Vision

Amateur and professional athletes are the greatest ambassadors of goodwill in the world of sports. They are our heroes and therefore the most effective messengers of sportsmanship for people everywhere, especially the youth of today.

The vision of IAMSPORT is to mobilize the athletes of the world, to motivate them to inspire others with the glory of sport, and to bring them together in activities that keep the spirit and promise of sportsmanship alive and vibrant in the communities where they live.

IAMSPORT promotes the idea of sportsmanship as an attitude that strives for fair play, courtesy towards teammates and opponents, ethical behavior and integrity, and grace in losing.

As a community IAMSPORT unites people who share a love for sports across the globe. Sport is one of the most prevalent common threads in our daily existence and has the power to change, improve and motivate.

More than just a name, IAMSPORT is an expression of a lifestyle, a representation of principle and moral values. It indicates that one lives by the code of integrity, team play and fair competition. More than just a community, IAMSPORT expounds on the value that together people can make a change and as globally responsible citizens the planet can be changed for the better. As ambitious as these statements may sound, research has proven again and again that sport brings people together like no other activity in the world. Wars have been halted over a game of sport and the Olympic Truce has held up for over a hundred years.

The connection between athletes and altruism is not far fetched. On the field of competition and play we can see the most extreme characteristics of an individual, both in the pursuit of victory, the acknowledgment of the opponent, respect for team, necessity of cooperation and the grace in losing. More pronounced qualities of human behavior are displayed during the practice of sport then any other activity known to man.

Altruism involves putting the interests of others above one’s own interests. It is altruism that forms the basis of the meaning of life itself, which is to live for others. People are not inevitably driven by self-interest and this is evident in all team sports. In life this can be seen just in the simple case of a mother putting her baby’s interests above her own, protecting him even if her own safety is threatened. It is seen every day when people risk their lives to rescue others, to protect freedom and a way of life. That is what makes us as human beings so special – we are willing to die for other members of our species, and many of us recognize that just one human life is worth more than all the material possessions in the world.

Altruism should inform all of our thinking and actions, as this will ensure maximum collective happiness. It will also make us better individuals, as it will rid us of selfishness and encourage us to think about the circumstances of others. We do first need to care about others before we can even be motivated to help them out of problems such as war and poverty. If we are to care about other people, it follows from this that we must be open-minded and receptive to other people and their experiences. We cannot maintain insularity amongst a few people while closing ourselves off to others, as understanding is only generated by being open to different people and their stories and experiences. We need to be open-minded if we want to understand this world, and do something to change it for the benefit of us all.

Sports then, binds people together like no other interests, across boundaries, cultural and religious differences. It is through the medium of community that we can achieve not only international relationships connected by the love of sport, but also the mindset to pursue the ambition of a better world for ourselves and the generations following us. Each person’s experiences are unique but when those experiences have their foundation in sport we get to truly encounter the depths of commitment and excellence that are always present in personality traits of those who practice the game. Sharing these experiences across the IAMSPORT community will encourage, inspire, educate and motivate.

As athletes we are indeed committed to a lifestyle, a moral code and the pursuit of excellence.