Let’s deal with the bad, but never forget the good that sport can bring

OTTAWA—The afterglow of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit remains strong for many in Ottawa. It is comical how gaga people in political circles in the nation’s capital get when a Democratic president comes town. My old geezer cynicism aside, there is something likeable about Biden the person. And whom among us doesn’t appreciate a healthy bit of Toronto Maple Leaf bashing. One of the things I was struck by during the president’s quick dash around Bytown were some specific remarks he made in his main address to Parliament. Specifically, his comments on the importance of leaders reflecting unrelenting optimism and working to inject that optimism in driving a country forward. No, I am not nostalgic for the prime minister’s “sunny ways” rhetoric, nor am I currently condemning Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's “Canada is broken” mantra. But some legitimate enthusiasm would be welcome, not just because of ugly March weather, but because so much of our political dialogue is constantly negative; therefore, changing the lens of how we look at world, even if briefly, is not a dramatic departure. It doesn’t mean we delude ourselves to reality or avoid our problems, but we can slightly alter the approach we take to addressing them. While I am sure this week’s budget will talk about some short-term tough choices for a brighter future, that is momentary politicking. That is standard messaging from governments of all stripes during tough economic times. If they are offering us medicine for what ails us, they will always tell us taking it makes us better. There is a specific area where federal leaders in both the government and opposition can look to begin to evolve the discourse into something more positive, and in the process, help continue to make meaningful improvements. That is: sport. Sports policy is unlikely to be a centrepiece of the budget—hopefully I am wrong on that—but it is so vital to the fabric of this country. From community-building, to preventative health activity, to generating diverse, healthy life-long relationships, to constructing better citizens and leaders, sport has immense power for good. But recently, sport in Canada has been under siege because of maleficence present in far too many organizations and contexts. Governments, athletes, governing bodies, and Canadians themselves have rightly had an intense focus on fixing what was broken and helping to find ways to prevent future injustices and keep all participants safe. That is work that must continue and be ever-evolving, even when the spotlight goes elsewhere. However, it is important to remember the power for good that sport has. It is already built for driving optimism about potential, overcoming the odds, and building a strong foundation for our society. Our political leaders need to find those stories and start telling them again. Yes, people who did horrible things must still be held to account, but let us also make sure that sole focus on all that went wrong not be the only voice heard. Over the last seven months, I lived the positive of sport all over again. I had the opportunity to be part of a novice hockey team in Ottawa along with a bunch of fellow volunteers and engaged parents. None of us really knew each other before the season, nor did our seven- and eight-year-old children. But we all had common goals: our kids were going to have fun playing together, they would learn some skills, and work to respect each other. We wanted to establish a positive, healthy, open culture for them in what, for most, was their first team sport experience. By all reports, when the season ended this past weekend, that had happened. We all grew, kids and adults alike. That is but one practical example, and I know sport has provided an infinite number of these stories. Again, I am not—nor would I ever—look past the horrible histories of abuse and maltreatment that are out there. They should have never happened, and must always be exposed and people punished. But in an age when more optimism is necessary and healthy, let us not forget that sport also does much good. Tim Powers is chairman of Summa Strategies and managing director of Abacus Data. He is a former adviser to Conservative political leaders. The Hill Times

Let’s deal with the bad, but never forget the good that sport can bring

It is important to remember the power for good that sport has. It is already built for driving optimism about potential, overcoming the odds, and building a strong foundation for our society.

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Let’s deal with the bad, but never forget the good that sport can bring

It is important to remember the power for good that sport has. It is already built for driving optimism about potential, overcoming the odds, and building a strong foundation for our society.

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