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Sport as a Framework for Resilience

Sport is one of the most enduring and versatile protective forces in young people’s lives, offering much more than just physical fitness. As a structured, value-driven activity, sport shields young people from a range of social, psychological, and behavioural risks while fostering discipline, resilience, and purpose. In a world shaped by digital saturation, instant gratification, and mounting performance pressures, sport offers a healthy alternative to harmful coping mechanisms. It helps young people steer clear of substance use, gambling, and excessive screen time by providing them with a meaningful routine, a sense of community, and an embodied experience. By offering a sense of achievement based on effort rather than consumption, sport also promotes healthier emotional regulation and diminishes the allure of risky or compulsive behaviours.

This session will explore how sport functions as a preventive and supportive environment, focusing particularly on its role in protecting young people from substance abuse, betting culture, and screen addiction. The discussion will examine the psychological and social mechanisms through which sport fosters self-control, strengthens social bonds, and encourages sustainable habits. Drawing on real-life experiences, community practices, and personal stories, the panel will reflect on how sport can be harnessed as a lasting source of balance, direction, and well-being for younger generations.

Discussion Themes:

• In what ways does participating in sport help to reduce young people’s exposure to substance use, betting culture, and excessive screen time?

• How does sport provide an effective alternative to harmful coping strategies in a high-pressure, digitally saturated world?

• How does participation in sport foster self-control, emotional regulation, and a sense of purpose among young people?

• How can sport be designed and supported to provide a long-term protective space for young people’s well-being, beyond competition and performance?