ANALYSING THE EFFECT OF INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS ON STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES AT UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

ANALYSING THE EFFECT OF INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS ON STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES AT UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Coakley (1994) defines sports as an institutionalized competitive activity involving vigorous physical exertion or the application of relatively complex physical skills by individuals whose participation is motivated by a combination of intrinsic satisfaction associated with the activity and external rewards earned through participation.

Sport, according to Wuest and Bucher, is “a socially acceptable and non-profit oriented activity conducted during leisure hours that offers participants immediate and intrinsic satisfactions.” The United Nations (2003) defines sport as any type of physical exercise that promotes physical fitness, mental well-being, and social engagement. In Ancient Greece, the Olympic truce established a link between sport and peace. This was the reasoning behind a seven-day truce before and after the elections.

Athletes and fans will be able to travel safely to and from the Olympic Games (International Olympic Truce Centre, 2004).

Despite the fact that sport appears to be incompatible with development and peace in general, for decades UN agencies, International Federations (IFs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have used sport as a tool for development and peace (Galtung, 1996). Sport for Development and Peace is a novel concept that recognizes that well-designed sport projects can be effective, practical, and cost-effective means of promoting development and peace (United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace, 2003). Individual development, health promotion, disease prevention, gender equality, social integration, peace building, conflict prevention, post-disaster intervention, psychosocial nurture, economic development, communication, and social mobilization are all areas where assistance is provided.

The United Nations has considered sport (2005). “Sport and peace are mutually exclusive,” says Mario Pescante, the International Olympic Committee’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Through the discourse generated by the current Olympic Games, sport appears to be able to remove political barriers that other policies are unable to do. Sport, for example, has fostered dialogue between opposing nations such as the United States and China, Pakistan and India, and South and North Korea (United Nations Office on Sports for Development and Peace, 2010). Sport cannot resolve disputes, but it can bring people together. Sport has evolved into a global language, a common denominator that has crossed all boundaries.

1.2 DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM

Universities today are in a state of flux.

the effort to contribute to university student’s socialization process by providing sports opportunities. These university-related activities should be viewed as activities that aim to develop people’s social aspects and social awareness.

Sports activities were introduced at the University of Lagos to contribute to students’ well-being through character development, a healthy physique, mental alertness, and discipline, among other traits thought to improve students’ academic success. However, has students’ participation in these sports become a hindrance to their participation in academic activities?

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of participation in sports on students’ participation in academic activities.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary goal of this research is to examine the impact of sports participation.

As a result, the following goals;

1. To ascertain the types of sports in which the majority of students at the University of Lagos participate.

2. To ascertain the effects of students’ participation in sports on their participation in academic activities.

3. Determine whether students’ participation in sports has hampered their participation in academic activities.

1.4 QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

This study is guided by the following research questions:

1. What types of sports are most popular among students at the University of Lagos?

2. What are the effects of students’ participation in sports on their participation in academic activities?

3. Has students’ participation in sports hampered their participation in academic activities?

1.5 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

The University of Lagos will benefit from this research.

will raise awareness about how students who attend there participate in sports and how this affects their participation in academic activities. It will also help students understand the importance of striking a balance between sports and academics in order to improve their academic performance. This study will also benefit the academic community by providing materials for other researchers to either delve deeper or broaden the scope of the study.

1.6 THE STUDY’S OBJECTIVE

This study will only look at the University of Lagos and its students’ involvement in sports, as well as how that affects their participation in academic activities. It will also look at which sports students are most interested in.

1.7 THE LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

will raise awareness about how students who attend there participate in sporting activities and how this affects their participation in academic activities. It will also help students understand the importance of striking a balance between sports and academics, which will result in improved academic performance. This study will also contribute to the academic world by providing materials for other researchers to either delve deeper or change the scope of the study.