The Role Of Sport On The Development Of Empowerment And Equality In Society

Todays, sport is an integral part of human life. Also sport has been recognized as a cultural and social phenomenon. In fact, the importance of social development in sport should be prioritized (Spaaij, 2009), because sport is directly influenced society. As a result, many social processes define themselves in sport (Hylton et al, 2001). Sport social development associated with many factors and involved in many concepts including empowerment and equality. In this regard, sport and physical education can lead to enormous changes with an emphasis on empowering the students, athletes, and communities. Thus, the effectiveness of sport in community depends on empowerment, so that empower the individual or society is applicable necessity to achieving the development of society (Lawson, 2005).Empowerment should improve individual and team capabilities and efficiency, define injustice, and improve economic, social justice and well-being where poverty created (Schulenkorf, 2012). As a result, sport as an approach for empowerment in society can play a key role for productivity in society and future qualitative researches can define in this area. On the other hand, sport is more than just as an activity. In other word, sport does not occur in a vacuum. Sport is important and significant for both individual and society sector. One of the reasons that explain why sport development has the different effects in development of sport for all and sport championships is inequality in processes and practices (Hylton et al, 2001). In 2001, the United Nations recognized sport as a process that can be used to achieving to special goals such as reducing poverty, achieving to universal education, and promotion of gender equality in the global, national, social and personal levels (Beutler, 2008). The role of sport as a social-political strategies can be considered to contribution for reducing inequities and improving social cohesion. As a result, it can be said that the social development of sport is dynamic, flexible, compliant and non-official that focuses on the contribution of individuals and society (Hiltone et al, 2001). In this regard, UNESCO in 1987 has described sport and physical education as the fundamental rights for all. Children s Rights Forum stated elimination all forms of discrimination against women based on the equality between men and women, that all women have equal opportunities to participation actively in sport and physical education (Beutler, 2008). This trend is also visible in developing countries. Concentration of sport resources and equipment in the specific location and lack of attention to another needs of athletes in other areas caused many difficult for development in sport. Therefore, every development program on the basis of the small part of community into expense of majority of deprived people cannot be considered as a suitable plan. Therefore, it seems doing research about social role of sport in contribution, development, and justice can be helpful and practical approach for society.