The Olympics demonstrates the unifying power of sport

These events, with their displays of physical and technical mastery and the shared enormous outbursts of emotion, convinced me of this undeniable fact. The great opportunity that sports give us as a tool for social inclusion has been a great, creative, and excellent idea.

Most of those sports were not created by the people but by the aristocracy, who found they had free time to dedicate themselves to more mundane things. Any sport has this capacity to a minor or more significant degree; take football - the tremendous global festival - has transcended social barriers and created a sense of international community. Through sports, people of different cultures, races, and nationalities unite.

Sports have catalysed cooperation, friendship and solidarity, both on and off the field of play, addressing social issues and becoming a powerful tool in fighting gender equality, inclusion, and the battle against racism, inspiring change and progress.

Sports stir passions in the region's countries and have become, over time, a mass phenomenon with a social impact. When well channelled, sports can be an element of development and social well-being. It can also be a catalyst for social anxieties and generate feelings of pride around a common goal as a nation that, symbolically, is represented by a sporting achievement as an impetus for the more remarkable achievements of a country.

I specifically mentioned football when covering this subject, as there is still no sport in the world that awakens so many passions and generates ambivalent feelings of joy or sadness among its inhabitants. We saw it during the last World Cup when even schools changed their timetable in consideration of the importance that, as a family, children could watch England playing at the finals. Sports significantly impacts society, politics, and culture by promoting social development, national unity, and intercultural communication. It also plays a crucial role in promoting diversity and inclusion. By fostering positive values, improving personal and physical development, advocating for inclusion and diversity, and generating employment and economic impact, sports becomes a powerful force for social change. It is often used for propaganda, national unity, and political dialogue, but its true power lies in its ability to bring people together, regardless of their background or beliefs, something we should all appreciate and support.

While it's important to celebrate the unifying power of sports, we must also acknowledge the dark spots in the sport. These issues helped to feed the media with sensationalism. They include the space where violent groups gave free rein to their aggressiveness, the use of sports as an instrument to control the masses, consumerism, violence, and the use of doping. By acknowledging these negative aspects, we become more aware and responsible in our approach to sports.

It's crucial to remember that for future generations, any form of sport can unite people. Any local team can become a source of identity and pride for communities. Sports teach fundamental values such as teamwork and discipline. They also promote physical well-being, as regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy body weight, improves cardiovascular endurance, and promotes motor skill development. People of all ages, genders, and abilities can practise sports. With the new trend and emergence of sideline sports adaptations, older adults can enjoy the sport within their limitations.

I only hope that this display of physical and technical mastery that we have witnessed in the last couple of months will inspire many of our youngsters, as the Tour of Britain coming to Ottery fuelled the legs and helped our Primary School children carry high the name of our town every year when they conquer the school hill to win the John Campion trophy for their house.