Insights from the frontline of sport and international development - The worlds gone bonkers!

In this chapter, we discuss key insights on the new realities of Sport for Development with founder of Coaches Across Continents [CAC] Nick Gates. This chapter explores new realities in the context of conflict, COVID-19 and the renewed drive to be on the front foot when supporting global partners on the frontline of sport-based delivery. Nick Gates describes in great detail the challenges of COVID-19 as a global leader in purposeful play and education through sport. As CAC has learnt to adapt to the new realities presented by COVID-19 through digitalisation and innovative practices, he also highlights the fragility of the SFD sector as new critical issues emerge. At a time when COVID-19 was thought to be the critical concern, a war had started in Europe, a global cost of living crisis had begun, mental health concerns were strengthened across the CAC agenda and climate change was also becoming more important as a development objective. In Nick’s words ‘the world has gone bonkers!”. Once, a tool for post-conflict rehabilitation and social change, SFD organisations, like CAC, are now engaging in frontline development strategies. Waiting for opportunities for implementation and impact, in Nick Gates’ view, conflicts with the aim of active engagement and leads to oversimplifying the role of sport in these contexts.