Abstract

Sport is a very important exercise in life today. The use of sport as a tool for change is evolving in numerous countries of world aiming to contribute to social development, health promotion, peace building and conflict resolution. Sport is significantly considered as vehicle for social change and promoting humankind values in society.

Cameroon is a great sport nation ranging from football to volley basketball, handball etc. the government of Cameroon has made great efforts over the past years to promote sport and peace in Cameroon. The patriotism in Cameroonians when it comes to the sport has revealed the promotion of national unity and reconciliation in Cameroon has become a cornerstone to all national efforts and a basis for combating all forms of discrimination and exclusion.

Therefore, it is in that standpoint that the current paper demonstrates the role played by sport in the process of peacebuilding, enhancing national interest, reconstruction, development, and sports intervention in the education of young generations for a better Cameroon It also underlines efforts of national sport organizations on way to the unity and reconciliation as well as for development and peace in Cameroon.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background To The Study

Living together has been a challenge of many countries in our world. The world has always longed to leave in peace and harmony with each other. peace is a prerequisite to many other activities in life. The quest for a strategy that can successfully unite people has always been the goal of states and many international organizations like the united nations that have always sort to maintain international peace and security.

Sport is not only a physical activity but an area where people interact socially. Jarvie and Maguire (1994) claim that sports and leisure activities form an integral part of social life in all communities and are intricately linked to society and politics. Popular culture attaches numerous positive values to sport. Sport – improves health, fitness and education – creates business opportunities and employment, fosters nonviolence, fair competition, teamwork and respect – bridges cultural and ethnic divides – contributes to cross cultural dialogue, understanding, unity, tolerance and peaceful-coexistence. Sport is also praised for its important role in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (UN, 2016). It is considered as a tool for conflict prevention, peace-building and development by the United Nations (UNOSDP, 2015). In this context, sport is seen by many as a more cost-effective approach for dealing with social problems than correcting the consequences of aggression, crime, violence, and abuse through police, correctional or social services (Jarvie and Maguire, 1994). Furthermore, sport has been an integral method for implementing programs to address the social impact and reconciliation aims (Collison et al., 2016). With the emergence of sport for development and peace (SDP) sector, sport has been harnessed to play roles in post conflicts peace-building and reconciliation process (Giulianotti and Armstrong, 2010). Sport is a successful means of fostering development, particularly in bridging gaps and unifying disparate groups of people (Kidd, 2008). A growing number of sport organizations have sought to intervene in conflict zones in recent years to contribute and encourage reconciliation between the opposite sides, to bring support and benefits of sport to victims of conflict. In 2005 within the introduction of the International Year of Sport and Physical Education, the added value of sport as a peacebuilding factor was given almost unanimous

recognition by the international community. The fundamental values of sport and play have been acknowledged as very important factors in the building of a stronger civil society where tolerance and good relationships are being built. Sports for unity and reconciliation projects can be used to promote social inclusion break down barriers and create bridges between opposing groups. Sport can help the process of reconciliation building confidence and trust among diversity advancing healing process, encouraging resiliency, and giving a sense of normalcy (sportanddev.org, n.d.). However, sport itself is not good or bad. It is just an empty and neutral box to be filled in and a tool to be used with values, ideas, meaning, dependent on the cultural context in which takes place and people who take part (Serena, 2009).

In Cameroon, like in other developing countries specifically in Africa, the post-colonial period has been characterized by ethnic conflicts and violence may be due to bad leadership and governance which divided Cameroon society for a long time. Therefore, any measure that can bring peace and sustainable development in Cameroon is well appreciated

1.2 Statement Of Problem

Cameroon has recorded huge successes in sporting activities over the pass years. A lot has been done to promote peace through sporting activities in Cameroon. However, there are still some lapses in the way sporting events is used to promote peace in Cameroon. The role of sport has not been well developed to foster peace in the nation. Poor management, issues of bias, discrimination, tribalism and political intrusion in football activities has been a major setback to effectively foster peace and development through sporting activities in Cameroon. Sport and politics don’t really have a balance and smooth functioning in Cameroon

Sport is a language that all Cameroonians understand. Someone said” Cameroon is divided politically but united when it comes to sport” this statement is but true. The level of using sport in fostering peace in Cameroon has not been Zero. There are a lot of great initiatives and efforts to promote peace through sport but there is still a lot that is left to be done so as to effectively and efficiently foster peace in Cameroon through sport.

1.3 Research Question 

1.3.1 General question

How can sport be used to foster or enhance sustainable peace and development in Cameroon?

1.3.2 Specific questions

1. How can sports diplomacy be used to attain Cameroon’s national interest in foreign relations?
2. What role does sport play in Cameroon’s economic development?

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