BEYOND THE SCOREBOARD Youth employment opportunities and skills development in the sports sector I would like to take this opportunity to underscore the importance of the topics discussed in this book, as they are key issues in the global economy today: youth employment and skills development. They represent the new frontier for both development and peace building. What is needed in the global economy is strong professionalism, life skills and dedication. The sports sector, the subject of this book, is essential for a balanced approach to life and relationships. Sport provides a neutral ground to discuss issues that are often controversial, such as the local and global economy, HIV/AIDS prevention, physical literacy and education, and social inclusion of youth. For the above reasons, the contributions that make up this book illustrate the challenges related to the sports sector, as well as opportunities for new services, training and jobs for youth. This research is part of a much broader framework supported by the ILO/Universitas programme, which brings together academic institutions, private and public stakeholders and the tripartite social partners, along with local and global organizations, to develop methodologies for decent work to address youth employment and social inclusion. I am very proud that this programme is supported by the Development Cooperation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Giuseppe Deodato Director-General Development Cooperation Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs BEYOND THE SCOREBOARD Youth employment opportunities and skills development in the sports sector Edited by Giovanni di Cola INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE • GENEVA Copyright © International Labour Organization 2006 First published 2006 Publications of the International Labour Office enjoy copyright under Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. Nevertheless, short excerpts from them may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation, application should be made to the Publications Bureau (Rights and Permissions), International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email: [email protected]. The International Labour Office welcomes such applications. Libraries, institutions and other users registered in the United Kingdom with the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP [Fax: (+44) (0)20 7631 5500; email: [email protected]], in the United States with the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 [Fax: (+1) (978) 750 4470; email: [email protected]] or in other countries with associated Reproduction Rights Organizations, may make photocopies in accordance with the licences issued to them for this purpose. di Cola, G. (ed.) Beyond the scoreboard: Youth employment opportunities and skills development in the sports sector Geneva, International Labour Office, 2006 Sport, youth, youth employment, employment opportunity, skill, social integration, developed countries, developing countries. 08.17.2 ISBN 92-2-117968-0 ILO Cataloguing in Publication Data The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the International Labour Office of the opinions expressed in them. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the International Labour Office, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. ILO publications can be obtained through major booksellers or ILO local offices in many countries, or direct from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Catalogues or lists of new publications are available free of charge from the above address or by email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.ilo.org/publns Typeset by Magheross Graphics, France & Ireland www.magheross.com Printed in (country) FOREWORD by Adolf Ogi, Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace I congratulate the International Labour Organization (ILO) on compiling this remarkable volume intended to broadcast the positive message of sport to future generations. It underlines the importance of giving young people the opportunity to promote social and economic development through sport to help create a better world. Education plays a vital role in a young person’s life. Sport is “the best school of life”, teaching basic values and life skills that are important for the holistic and well-balanced development of younger generations. Honesty, fair play, self-confidence, mutual respect, adherence to rules and how to cope with victories as well as defeats are all examples of the values connected to the immense resource that is sport. Since my appointment as Special Adviser to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2001, I am mandated to consult with the UN agencies, programmes and funds engaged in development, peace-making and peace-building, in order to identify programmes and tasks that could benefit from the involvement of sport organizations. Resolution 60/9, adopted by the General Assembly on 3 November 2005, recalls the importance of sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace.* It also invites governments, as well as the UN system, to seek new and innovative ways to use sport for communication and social mobilization, and to develop strategic partnerships with the wide range of stakeholders involved in “sport at all levels”. The International Year of Sport and Physical Education (IYSPE 2005) has provided an opportunity for key sports players to meet with the world of * UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/60/9, in force 17 Jan. 2006. v Beyond the scoreboard development. These players have responded to the international community’s call with concrete policy and project initiatives. The ILO has carried out an outstanding review, using the 358 existing sport and development projects of the UN System, the European Union and NGOs as a reference to identify the sport community’s values and the core skills. It is important at this stage to benefit from the lessons learned so far. This volume contributes highly to general awareness by discussing the positive effects that sport has on our communities and the numerous challenges that sport itself will face in the future. The outstanding quality of contributions demonstrates the serious commitment of the international, governmental and academic community in encouraging sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace. vi PREFACE by Djibril Diallo, Director, United Nations New York Office of the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace The authors of this book, differing in their regional backgrounds and experiences, share the rationale that sport can play an influential role in positively shaping the lives of youth in both developed and developing countries. In Africa, Latin America, Europe and elsewhere, thorough analysis by experts indicates that civil society and governments must engage and foster the development of youth in the sports sector to create quality jobs for them, to improve their skills and ultimately achieve sustainable development through sport. The authors of this book have illustrated that development of sporting activities under the necessary conditions of transparency is found to be dependent on national public policies. However, sport and particularly physical education are in need of additional budgetary support if the sector is to develop youth nationwide. This is far from the case in most of the selected countries. Global and regional partnerships are necessary to promote sport and its related industries. In Europe, the completion of a global collective agreement at the European Union level, specific to the sports sector, would help facilitate the creation of quality jobs in sport and include the stakeholders as part of a unique strategic approach. Countries in Latin America such as Peru and El Salvador, which share common cultural elements, can use sport to build upon their similarities and history while promoting development. Sports events can create growth in the local economies and related industries, and attract tourists and foreign investments. Likewise, in Africa, collaborative approaches are necessary to create a viable sports sector. If the East African Community created a wider market by strengthening ties between Kenya, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, greater financial resources would be available to develop sport infra- structures. Given East Africa’s geographical location and favourable climate, vii Beyond the scoreboard and established attractive wildlife reserves and tourist resorts, the area is well suited to host major international sporting events and serve as the region’s athletics centre. The East African culture and the record of sport performances, particularly in track and field, would further attract international competitions into the region,