In the world today, sports is a critical ingredient in the socio-economic development of every country. Over time, sports are increasingly becoming important in different dimensions key among them; the provision of employment opportunities to a number of people, promotion of physical well-being of individuals, promotion of sport-related sectors such as health, education, tourism, and entertainment, and promotion of the social cohesion of the people who often come together for sport events. Due to the impact of sports on different facets of society, the government has a responsibility of promoting and developing the industry. Some of the critical roles that the government plays include formulation and implementation of sports policies, funding, and development of infrastructure, promotion of sports culture in the society, directing participation outcomes, and working in partnership with other nations to foster sports and nurture talent (Wang & Wang, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of government in sports.
Development of infrastructure
Sport is inextricably linked to the various sectors of a nation, key among them the economic sector which relates to the infrastructural development of the nation. The sports industry significantly contributes to the economy of a country. The government must, therefore, be involved in the promotion and development of the industry. The government should ensure that the industry is adequately funded to necessitate the construction of state of the art sports facilities that will enhance the development and growth of sports (Lin et al., 2008). According to Grix & Carmichael (2012), hosting mega sports events, for instance, FIFA World Cup, and summer and the winter Olympic Games, has recently attracted the participation of every member country because such events have become commercial in nature as they often generate a lot of financial gains for the host country. Similarly, such sports events promote the country as a preferred tourist destination thereby contributing to its economic development.
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Formulation and Implementation of Policies
Local and international spheres have acceptable standards that form the foundation of sports. It is the responsibility of the government, through the mandated agencies, to ensure that policies that are mutually acceptable world over are formulated and implemented. For example, a country may be required to come up with legislation that discourages doping as a means to ensure fair competition in the industry across the globe. Similarly, the government is responsible for coming up with ways to promote a certain sport or even the country as the hub of that specific sport (Grix & Carmichael, 2012). With this regard, a government may formulate policies that promote a specific sport that will act as the national identity of the country. This is a phenomenon that may be common in young nations with intentions of establishing some sense of national identity
Promotion of Sports Culture
Governments can be active participants through initiatives such as the inclusion of sports as an integral part of the education system. The government has a role to play in sports by coming up with measures aimed at promoting sports culture in the country. Availability of good sports facilities in the country does not necessarily translate to efficient utilization from the populace, especially the youth. Therefore, the government ought to come up with initiatives that aim at promoting sports culture in the society. Such initiatives will ultimately increase the number of people who embrace sports. Government programs such as scholarships to the youth pursuing sports careers will play a major role in boosting the morale of the youth to participate in sports activities (Lin et al., 2008). Where a sports culture is embedded in the fabric of the society, the levels of cooperation in the society will be high because sports promotes social cohesion amongst members of the society (Grix & Carmichael, 2012). It is for this reason, for instance, Australia spends over seven billion pounds annually in promoting sports because it is deeply embedded in her culture. In addition, sports encourage socialization, foster character building, and nurtures self-esteem. Further, the physical well-being of the population is enhanced thereby minimizing the costs incurred in medical expenses as physically active people are less prone to diseases.
Organizing for Sports Events and Nurturing Talent
An individual can be passionate about a sport or even possess the talent, but without the opportunity to showcase the talent, they will not be informed of the opportunities that are available. The government can play a significant role in nurturing of talent by organizing for sports events that offer a platform for individuals to showcase their ability thereby remained informed of the limitless opportunities that are available. It is through such platforms that one's potential may be noticed which may land them lucrative opportunities (Lin et al., 2008).
The government can also support sports through partnerships and coordination with other countries, organizations or sectors in the provision of sports platforms that may not be attainable if pursued by a private citizen. Through such partnerships, foreign and private investments in sports are encouraged especially in cases where the government does not have the capacity to provide all the necessary facilities. Similarly, where there is an inadequacy in expertise, partnerships play a critical role in ensuring that the service sought is outsourced to other potential providers (Wang & Wang, 2010). Additionally, the government has a role to play in ensuring equal distribution of resources in the sports industry without favoring or hurting any particular sport. This ensures there is a multi-dimensional growth of talent across the different types of sport.
Improved Participation Outcomes
The society comprises of different groups of people who are not in possession of equal capabilities. As a result, there is a need for directing participation in sports to ensure that the diverse groups in the society are given equal chances. The government, for example, can play an active role in ensuring that the minority groups and persons with disabilities are not left out. Measures have to be put in place to ensure that they also derive satisfaction from available facilities and opportunities just like any other person (Grix & Carmichael, 2012). Similarly, by ensuring inclusivity of the different groups of people, it fosters social cohesion in the society in addition to a reduction in socially unacceptable vices in the society.
In light of the above discussion, it is important to note that the impact of the sports industry in the economy is significant as it cuts across different sectors of the economy. This calls for the government to remain actively involved to ensure that there is maximum utilization of the industry for the countries to enjoy the full benefits of sports such as the promotion of social cohesion and the physical well-being of the people. In promotion of the sports industry, the government has a critical role to play which include but not limited to formulation and implementation of policies, funding, and development of infrastructure, promotion of sports culture, and nurturing talent through partnerships and organizing of events.
References
Grix, J., & Carmichael, F. (2012). Why do governments invest in elite sport? A Polemic. International Journal of Sports Policy and Politics , 4 (1), 73-90. doi: 10.1080/19406940.2011.627358
Lin, C., Lee, P., & Nai, H. (2008). Theorizing the role of sport in state-politics. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Science.
Wang, F., & Wang, W. (2010). On the Role of Government in developing sports industry. 2010 International Conference on Management and Service Science . doi: 10.1109/icmss.2010.5577433
