Global Health graduate awarded for leadership in athletics explores the connection between sports and the SDGs

MSc Global Health graduate, Yordan Stoyanov, has been awarded the Therese Quigley Award of Excellence for Graduate Student Leadership Athletics, which recognizes leadership in sporting activities. The competitive or recreational activities recognized by the award encourages participation, team building, and commitment to sportsmanship.

For Stoyanov, immigrating to Canada from Bulgaria at the age of eight was an up-hill battle from the start. To deal with the difficulty of integrating into life in Canada, learning a new language, and having to make new friends, he overcame barriers through participating in sports. Gaining a personal understanding of the power and potential that sports have on integrating newcomers, he was inspired to explore this connection.

While at McMaster University completing a Bachelor of Science, and most recently a Master of Science in Global Health, he was on the varsity soccer team and involved in many initiatives that contributed to the university and wider community.

As part of the MSc Global Health program, Stoyanov completed his work integrated learning placement with Hamilton Sparta Soccer Club, a non-profit organization that allowed him to further explore the connection between integration and sports. Apart from the physical act of coaching the players, he analyzed and interpreted the available research on concussions to update the club’s concussion policy.  Additionally, he worked on a document which outlined the impact the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of youth.  Balancing several projects, school responsibilities, and athletics, Stoyanov reflects that this experience “promoted self-management skills, discipline, and collaboration”.

“The knowledge gained throughout the Global Health program was further reinforced during my practicum and touched on teh United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3)  and Quality Education (SDG 4)”, says Stoyanov. He further explained, “combined with school curriculum, physical activities and sport are necessary for a comprehensive education and contribute to the overall achievement of the SDGs”.

As regular participation in sport and physical activities provides direct impact on physical fitness, it has the potential to instil healthy lifestyle choices among children and young people. This in turn can support to combat non-communicable diseases, contribute to the empowerment of women and communities, as well as to health, education and social inclusion.

Historically, sport has played an important role in all societies and acted as a strong communication platform. It is, and will continue to be, one of the most cost-effective and versatile tools to promote and achieve the SDGs, especially those that relate to healthcare (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), social inclusion and inequalities (SDG 10), and peace and security (SDG 16).

If you want to learn more about Yordan Stoyanov’s experience in the Global Health Program, he is featured here in a video about 2021 Student Virtual Mobility Video.