scott myers world sport chicago

www.worldsportchicago.org

Attempting to Change the Urban Landscape Through Sport – Lessons Learned

www.worldsportchicago.org 2


• Can we create sports programs that are sustainable both financially and in exciting and engaging kids?

• Can we effectively use sports to engage or re-engage at risk youth with schools?

• Can well attended sports programs that focus on building confidence and team camaraderie have an impact on improving an overall neighborhood?

• Can sports programs positively impact attitudes toward healthy habits on a sustained basis?

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World Sport Chicago - providing sustainable programs for Chicago kids to participate in sports to improve their lives.

What is World Sport Chicago?


World Sport Chicago

WSC Programs and

Events

Urban Youth Sport Institute

Best Practices

Issues / feedback

• Attracting/hosting sport competitions• Connecting youth with Olympic & Paralympic sport• International athlete exchanges• School programs•Parks programs

• Olympians giving back to Movement• One-on-one, and group deep connections with youth• New media platform to reach and connect broad audience

• Issue identification• Best practice identification, development and syndication• Educational programs and scholarships

Talent / Resources

Talent / Resources

Athlete Ambassador

Program

Partners

World Sport Chicago Model


World Sport Chicago 30,000 Kids To Date

Events

Elite Events• World Boxing Championships• Etchells World Championships• American Cup Gymnastics• Pan Am Weightlifting• Chicago Cup Wrestling

Youth Events

• City wide wrestling festival• Junior Beach Volleyball• Illinois Youth Soccer Int’l

Tournament• Chicago archery tournament

Athlete Ambassadors

• Training coaches and athletes on Olympic principles

• Olympians and Paralympian clinics

Archery Badminton Gymnastics Track and Field Swimming Paralympics

CyclingJudoBocciaEngagement

Wrestling Youth Exchanges

BoxingWrestlingGymnasticsJudo

Scholarship Program

Programs


Partnerships we have formed

Local Sport Organizations

Community Organizations

National Sport Organizations

Universities

Notre DameUniversity of Chicago NorthwesternUniversity of Illinois


Urban Youth Sport Institute

Mobilize American research institutions who have an expertise in social service, psychology, public policy, economics, public health, etc. to apply clinical rigor to understand how sports can be a tool for individual and community improvement


World Sport Chicago

An Integrator A Venture Capitalist Doer


Chicago schools cut spring sophomore sports

Park Surroundings Marred By Officer's Murder

Chicago Park District Ready to Raise Fees, Cut Jobs

30% freshman need to care for younger siblings after school

Environmental Attitudes and Capabilities

Structural Issues

People

What have we learned?



Structural Issues

People

Lessons LearnedObservations

• Institutional exhaustion and skepticism

• Institutional turbulence

• Lack of Institutional capabilities

• Need for coaching/mentoring skills

• Reliable delivery is key in the long term

• Need to convey the role as a supporter and enabler

• Its not about sport, its about execution

• Its not about sport its about logistics

• Its not about sport its about community engagement


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Structural Issues

People

Observations Lessons Learned

• Urban bureaucracy

• Institutional silos and a disconnectedness

• Family structure

• Gang structures

• Cut across organizations with visible, consistent and on-going support of major institutions

• Reach out to community groups to mobilize parents as volunteers and to apply pressure

• Work within existing organizations where possible and around them only when necessary

• Integrate beyond sport organizations

• Tap into sports passion of the young professionals

• Leverage elite athletes to increase focus and incent institutional integration



Structural Issues

People

Observations Lessons Learned

• Poor behavior

• Ego focused versus task focused

• Skepticism and disinclination to join

• Pride

• Passion for improvement

Set high norms of behavior

Integrate a curriculum focused on behavior

View youth not as individuals but as micro-groups

Engage youth in program operation

Focus on the early adopters and let the others knock on our door

Provide urban relevant rewards – for kids and parents


Creating a new urban system based in sport

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Communities

Neighborhoods

Sport

Schools

Community group

Police

Parents

Coaches


• Can we create sports programs that are sustainable both financially and in exciting and engaging kids?

• Can we effectively use sports to engage or re-engage at risk youth with schools?

• Can well attended sports programs that focus on building confidence and team camaraderie have an impact on improving an overall neighborhood?

• Can sports programs positively impact attitudes toward healthy habits on a sustained basis?

?But we’re still going to try

scott myers world sport chicago

Education

observations

world sport

create sports

attended sports

environmental

risk youth

building confidence

healthy habits