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.

Outlines

00:00

🏉 Childhood Rugby Memory

The speaker recalls a vivid childhood memory of waking up at 3:30 a.m. in the winter of 1995 to watch the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team, play in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup. Despite the early hour, the excitement was palpable, and the speaker's family was deeply asleep. The speaker managed to sneak out to watch the game with a neighbor, an older man with a mustache, who welcomed the young boy into his home. The game was a significant event, and the speaker could name every player on the team, with a particular admiration for Zan Zan Brock. The narrative captures the essence of childhood dreams and the influence of sports heroes on shaping one's aspirations.

05:03

🏆 Lessons from Rugby

In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on the profound lessons learned from playing rugby, which have stayed with them into adulthood. These lessons include leadership, humility, teamwork, and respect. The speaker emphasizes how rugby has been a constant in their life, even as they lived in different cities like San Francisco and London. The sport has also helped the speaker make lifelong friends from around the world. Currently, the speaker works for a Purpose Driven organization called the Waterboy, which aims to break down barriers to sports participation. The speaker passionately believes that every New Zealander should have the opportunity to participate in sports, as it fosters friendship, character development, and breaks down social barriers.

10:09

🥊 Transforming Lives Through Sport

The speaker shares a story about Raiden, a 14-year-old who was struggling with behavior and attendance issues at school. Raiden's life took a positive turn when he started boxing. Through this sport, he found a new family, a sense of belonging, and purpose. His involvement in boxing led to improved attendance and academic performance. Raiden's story illustrates the transformative power of sports in providing at-risk youth with a positive outlet and a community. The speaker argues that sports can change the course of young lives and that every child should have the opportunity to participate, as it can lead to better health, social skills, and self-esteem.

15:09

📺 The Future of Sports Broadcasting

In the final paragraph, the speaker discusses the future of sports broadcasting and its impact on sports participation, particularly in New Zealand. The speaker criticizes the exclusive partnerships between sports governing bodies and pay-TV providers, which limit access to sports for many, especially children from lower-income households. The speaker suggests that a 50/50 model of free-to-view and subscription-based broadcasting, as seen in Australia with the Big Bash cricket competition, could be a successful approach. The speaker calls for a change in the current broadcasting model to make sports more accessible and to encourage a healthier, more connected community. The speaker also questions the responsibility of various stakeholders, including the government, schools, and sports governing bodies, in ensuring that all children have the opportunity to participate in sports.

Keywords

💡Rugby

Rugby is a popular team sport that involves carrying, passing, and kicking a ball to score points. In the video, rugby is central to the speaker's childhood memories and serves as a unifying force in New Zealand society. The speaker recalls watching the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team, play in the Rugby World Cup, which signifies the sport's cultural significance and the inspiration it provides to young fans.

💡All Blacks

The All Blacks are New Zealand's national rugby team, renowned for their black jerseys and exceptional performance in international competitions. The team is a source of national pride and serves as a symbol of unity and excellence. In the script, the speaker expresses a deep admiration for the All Blacks, particularly for a player named Zan Zan Brock, who exemplifies the skills and determination that the speaker aspires to.

💡Zan Zan Brock

Zan Zan Brock is mentioned as a significant figure in the speaker's rugby memories. He is described as an amazing player with no weaknesses, and the speaker's admiration for him highlights the impact that sports heroes can have on young fans. Brock's influence is so profound that the speaker considers him a hero and a role model, which underscores the motivational power of sports figures.

💡Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship refers to the fair, respectful, and ethical behavior exhibited by athletes and fans. In the video, the speaker reflects on the lessons of leadership, humility, teamwork, and respect learned through rugby. These values are integral to sportsmanship and are emphasized as essential life skills that the speaker carries into adulthood, demonstrating the broader impact of sports on personal development.

💡Camaraderie

Camaraderie is the spirit of friendship and trust among a group of people who share a common interest or activity. The script describes how the speaker's rugby team rallied together, overcoming initial defeats to win a championship. This experience exemplifies camaraderie, as the team members supported each other, identified weaknesses, and grew stronger through their collective efforts.

💡Waterboy

The Waterboy is described as a purpose-driven organization that aims to break down barriers to sports participation in New Zealand. The speaker's work with the Waterboy reflects a commitment to ensuring that all Kiwis have the opportunity to engage in sports, which aligns with the video's theme of sports as a means to foster community, health, and personal growth.

💡Inclusivity

Inclusivity is the practice of including people from diverse backgrounds and ensuring equal access to opportunities. The video discusses how exclusive partnerships between sports governing bodies and pay-TV broadcasters can limit access to sports for those who cannot afford subscriptions. The speaker advocates for more inclusive broadcasting practices to allow all children to dream and aspire through sports.

💡Barriers to Participation

Barriers to participation refer to the obstacles that prevent individuals from engaging in sports or other activities. In the script, the speaker mentions that many Kiwis wish to participate in sports but are unable to due to various barriers. These can include financial constraints, lack of access to facilities, or limited exposure to sports through media, which the speaker argues can be mitigated by more inclusive policies and practices.

💡Social Integration

Social integration is the process of forming connections and relationships within a community. The video suggests that sports can play a crucial role in social integration by breaking down social barriers and fostering respect for diversity. The speaker's work with the Waterboy and the transformative story of Raiden, a young man who found purpose and belonging through boxing, illustrate how sports can integrate individuals into supportive communities.

💡Mental Health

Mental health refers to an individual's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The script touches on the rising mental health issues within the healthcare system and suggests that sports can contribute to mental health by providing a positive outlet for energy, building self-esteem, and fostering social connections. The speaker's advocacy for sports participation is partly driven by the potential mental health benefits it offers.

💡Community

Community refers to a group of people who share a common identity, interests, or goals. Throughout the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of sports in building a connected and healthier community. Sports, according to the speaker, provide a common ground for people to come together, support each other, and form lifelong memories, which are all essential aspects of a strong and cohesive community.

Highlights

Excitement of a young boy waking up early to watch the All Blacks play in the Rugby World Cup semi-final.

The influence of sports heroes like Zan Zan Brooke on a child's dreams and aspirations.

The importance of sports in fostering a healthy lifestyle and developing leadership skills.

The transformative power of sports in building camaraderie and teamwork among young players.

The role of sports in breaking down social barriers and promoting inclusivity.

The personal journey of the speaker from playing rugby to working in sales and innovation.

The mission of the Purpose Driven organization, the waterboy, in promoting sports participation.

The benefits of sports in enhancing physical health, social skills, and self-esteem.

The impact of sports on community building and family bonding.

The challenges faced by underprivileged children in accessing sports and the opportunities it presents.

The story of Raiden, a teenager whose life changed positively through participation in boxing.

The broader societal benefits of having youth participate in sports, including improved mental health and reduced healthcare costs.

The call to action for sports governing bodies, schools, and charities to work together to increase sports participation.

Critique of exclusive partnerships between sports governing bodies and pay-TV networks, limiting access for many.

Comparative analysis of sports broadcasting models in Australia versus New Zealand and their impact on sports popularity.

The potential of online broadcasting to democratize sports viewing and increase accessibility.

The need for a collective effort to ensure all New Zealand children have the opportunity to dream and succeed through sports.

Transcripts

[Music]

it was mid June 1995 3:30 a.m. on a

chilly winters morning seven-year-old me

had hardly slipped that night his

excitement raced through my body earlier

my llama bleared at 2:55 a.m. now

pounced out a beard as if it were

Christmas Day my whole family was

sleeping so as quietly as I could I

fumbled around with the noisy back door

lock I opened the door and I was off

with one leap I cleared the three stairs

might be a feet landing on the frosty

lon and I sprinted as fast as I could

a quick 30 meter dash to the back of

that property as I approached the house

at the other side of the lawn a light

came on inside I skated up the stairs

and frantically knocked on the door the

curtains open and a man with a mustache

in his 50s unlocked the door the door

was opening too slowly for my liking so

I gave it some assistance forcing it

open even quicker as I entered there was

a heater burning inside at 60% I rolled

in like I own the place turn the heater

up to full as the old man gave me a cup

of hot chocolate I turned on the

television to hear the familiar sound of

Keith Quinn's voice and the national

anthems of New Zealand and England we

were of course watching the All Blacks

New Zealand's national rugby team

playing the semi-final of the Rugby

World Cup even as a seven-year-old boy I

could name every single member of their

all-black starting team my favorite

Patsy Goldie

Osbourne when we was changing the face

of rugby at that time but for me the

biggest hero of them all was one

particular man called zan zan Brock then

he was an amazing player he had all the

skills and no weaknesses it was very

much a poor loser but I liked that about

him when I was even in my eyes zili

could do no wrong and apart from my

Emily Zini was my hero it was about 3:30

a.m. on that fateful morning when Zhen

Zhen Brooke drop kicked a rugby ball

from 40 meters out in the semi-final of

a rugby World Cup now proceeding to

defeat for any Ford and rugby that

moment and how I felt in that moment

will live with me for many years yet no

what does a child have if a child

doesn't have dreams for their future

heroes they one day want to emulate

every child should have dreams for what

they one day want to become in achieve

every child is impression every child is

heavily influenced by the nurture and

environment for those children who are

lucky enough to grow up from privileged

families they have the opportunity to

watch sport on television whilst

watching that sport they start to look

up to the players they are watching they

start to imagine themselves when they

playing on television in front of large

crowds they start to develop a love for

sport and with a healthy lifestyle fast

for to 2004 from watch out for another

memory that I'd like to share with you I

still remember making the first tackle

it was a big smash them was an even

better physics and I won but I got lucky

the rest of their teenage team weighing

in at over 100 kg each they would go

laughs through out David it felt like

professionals miss images the last time

we meet these guys was only two weeks

prior and they wipe the floor with us

with the first thing of defeating the

screams of our coach JC and Kelly

roaring in areas we recouped together we

identified our weaknesses and

strengthened our faith in each other's

abilities now on a sunny day in August

in front of a screaming crowd we're

rallying to face these Giants stamp on

this game I remember coach Brian Higgins

roaring at his team of 22 young boys

I thought to myself I am I see we were

learning the meaning of camaraderie out

there on the rugby field there was no

prejudice there was no social rape

racial cultural or language inequalities

it was a test of your character your

courage your preparation your

cooperation and your skill that's what

mattered we won the championship that

day but the lessons that I took away

from that event were far greater than

any trophy the lessons of leadership

humility teamwork and respect ones that

would stay with me into adulthood they

stayed with me as rugby taught me to

live in San Francisco and London whereas

also ever work in sales and innovation

and make lifelong friends from different

parts of the world those lessons remain

with me as I've moved back to New

Zealand please pass on the gift of

empowerment and drive change you see

today I work in a Purpose Driven

organization called the waterboy

waterboy works to break down barriers to

give Kiwis an opportunity to participate

in sport at this point I do want to

acknowledge that sport isn't the only

method for achieving some of the

benefits that I've discussed but it's

what I'm passionate about so that's what

I focus on I believe that every Kiwi

should have the opportunity to

participate in sport Sport gives us

friendship and teaches us lessons which

help shape our character in this sense

it's a large part of what makes up the

fabric of New Zealand society sport

gives us mutual health benefits physical

health benefits leadership skills social

skills interpersonal skills self

confidence self esteem self motivation

not only those self things

it breaks down social barriers to give

us respect for others other races

religions people from different culture

cultures in different sectors of society

Sport brings friends and family together

the

ride the emanates from a parent when

they watch their child participate in

sport can't really be described in words

today there are thousands of Kiwis who

wish they could participate in sport but

they are unable it breaks my heart

I think this sucks always ask the kids I

work with who their favorite players are

only about 10% of them can even name a

current representative in their sport

I've asked 19 nipple girls to name me

their favorite Silver Fern a national

netball team one of the 19 was able to

do so that was because that player had

visited her school see without the means

to watch sport these children never had

the opportunity to witness the unique

atmosphere of top-level sport the same

atmosphere which captures the

imagination of privileged children

prompting them to dream and do the same

atmosphere which made me want to play

rugby on the front Warner any given

opportunity pretending hours in Zen

brought the kids I work with they'll

give supported go because it's fun and

because it's cool but without the

opportunity to develop those sporting

dreams heroes desperations they're far

more likely to give up on sport even if

they only have one bad experience but

when these kids do participate in sport

it can quite literally change the course

of their lives avoids with many kids

whose lives have now taken a different

direction and a lot of what's their

tribute to participating in sport well

she would be one of those examples when

I first started working with Raiden he's

aged 14 he'd been asked to leave his

previous high school for behavior in

attendance issues and he was a 50% of

team that said his new hospital hit a

group of friends and together they would

hang out after school looking for

trouble mainly out of boredom

he's no purpose no goals

nothing to be proud of since starting

boxing Raiden's has become part of a new

team and part of a new family he gets

the adrenaline rush he was previously

seeking on the streets after school he's

accepted and respected by himself and

his peers and he respects others pace to

respect others when you're new at box

uno and here are the flow-on effects

Raiden now his purpose he's decided to

stop associating with the people who

used to hang out with that school he's

always known he'll get into trouble with

him but before he didn't here now if he

gets into trouble

let's stop some boxing now he comes

straight home from school and he gets

rested and ready for training

he has 100% attendance and he excels in

the classroom he's called five out of

five for all but one of his subjects and

there's Leigh the school report I think

that's pretty remarkable his focus on

boxing is living to learn more about

nutrition

he eats healthier gives them better

performance in all areas of his life not

just boxing Raiden feels a valued member

of the water boy team and of the Boxing

Gym

he helps others were possible by

contributing to charity fundraising days

in helping new members to the gym feel

accepted and welcome Raiden's realizing

his potential and as he does so he

realizes he is even more potential doors

keep opening success breeds success

isn't it within the everybody's best

interests to have a youth kids like

Raiden participating in sport the old

saying an ounce of prevention is worth a

ton of cure is very relevant to this

question having our youth participate in

sport will create efficiencies to save

the taxpayer billions not only on a

healthcare system which is currently

experiencing a huge spike in mental

health issues but less obvious and

benefits will come to the for a

generation more versed and

person-to-person communication and

emotional intelligence more confident

loving and tolerant generation is

clearly a vested interest for us all to

have our youth given the opportunity to

participate in sport even a few

motivation comes from self-centered

origins who then needs to take

responsibility the increasing problem of

our youth not having the best

opportunity to participate in sport the

government schools sport governing

bodies or privately founded charities

such as the waterboy the answer is all

of the above we all need to work in

Symphony as a team ironically to achieve

the best results but within that

Symphony I see an opportunity to make a

dramatic difference with relatively

little resource and effort that change I

want to direct your attention to us

governing bodies it is the purpose of

any sports governing body to increase

their sports participation and

popularity within its catchment area

today just over 27% of New Zealand

children grow up in a household

experiencing income poverty here's the

keeper by creating exclusive

partnerships with subscribe to view

television broadcasters such as Sky TV

and New Zealand our sport governing

bodies are excluding a significant

population the opportunity to watch

sport and therefore become a fan nipple

and rugby in particular are dying a

fastest by player numbers in amateur

level don't be fooled by New Zealand

rugby telling you their player numbers

are increasing whilst it's technically

correct their numbers being inflated by

a welcome surge and popularity of female

sports the ability

females to now play rugby at the

Olympics and the black ferns our

national female race I mean professional

earlier this year but ask any rugby club

they'll gravely tell you they now field

half as many teams in the male division

as they did 15 years ago and they are no

longer at the heart of the community

continued exclusive subscribe to view

partnerships have been like a drag for

rugby in this country if a TV can do

that to rugby a sport with such a

cultural stronghold in this country what

damage is it doing to the ability for

other sports to reach their potential

audiences I've come to realise the sky

TV is effectively based golden handcuffs

on our sport governing bodies

now Australia is the closest country to

New Zealand and culture and therefore a

good point of reference for comparison

be it by good luck or good planning this

book governing executives seem to have

found a winning television sports sports

broadcast formula a 50/50 split between

free to view and subscribe to view

broadcasting Big Bear Korea one of the

most talked about sports competitions

and recent Australian history it's

reached unprecedented levels of success

popularity and crowd attendance

interestingly Big Bash launched free to

air in 2011 Cricket Australia have now

taken big bash and moved to the 50-50

model that getting more gold out of the

eggs whilst not killing the goose

they're just putting on a diet sport

broadcasting is about to take a paradigm

shift from television to online I'm

hugely encouraged to see that with their

shift

a handful of all Blake's games are going

to be free to view in the 2019 Rugby

World Cup but three or four games once

every four years

is not enough can we rely on our sport

governing bodies to make the best

decision for all of us although the

golden handcuffs too tight do we need to

use our voice to give them some

encouragement do we want to give New

Zealand children the opportunity to

develop sporting dreams heroes and

aspirations to make a more connected

healthier community to take us forward

for years to come do we want to help

kids like Raiden to find purpose

belonging enjoyment and mana do we wish

to give the opportunity to 700d zealand

kids to form lifelong memories of

watching the zen zen brought with their

grandfather if you like me think that

New Zealand is a

three where people should have a chance

an opportunity to succeed and it's time

we realized there's a problem and it's

time we start discussing solutions to

make them more connected healthier

community for everybody thank you

you