NIIA leads discourse on unity, peace with sports diplomacy

As Russia’s attack on Ukraine, yesterday, shattered the peace of Europe with escalating casualties already on the first day of conflict, the rousing words of legendary South African activist, politician and Nobel Laureate, Nelson Mandela, boomed loudly at the conference room of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

[FILES] Nigerian Institute of International Affairs

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was represented by her daughter, Dr Funsho Obasanjo.

Director-General of the NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, quoting Mandela, said sports is not only an instrument of peace but an instrument of diplomacy.

He quoted Mandela’s memorable words: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”

He added that the essence of sports diplomacy is not a monopoly but sharing, which is in rediscovering the country and continent using sports as an instrument of development, while NIIA is charting a new course into the unknown territory of sports diplomacy.

Leading the panel discourse on sports diplomacy, a sports scholar based in Atlanta, USA, Idy Uyoe, recalled how the Dream Team feat of the Super Eagles at the 1996 Olympics, becoming the first African country to win the gold medal in the men’s football event, unified the black nation across the world.

“The power of sports was reflected in its suspension of bias, tribe and ethnicity, and the unification of the human race to the celebration of achievement with the 1996 Atlanta Gold medal. I was there and I saw firsthand how that victory unified the black race across the world.

“In fact, in the middle of the genocide in Rwanda, the whole nation dropped its arms to celebrate the conquest of Nigeria over the world. Such is the power of sports if tapped and directed for a positive purpose. Also, during the Nigerian civil war, hostilities were suspended on both sides for the visit of Pele to the country.

” For instance, the 2022 FIFA World Cup draw will attract over three billion viewership. This gives the FIFA president a greater platform to address the world than any world leader or even the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Nobody else can command such audience except with sports.”

Odegbami called a policy redirection and charting of a new course using sports, the most followed event in the world, to unite the country, Africa and the world.

Other speakers included Prof. Ikaweba Bunting, Director, Department of Unity for the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation in Tanzania; Ron Davis, international sports facilitator and administrator; and Ron Freeman, 1968 Olympic double medalist and diplomat.