Sports for peace

If there was a time in our country’s history that sports has had a greater role in unifying the country through its success in sport, it was in 2008. Since then, Kenya has had its peace back except for a tumultuous month in the Tana Delta not long ago. The potential links between sport and peace here in Kenya nonetheless, is powerful.

From international events to the grass roots, sport brings people together in a way that can cross boundaries and break down barriers, making the playing field a simple and often apolitical site for initiating contact between antagonistic groups. Consequently, sport can be an ideal forum for resuming social dialogue and bridging divides, highlighting the similarities between people and breaking down prejudices.

Many of the values associated with sport are relevant to conflict prevention and resolution and to peace building. Well organized activities teach participants respect for each other, honesty, empathy, the importance of having rules, effective communication and co-operation skills. These skills and values are all essential to both resolving conflict and preventing it from arising in the first place.

Sport can also serve as a positive means of interaction between communities, people and cultures, contributing to the maintenance of a dialogue between parties in open or latent conflict. The tradition of Olympic Truce, the longest lasting peace accord in history, demonstrates the international potential of sport for peace.

Now, more than ever, sports for peace events are needed locally to help to create a structured, constructive outlet for the people affected that is oriented toward peaceful resolution of aggression and tensions in conflict or post conflict situations.

There are two local sports events that strive to achieve these ideals in the most unique settings.

An initiative called the Laikipia Highland Games mooted five years ago by Kuki Gallmann, the Gallmann Memorial Foundation and the Rift Valley Trust was held yesterday to celebrate peace through sport for several local communities around the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.

The Laikipia Highland Games is unique in that it is held in the wild confines of the Conservancy and it encompasses both Western modern athletics and traditional tribal games. In keeping with the spirit of art, environment and sport, all common denominators, these Games aim to bridge differences across the tribal divide.

These games have become an exciting annual event and attract competitors from across the country, not only as a sporting event but as a tourist attraction.

The Tecla Loroupe Peace Run in Kapenguria through the Tecla Loroupe Peace Foundation has been in existence for 10 years now and has spread its wings to other parts of the country and across borders to spread the message of peace.

These sporting events do much to assist reconciliation and development of peace among warring communities. In the lead-up to the next elections, politicians from troubled communities would do well to ride on these forums to encourage the peace building, instead assuming that they are usurping their roles or stealing their thunder.