The Power of Sport by Michael Boyd OBE
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”
As a kid growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles in the 1980s, I was surrounded by conflict and violence. Every day, there was a murder, a shooting or a bomb going off. Football was an escape for me and my friends. I became obsessed with football and was lucky enough to work in football for more than 20 years, leading the Irish FA Football for All and Let Them Play strategies, which have made the game more fun, safe, and inclusive throughout Northern Ireland.
I was the youngest ever European ‘A’ Licence Coach and Senior Manager in the Irish FA. I saw first-hand the power of sport to transform people and communities. I led antiracism and anti-sectarian football campaigns, empowering fans, clubs, and community groups to make positive changes. I helped create new charities like World United and Street Soccer NI, supporting people who have been homeless, refugees and asylum seekers.
Sport gave me a positive focus growing up in a deeply divided society, and throughout my life, I have used my passion for sport to make a positive difference in the world around me. I recently received an OBE for my services to sport, charity, and reconciliation.
Rio Ferdinand alongside Michael Boyd.
I believe there are many obvious advantages for children to be involved in sports, especially regarding health and physical benefits. Sport can help create habits and health benefits that last long into adulthood—research points towards the necessity for us to move more in our daily lives. Reducing the time children spend in sedentary activities is also recommended and can be just as important as increasing daily physical activity.
Physically, sports and exercise contribute to the following:
Reduced risk of obesity
Increased cardiovascular fitness
Healthy growth of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons
Improved motor skills, including coordination and balance
Improved sleep (boosts brain development, which leads to increased academic learning)
But sport also plays a significant role in many social, emotional, and developmental aspects. Sports can play an important role in embedding values, increasing empathy, and promoting respect. Playing sports helps people develop many social skills they will need for life. It teaches us to cooperate, to be less selfish, and to listen to others (teamwork). When managed well, sports can give them a sense of belonging and help them to create friendships and build their social circle.
Playing sports means children are expected to follow the rules, accept decisions, and understand that they could be penalised for bad behaviour. It can teach them to respect coaches, referees, themselves, and others. Sports also teach personal leadership skills as a teammate or in an official role within their team.
Developmentally, sport helps children develop better ways to cope with the highs and lows of life. When they’re playing sport, children learn how to play together, win and how to lose. Being a good loser takes maturity and practice. Losing teaches children to bounce back from disappointment and cope with unpleasant experiences and is integral to becoming resilient. Playing sports helps children control their emotions and positively channel negative feelings. It also allows children to develop patience and understand that it can take a lot of practice to improve their physical skills and what they do in school.
“Sport helps children develop better ways to cope with the highs and lows of life.”
Sport is often described as a ‘gateway into a better life’ for those experiencing poverty and living at a socio-economic disadvantage, where sport can provide opportunities to do something positive and pro-social. This transformative role of sport is characterised by a belief that sport can build confidence at the individual level while developing strong community links more widely.
Through opportunities for individuals to engage in social activities, gain experiences, and make life skills, sport offers opportunities for young people to experience positive first-hand experiences, including teamwork, achievement, meeting challenges, and being a winner. These opportunities can also be used to contribute to the prevention and reduction of youth offending.
In its role as a positive activity, sport is well placed to take a universal, preventative role. It can act as a diversionary activity by removing individuals from potentially harmful situations, peer contacts and routines, which can help prevent involvement in youth offending. It can also provide positive opportunities and experiences to protect against involvement in offending behaviours.
Sport can act as a form of early intervention or rehabilitation for young people with challenging circumstances who might be at risk of offending or have already been involved in offending.
Today, I work in the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and lead on sport, business, and human rights. I also chair the Commonwealth Forum of Sport and Human Rights and the Belfast Healthy Cities Charity.
I have been fortunate to work on the international stage about sport, development, and reconciliation. I have been involved in sports for peace projects in Israel, China, and the USA. Most recently, I completed the UEFA DFLM leadership programme with colleagues from 18 countries. I also sit on several international sports, business and human rights forums across the Commonwealth and UN, which build awareness and capacity.
In October 2023, I joined the Rio Ferdinand Foundation as a Consultant Director. I am delighted to be surrounded by people who share my passion for using the power of sport and music for good.
The Rio Ferdinand Foundation is a value-driven charity, and today, we need to promote and protect values more than ever. Our work at the Rio Ferdinand Foundation creates opportunities and pathways for young people to empower equality, drive social mobility and realise personal potential.
We do this through our best practice model of aligning brands with communities and delivering real change from the grassroots across Ireland and the UK. An excellent example is the exciting new partnership between the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and Rio Ferdinand Foundation, working across the southern border counties and Northern Ireland, uniting young people through their love of the ‘beautiful game’. This cross-border project further promotes peace and reconciliation.
The Rio Ferdinand Foundation has built up skills and knowledge that would greatly benefit the international community, especially in developing countries. It is unique in its reach across the UK and Ireland; it is an inclusive, progressive, global brand and charity that champions young people's rights and empowers future leaders.
Sport has the power to change the world! Our teams at the Rio Ferdinand Foundation are making a positive difference in the community, and I am very proud to be part of the team.
If my views interest you, listen in as earlier this year I delved deeper into the power of sport with TedXTalks: