Sports … A way of life countering the death industry

Moustafa Hamza

Sport may become a way of life to confront the death industry – or terrorism, according to a study by Dr. Khaled Kazim Abu Douh, assistant professor of sociology at Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in Saudi Arabia.

The study highlighted the preventive role played by sports clubs to ward off extremism and terrorism among the youth in the light of sociological concepts and theories within a framework of comprehensive strategy adopted by countries, which are keen on combating terrorism.

The study titled “The Role of Sports Clubs in the Prevention of Extremism and Terrorism — from a Sociological Perspective “, has stressed that sports and sports clubs play a significant role in the formation of personality, physically, psychologically, socially and morally.

The study noted that that these sports clubs could play a direct or indirect role in the safeguarding of society and warding off the dangers of extremism and terrorism, citing the sports’ role in fixing social deviation.

Dr. Abu Douh said that sociology, in general, and sports sociology in particular, has numerous theoretical visions that can be applied by sports institutions to play their role.

These sports institutions can apply “sports is a way of life”, to well establish social ethics via sports and get rid of pent-up violence.

The study said that many factors and motives, which may drive individuals to extremism and terrorism, could be confronted or appeased via sports and boost social peace, as sports are basically based on participation and mingling.

Sports fulfill the social needs of individuals such as acceptance, belonging, confidence and leadership, which are provided by terrorists as a means for recruitment.

The study proved that sports are a complicated phenomenon related to other aspects such as politics, commerce and the media. There are a number of roles played, i.e. an individual who plays sports, a worker, spectator and an investor.

The sports sociology considers sports clubs as recreational institutions which positively contribute to the sports and social development of individuals and fulfill their needs.

The sports clubs are also considered to be cultural, educational and social for bringing up good citizens.

The study defined extremism as “exaggeration to a degree of fanaticism, whether religious, political, economic, literary or artistic. An individual would feel that he possesses the absolute and indisputable truth. The individual would be alienated from the cultural fabric and the whole society.

Sports fix that by the reengagement of individuals into their social environment.