Competitive sport has always lived with tension. The tension between winning and learning, between pushing limits and protecting well-being, between pressure and enjoyment. It is often presented as a choice, but in reality, long-term success depends on balance.

In a world shaped by different languages, traditions and ways of living, finding common ground is not always easy. Cultural differences can feel vast, especially when people meet for the first time in unfamiliar environments. Yet, time and again, sport proves to be one of the most natural bridges between them.

When we think of children in sport, we often imagine running, scoring, tackling, winning. Yet beneath the visible actions lies a rich network of subtle skills, quietly moulded by the experience of playing. These are the hidden competencies, like reading body language, adjusting to different leadership styles or managing emotion in a team setting, which often outlast the final whistle.

On a chilly December day in 1891, in a small gym in Springfield, Massachusetts, a new sport was born. The man behind it was James Naismith, a Canadian-born physical education instructor at the YMCA Training School, tasked with creating a game that could keep students active indoors during the winter. He hung two peach baskets on the walls and drafted 13 basic rules. Thus, basketball began.