Sport’s Role in Our Society | Thomas Nabbs | TEDxRuakura

Summary

In this heartfelt narrative, the speaker reminisces about the profound impact of sports, particularly rugby, on his life from a young age. He recounts the excitement of watching the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup and the inspiration drawn from players like Zan Brock. The speaker emphasizes the importance of sports in fostering community, leadership, and personal growth. He shares his current work with the Waterboy organization, which aims to break down barriers to sports participation, especially for underprivileged children. The story of Raiden, a young man whose life changed positively through boxing, illustrates the transformative power of sports. The speaker calls for a more inclusive approach to sports broadcasting to inspire and engage all children in New Zealand.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The speaker fondly recalls watching the New Zealand All Blacks play in the Rugby World Cup semi-final in 1995, highlighting the impact of sports heroes like Zan Brock on his childhood.
• ❄️ The narrative starts on a chilly winter morning, setting the scene for the speaker's early morning adventure to watch a crucial rugby match.
• 🏠 The speaker's excitement was so great that he woke up early and quietly left his house to watch the game, illustrating the deep passion for rugby.
• 📺 The importance of television in shaping sports dreams is emphasized, as it allows children to witness sports at a high level and dream of emulating their heroes.
• 🏉 Rugby is presented as a vehicle for teaching important life lessons such as leadership, teamwork, and respect, which the speaker carried into adulthood.
• 🌟 The speaker's work with the Waterboy organization aims to break down barriers and provide opportunities for all Kiwis to participate in sports, regardless of their background.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Sports are depicted as a great equalizer, fostering camaraderie and unity among players from diverse backgrounds, and teaching valuable social skills.
• 🚫 The speaker criticizes the exclusivity of sports broadcasting in New Zealand, arguing that it excludes many children from developing a love for sports and the associated benefits.
• 📈 The script points out a decline in rugby participation at the amateur level, suggesting that exclusive broadcasting deals may be contributing to this trend.
• 🌐 The speaker calls for a shift towards more inclusive sports broadcasting models, using the example of Australia's Big Bash cricket league, which balances free-to-air and subscription viewing.
• 💪 The narrative concludes with a call to action, urging for collective efforts to ensure that all New Zealanders, especially children, have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from sports.

Q & A

What significant event was taking place on the morning of mid-June 1995, as described in the script?

The All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team, were playing the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup.

Who was the narrator's favorite player on the All Blacks team during the 1995 Rugby World Cup?

The narrator's favorite player was Zan Zan Brock.

What was the emotional impact of Zan Zan Brock's drop kick in the semi-final on the narrator?

The drop kick by Zan Zan Brock from 40 meters out in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup left a lasting impression on the narrator, which they claim will live with them for many years.

What values did the narrator learn from playing rugby and how did it influence their life?

The narrator learned lessons of leadership, humility, teamwork, and respect from playing rugby, which stayed with them into adulthood and influenced their career and social interactions.

What is the name of the organization the narrator works for and what is its purpose?

The narrator works for an organization called the Waterboy, which aims to break down barriers and give Kiwis an opportunity to participate in sports.

How does the narrator believe sports can change the course of a child's life?

The narrator believes sports can change a child's life by providing friendship, teaching character-shaping lessons, improving physical health, and breaking down social barriers.

What is the issue the narrator raises about sports broadcasting in New Zealand?

The narrator raises the issue of sports governing bodies in New Zealand creating exclusive partnerships with pay television broadcasters, which excludes a significant population from watching sports and becoming fans.

What example does the narrator provide to illustrate the impact of sports on a young person's life?

The narrator provides the example of Raiden, a 14-year-old who, after starting boxing, improved his behavior, attendance, and academic performance, and found purpose and belonging.

What does the narrator suggest as a solution to increase sports participation among New Zealand children?

The narrator suggests that sports governing bodies should create partnerships with free-to-view television broadcasters to increase accessibility and inspire more children to participate in sports.

How does the narrator propose to address the issue of sports broadcasting exclusivity in New Zealand?

The narrator proposes that sports governing bodies should follow the example of Australia's Big Bash, which uses a 50/50 model of free-to-view and subscription-based broadcasting to increase participation and popularity.