Do all countries have a chance of success in international sporting competitions?

Learning outcome : Students will deepen their understanding of factors that contribute to successful competition in international sporting events.   Learning Areas: Social Education – History, Geography, Economics, Civics and Citizenship, English, Mathematics; Health and Physical Education   Year levels: Lower secondary   Duration: Minimum four 45 minute sessions   Tools needed: Internet, Computers or print outs and reference materials

Define · Locate · Select · Organise · Present · Evaluate Define the task Scenario As representatives of the peak sporting bodies of your country, you are to consider how to develop the ability of your people to compete in international sporting competitions. This will involve reviewing the health and education levels of your population and choosing the sport which offers the best chance of success. Background ‘The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.' Olympic Charter, Principle 4 http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_122.pdf When players compete in international sporting events, they have already run a big race – overcoming personal, social and economic barriers. These barriers can be especially large for people in developing countries. Sponsorship, scholarships and aid are some of the supports available for high level sports people to assist their involvement in international sporting events. In this Global Learning Quest, you will research economic, social, health and human development factors which contribute to your country's ability to compete in international sporting events. In groups, you will investigate your selected country's participation in international sport and the support it receives to overcome its specific barriers. Your team will present a recommendation about how to improve your chances to overcome barriers, and help your class answer the Global Question: : Do all countries have a chance of success in international sporting competitions? Perspectives on the Global Question Outline of team roles Form groups of four or five and select your focus country, for example: Australia, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Pakistan and Solomon Islands. Investigate lifestyles and living standards in your country, together with people's involvement in sport locally and at an international sports event such as the Olympics. Locate International sport http://url.edna.edu.au/5p3b Preparation for sport http://url.edna.edu.au/MnBJ Human development CIA The World Fact Book https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html UNDP Human Development Report http://hdr.undp.org/en UN Millennium Development Goals http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/index.html MDG Monitor http://www.mdgmonitor.org/ UNDP – Country reports http://www.undp.org/mdg/tracking_countryreports2.shtml Sport and development Global education website – Poverty reduction http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/181 International Olympic Committee Commissions - Solidarity http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/commissions/solidarity/index_uk.asp International platform on sport and development http://www.sportanddev.org/about_this_platform/index.cfm Right to play http://www.righttoplay.com Country-specific websites National Olympic Committees Links to the 205 National Olympic Committees over five continents. http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/index_uk.asp •  Australia Australian Sports Commission http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/all/indigenous National Olympic Committee of Australia http://www.olympics.com.au/ •  Cambodia Piecing lives together: integrated mine action in Cambodia http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/2880#Section9 Khmer news http://www.khmernews.com/sports/2/ •  China National Olympic Committee of China http://en.olympic.cn/ •  Fiji Community development through sport http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/802  National Olympic Committee of Fiji http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-3653-0-0-0&sID=35619 •  Pakistan Opening up the world, educating girls in Pakistan http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/3062  National Olympic Committee of Pakistan http://poa.org.pk/new/ •  Solomon Islands The Malaita Games, Winners…Grinners…who cares about the scoreboard! http://www.iwda.org.au/au/2006/10/10/the-malaita-games-solomon-islands/ National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=3856&pID=1   Select information Background questions What skills and knowledge do we need to be able to compete in sport? What economic and geographical factors help people to compete in sport? What benefits does competing in sport offer? Which people are most likely to be competing in high-level sports? Team specific questions What are general living conditions like in your country? How healthy are people in your country? How is life improving? How is sport contributing to improving health and building community? How much will it cost for your team to travel to and compete at the sporting event? How are people in your country involved in international sports? How successful are people from your country in international sports? What barriers are there for people in your country competing internationally? Is the ‘right to participate in sport’ experienced by all people in your country? Which sport does your country have the most chance of international success? What support is available for more people to be involved in sport? Organise Use maps and statistics to create an overview of your country. You might include data on life expectancy, access to safe water and sanitation, government spending in health and education, and recent progress on Millennium Development Goals. Select a specific sport and/or event and find out how successful your country has been at it nationally and internationally. You might use a timeline to show success over a number of years or a medal tally. Outline some barriers which prevent your country achieving greater success (eg geography, cost, education, cultural practices). Research activities which are helping your country to overcome barriers Decide which sporting competition might offer your country its best chance of success. Outline ways in which people in your country could be helped to compete more effectively nationally and internationally. Make a recommendation about further ways in which international competitions could be made fairer for countries with barriers to overcome. Identify any further research you need to undertake to support your answer to the global question: Do all countries have a chance of success in international sporting competitions? Present Prepare a presentation about your country (eg written report, PowerPoint or poster). Use photos and statistics to describe the geographic, social, political and environmental features of your country and people’s involvement in sport nationally and internationally. Outline some of the actions being undertaken to help overcome barriers to successful participation and make a recommendation for further support. OR Create a list of activities that would address the barriers you have identified. After presentations: Compare the lists of recommendations and put them in a priority order for the appropriate international sporting body to answer the global question: Do all countries have a chance of success in international sporting competitions? Evaluate     High Medium Low Collecting information       Ability to gather relevant information Used a large number of appropriate resources to gather information that was important and related to the questions Used a variety of resources and collected information that was generally useful Used only one or two resources and did not select the key points to answer the questions Ability to use information to identify factors which limit the full involvement of people in international sport. Was able to develop an understanding of a particular point of view about their country's involvement in international sport and support this with information. Presented a key aspect of a particular point of view about their country's involvement in international sport and provided some information to support it. Formed an opinion about their country's involvement in international sport with only a limited reference to information. Working as a team       Ability to work with others in a group Listened carefully to others and encouraged the sharing of information and points of view. Listened to others and made some comments to support the group to work together Listened to some people but did not always encourage others to contribute their ideas Presenting information       Ability to present information with rationale Presented the key points with supportive evidence Supported the key points with some evidence Presented some key points in a little supporting evidence. Taking action       Ability to apply learning about improving equity in sporting competitions. Able to explain the benefits of sport for building a fairer world with reference to statistics and other evidence. Able to explain benefits of sport for building a fairer world. Able to ask questions about the benefits of sport for building a fairer world.

Players of the Cambodian National Volleyball League (Disabled) compete at the Kien Khlaeng Sports Court at the Veterans International Rehabilitation Centre in Phnom Penh. Photo: Kevin Evans/AusAID