By The Mountain Journal Crew
Mount Kenya University (MKU) recently joined
the world in marking International Day of Sports for Peace and
Development in an African region webinar.
The online meeting was organised by MKU’s
Unesco chair for Digital Education, Interdisciplinary Teaching and Sustainable
Development in collaboration with Kenya National Commission for Unesco, The
African Sports Association (ASMA) and TV47.
The theme for this year’s event is upholding
sports and physical activity for peace and development under Covid-19 lockdown
and beyond. “When we run, we can make this world a beautiful place. We can kick
away many of the diseases by just running.” Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge said
after he ran a marathon distance in under two hours in 2019.
Two years later, his words appear to have
gained more relevance the world over, following a period of unprecedented
challenges that the human race has had to cope with following the outbreak of
Covid-19.
People are increasingly turning to sport to
stay mentally and physically in shape. “There is no more powerful
platform than sport to nurture the values we all share of solidarity,
responsibility, respect, honesty, teamwork, equality and self-esteem,” said MKU
in a statement on the importance of sport, quoting the words of Irina
Bokova, the former Director General of Unesco.
“We hope to encourage Kenyans and all
persons across the world who are experiencing a lockdown or any cessation of
movement to participate in unrestricted sporting activities,” said the
university’s Pro-Chancellor, Dr Vincent Gaitho who read out the communique on
behalf of the partners in 2020.
This year’s festivities have been largely
affected by Covid-19 pandemic. “For two consecutive years, the International
Day of Sport for Development and Peace has been marked worldwide under a
lockdown, cessation of movements and curfews as well as various guidelines
meant to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including a ban on sports activities,”
said Dr Gaitho, who was the Chief Guest during the Webinar presentations to
mark the International Sports day at MKU.
He added; “This has led to considerable
decline of gains made over the years at national, regional and international
levels toward reduction of sedentary lifestyles. Let us remember our individual
capacity for physical activity participation is not on lock-down’’.
Many sporting activities especially those of
communal nature are among those that are highly discouraged to curb spread of
the pandemic. Thus, the sports and recreation facilities such as gymnasia and
sports clubs are closed while sport activities in Kenya have been brought to a
stop as a containment measure on the spread of Corona infections.
“However, though we may not go to the gyms or
sports clubs but we can jog, take brisk walks, engage on physical exercises
within the comfort of our own homes such as sit-ups and other numerous
activities even those performed on the floor, and gain all benefits that
effectively save us from sedentary lifestyles,” said the joint communiqué.
According to the joint
organisers of the event, who included West African representatives from Ghana,
Nigeria and the Gambia, arrangements have been put in place to mark this event
annually at MKU. The first time that the International Day for Peace and
Development was marked at MKU was in 2019 when the Kenyan institution hosted
the 4th International Conference for African Sports Management Association.
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