Whether it is a tsunami, hurricane, earthquake or one of a host of other natural and even man-made disasters, our great calls to action often occur in response to events that severely threaten the lives and future well-being of the populace. Part of the challenge from these events is the severity and swiftness of their impact. Providing the basics for survival takes precedent but acts to instill a sense of purpose and even a tiny bit of normalcy in one’s life should not be underestimated. There will be a conference in early November which looks at the issue of sports’ role in the recovery process.

We include news of such conferences so that people who are interested can attend but also to let those who can’t go the conference, still learn about the topics being discussed, the most challenging questions, the speakers and their backgrounds, and some of the sponsors. Awareness of those things are also valuable.  Below, you will be able to link to interviews with an expert using sport in psychosocial programmes with children in catastrophe management and someone who has set up a program in the earthquake affected region of Abruzzo, Italy.

You can learn more about the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and the conference at http://www.icsspe.org/index.php?view=view&lang=de&m=16&n=32&o=145.

International Seminar: Sport in Post-Disaster Intervention

2 – 8 November 2009, Hotel “HausRheinsberg”, Rheinsberg/Germany

A practical seminar on planning and implementing psychosocial sport programmes in disaster relief.

Predicting when and where a disaster will strike is impossible. It is, however, possible to attain skills, knowledge and learn techniques that can be applied to providing improved disaster relief support. Sport and physical activity strategies are some of the techniques that can aid personal recovery and support community rebuilding in situations where cooperation is necessary.

If planning to work in the field of disaster relief, practitioners need to be able to implement high impact activities that can be adapted using available resources, while taking into account factors such as disability, age, gender and cultural sensitivities.

The seminar provides both hands-on practical workshops mixed with theoretical applications to give practitioners the tools to implement appropriate activities. The sessions are led by international experts with disaster relief, sport and physical activity experience.

The seminar topics include:

• Psychology as Part of Emergency Relief
• Using the Potential of Sports
• Teaching and Learning in Crisis Areas
• Inclusive Activities and Games
• Cultural Aspects of Physical Activities
• Challenges for Physical Activities in Crisis Area
• Civil-Military Cooperations: Interfaces and Support
• Sport and Reconstruction – Examples of Good Practice

For the programme please click here.

To register please click here.

Please note

• The official language of the seminar is English.
• Due to practical activities and games, we will kindly ask you to bring sportswear.

Christoph Schwager, expert for using sport in psychosocial programmes with children in catastrophe management, spoke with Sofian Labbani about implementing sport activities in a disaster setting. For the interview click here.

Andrea Brunelli, a seminar participant in 2008, provided sport and play activities in the earthquake affected region of Abruzzo, Italy. For his report please click here.