After a “Cinderella” season of March Madness and John Groce’s departure to Illinois, and amid constant budget talks and protests about athletic funding at Ohio University, the presence of sports in our lives is more apparent than ever.
This emphasis on sports was the idea that then-graduate students Matthew Kirwin and Gerard Akindes used to create the Sports in Africa conference in 2004.
“The fundamental (idea) of the conference is using sports as a framework to understand all the different elements in our societies,” said Winsome Chunnu-Brayda, associate director of the Multicultural Center and a coordinator for the conference.
The conference has covered topics such as development, gender, politics, communication and health, looking at how sports affect each sector.
This year’s conference, which takes place April 6 through 8, focuses on sports and community development.
“We can look at sport as a social capital, sport as a community identity, how community uses sports social-economically or culturally,” said Akindes, now an instructor of sports administration in the College of Business.
For many countries where resources are limited, it’s necessary to choose between your elite, international sports and your local, community sports, Akindes said.
Former Lionne of Senegal and WNBA player Astou Ndiaye is this year’s keynote speaker. She will discuss the challenges and successes in bridging an athletic career and academic career and raising a family as a woman born in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We’ve had great attendance, great participation from people all over the world. From Germany, from Senegal, France, Ireland — people fly in just to present at the conference," Chunnu-Brayda said. “I think we’ve been really successful every year.”
Presenters have been both students and professionals in the field, giving both a chance to learn from one another and share ideas.
“Attending this conference on this campus gives you a completely different picture of what sport can mean,” said Akindes. “It’s a totally different picture and it’s always surprising, not just for students but for everybody, to look at so many aspects of this society through sport.”
gm220908@ohiou.edu
