations in the Caribbean.

Exam Questions- Answer questions 1 – 6 and the activity ONLY in your note books for next class (24th
March)

1 Using examples explain TWO ways in which sports has contributed to development in the
region. 4 marks

2 Briefly describe THREE ways in which the hosting of international sporting events in the region
can have a direct social impact on Caribbean states. 6 marks

3 Identify TWO sports in which Caribbean people have gained international recognition

2 marks

4 With the aid of TWO examples explain how sports tourism has contributed to Caribbean
development. 4 marks

5 It is a common complaint of sports men and women in the Caribbean that they cannot achieve
the full professional status that they seek in their various sporting disciplines. Suggest THREE
factors that prevent such individuals from becoming fully professional. 6 marks

6 State ONE way in which a named Caribbean institution has contributed to development in the
region. 2 marks

Activity: - Find examples of how sport can generate income, influence the mass media, provide
employment , promote health and fitness , provide discipline and morale, offer educational
opportunities and develop a Caribbean identity.

Sport can contribute to Caribbean development in all the above ways, however the dominance of the
foreign mass media can undermine sports contribution to Caribbean development. If a society suffers
from a great deal of inequality sport cannot change this. In the Caribbean sport as physical fitness or
sport for all is not pursued in a serious manner.

Essays

Outline some of the ways in which a foreign sports scholarship impacts negatively on Caribbean
development. 20 marks

Discuss Four challenges that are faced by Caribbean governments in using sports as a means of
facilitating development in the region. 20 marks

To what extent do sports in the Caribbean provide educational opportunities for Caribbean people as
well as a route to Caribbean nationalism 30 marks
Mass Media`

This may be defined as channels which communicate messages to large audiences simultaneously.
These channels can be placed in two categories – the print media and the electronic media. The mass
media therefore includes, radio, television, newspapers and the internet. Each of these had specific
audiences and material that tend to keep them distinct in the type of information they provided. The
mass media is sometimes referred to as the press. The word press historically meant the printing press,
but today with ICTs where internet and computer technologies now network with radio, television,
newspapers and other print media as well as electronic media such as DVDs and cell phones to transmit
any type of information globally. As the Caribbean emerged from colonial rule and achieve
independence in the 1960s it was able to embrace the development in the mass media around the
world. So that by the 1980s the Caribbean was on par with world wide advances in the mass media.
Today radio, television, computer, video, cellular phones , and satellite systems are now very much a
part of the Caribbean culture. The last decade has been described as the information age because there
has never been so much technology , It is a result of this that one must note that the role and function
of the mass media is a developmental issue. The Human development paradigm promotes an idea of
development not just as economic progress but as increasing the levels of equity, productivity,
empowerment and sustainability experienced by people. If the mass media is promoting development
then evidence of these factors must b seen among Caribbean people.

The Roles and Functions of the Mass Media

The role of the mass media include, provision of information about events institutions in individual
countries in the Caribbean region as well as the global community. It also provides advertisements,
news, entertainment, enjoyment, changing behavior, free press, forum for cultural expression and
national identity.

Institutions

One of the primary functions of the mass media is the provision of information about institutions
whether locally, regionally or internationally. Journalists see it as their role to research and investigate
local institutions such as church, the school, health care facilities, in order to inform the Public on their
operations. For example an investigation in Barbados into the facilities of some primary schools brought
many deficiencies to the attention of the Ministry of Education and as a result the government acted
swiftly to correct the problems.

Events

The mass media provide local regional and international coverage of news and events. Sometimes the
print and electronic media use sensationalism to attract their audience especially when they report on
Crime, general elections, Prime minister speeches, racism, weather systems and pollution. At the
regional level, priority is given to the broadcast of important regional events such as the Caricom Heads
of Government summit, Test cricket, football and athletics by the mass media.
Entertainment

The mass media has provided us over the years with a myriad of entertainment. For the most part this
entertainment has been clean, good and positive, however, the media has been accused and cautioned
on many occasions for providing and perpetuating some forms of entertainment which the public think
has been or might be harmful to the youth. Example of positive entertainment various genres of music
from jazz to rap, hip hop etc. Local cricket, horse racing, football and other sporting activities, concerts,
festivals.. Example Carnival in Trinidad, Crop Over in Barbados are but a few which are shown across the
region. The development of satellite technology within the past 25 years has allowed viewing of from
the Olympics, World Cup Cricket and Football , The Miss World and Miss Universe Pageants ,Grammy
and BET awards. These can all be viewed on cable networks of Multi Choice, Direct TV and sometimes
CBC.

Helping to Construct National and Regional Identity

The mass media has helped in carving out national identity by informing the public about the various
political and social institutions that are present in the country and comparing them to others which exist
in other islands to determine differences. It is from these differences that identity is born. It has given
airtime to discussions on history and culture of the people and the cultural expressions during various
indigenous festivals NIFCA, Errol Barrow day, National Heroes Day, the media devotes these times to
highlighting their achievements. CBC use of Bajan Programming such as Bajan Bus Stop, Bus Ya Brain,
also help in creating national identity.

The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), The Caribbean News Agency (CANA) and Caribvision create a
bond among Caribbean people and help to shape regional identity. Many Caribbean artiste are
showcased on Tempo even though this station is not Caribbean owned. This attracts a large Caribbean
audience and helps to shape regional identity. Caribbean talk shows and Soap operas which are aired on
regional stations also help in regional identity. Many international events in Sports, entertainment,
politics, tourism, education, international affairs, business and politics which are broadcasted from the
Caribbean have helped to showcase the Caribbean identity to the world.

The Caribbean media has projected our image through famous music forms like reggae, calypso and
dance hall which are played on radio stations, television programmes and advertisements. The Jamaica
Tourist board use of One Love by Bob Marley to powerfully reflect that country’s identity. Other
Caribbean artistes such as Sean Paul and Bounty Killer of Jamaica, Sherwin Winchester and Machel
Montana of Trinidad and Allison Hinds of Barbados have all marketed videos which show the historical
natural and social habits of the Caribbean. Rhianna was just used by the Barbados Tourist Board to
market that island to show that it does exist. The use of these artiste highlight the growing regional
tourism and also help in carving a regional identity.

Activity : - Find other examples across the Caribbean which support each of the following roles of the
mass media cited above.
The role of the mass media however in promoting development is being obstructed by the dominance of
the US mass media which many see as Cultural Imperialism, Cultural penetration and Cultural
Dependency. The Caribbean is overrun by the US mass media, especially the cable television
programming. Images, lifestyles, fashion, stories, stereotypes and news which is put out by the US
media have become part and parcel of the knowledge and daily experience of Caribbean people. A few
examples, Days Of our lives, The Grammy Awards. Whitney Houston funeral and the list can go on. The
cultural imperialism thesis stress that foreign mass media export cultural products to the countries of
the developing world where they are gladly embraced leading to the adoption of foreign norms, values
and ways of life. The theory stresses that the bombardment of these images will eventually condition us
to regard them as normal. In so doing some aspects of Caribbean culture will be erased. The debate is
still out there as to whether this erasure was caused by the mass media or because of migration.

The dominance of the US media conglomerates such as ABC,CNN, NBC and FOX news has is glued to the
search for terrorists like Bin Laden, as well as the stereotypes painted of Arab and Muslims people as
normal .We do not question why Arab people are always portrayed in a negative light, nor why we are
always on the side of the US. This is as a result of our constant exposure to pro-US sentiments.

The mass media has the potential to play a leading role in the development of the Caribbean. Caribbean
governments, institutions and other groups should harness people attention to the mass media to effect
change and transformation in the society. However the mass media today is largely used for
entertainment. If governments packaged this entertainment to incorporate serious national issues such
as health and wellness, civic education, political awareness , and media literacy then the mass media can
be used to advance development. However careful note must be taken of the influence of the
dominance of the US mass media so as to prevent cultural imperialism