On December 6, 2019, the Wealth and Society Forum 2019 was held at the Kempinski Hotel in Lujiazui, Shanghai. More than 100 representatives from domestic and foreign business, political, technological, philanthropic and academic sectors attended the forum, focusing on the latest trends and hot topics related to wealth creation, management and inheritance, as well as the sustainability and responsibility of wealth creation. The participants also discussed the future of China's wealth.



The golden boy of football and the famous British football star Michael Owen was invited to attend the forum and gave a wonderful speech. He believes that sport is playing an important role in addressing wider problems in society.



Sport can help drive change


Owen says he sees sports as a powerful tool for change. Social issues such as the environment, education, resources, poverty and health are considered to be the biggest challenges facing all of humanity, and while there is no single answer to these issues, there are many examples where sport has played a role.



In Owen's work, he has been fortunate to see the irreplaceable positive role that sports, especially football, play as people try to make a positive impact in their communities, bringing people from different backgrounds together for a common goal and providing a platform to work together, develop friendships and focus on commonalities rather than differences. They can break down cultural, religious and linguistic barriers.



Sports bring people health and happiness


Owen says sports and physical activity are good for people's physical and mental health. People who work in sports tend to be physically healthier. Sports and physical exercise are the most cost-effective "health supplements" that can significantly reduce health care costs.



Although for some people, sports are a way out of poverty. But playing sports doesn't always mean you get paid. However, from the grassroots to the professional level, there is no denying that sport does create many jobs. It also further contributes to economic development by increasing employability, especially among young people, as the core skills it teaches can be applied to other professions, so sport improves the employability of practitioners (especially young people), such as sacrifice and dedication.



Did football teach you how to work as a team


Owen said another lesson football taught him was how to work as a team. Just like in the workplace, different people need to work together for a team to succeed. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and in many cases, in a team environment, individuals have to sacrifice themselves for the good of others. And those who make sacrifices earn the most respect from their colleagues and end up being the most valuable members of the team.



In addition, Owen believes that being in a team requires learning to communicate. Just like in football, as in many other industries, people from different countries will work together. Even if you don't speak the same language, you have to find a way to communicate. In some cases, actions are more important than words, and everyone needs to find the right way to communicate.

Sports teach you to deal with setbacks


Being able to deal with setbacks is an important life lesson. Sports teaches you that in a very clear way. Irving said that he has suffered many setbacks in his career, experienced the disappointment of setbacks, and battled the heaviest setbacks. Sports taught him to walk away from setbacks, learn lessons, and learn how to manage both success and failure. These qualities help him tremendously in his daily life today.



Learn leadership skills from sports


Leadership is another aspect of life that Irving has learned from his sports career. The longer he worked in football, the more he realized that the leadership skills employed by various coaches and players apply to all walks of life. Of course, people lead in many different ways. One of the skills of leadership is to understand what type of leader you are and to play to your own strengths.



Sport is vital to the economic development of mankind


In Owen's view, sport is vital to the economic development of humanity, providing jobs and driving economic growth at home and abroad through activities such as sporting goods manufacturing, hosting sporting events, ticket sales and other by-products, as well as sports-related services and media. Sport alone adds £39 billion to the UK economy each year, half of which comes from grassroots sport involving individuals. The more successful the sports economy, the more people exercise, and vice versa.



Hosting a major sporting event can also bring many economic, social and cultural benefits in itself. Owen said the years of planning and investment that go into hosting a major event can boost jobs and create new business opportunities for companies of all sizes and sizes in the region. At the same time, needed improvements in infrastructure can attract new companies, allowing individuals and businesses to operate more efficiently. For example, after hosting the 2010 World Cup, South Africa's economic situation changed significantly. New roads, transport lines and telecommunications infrastructure have facilitated the business life of the country's citizens.



To make a good impression, host cities and countries have a strong incentive to tackle issues such as crime, poverty, and urban decay. Someone used this event as a catalyst to make things better. An improved global image can provide a significant and sustained boost to tourism and economic growth. "Barcelona, Sydney and Beijing have all seen that from hosting the Olympics." "Owen said.

Cities and countries hosting major events may retain converted sports venues after the event. The London 2012 Olympics are a case in point. It has left a lasting legacy for residents, particularly around East London's main attractions. It has created almost 8,000 full-time jobs and boosted economic output by almost £2 billion.



Owen said the Premier League is the most watched sports league in the world, broadcast to 643 million homes in 212 territories with a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people. This is just one example of the range of sports. Sport brings people from different ages, races and religions together to share the moment, and as such, he believes the value of sport in addressing wider issues in society should not be underestimated.



Owen concluded with a quote from former South African President Nelson Mandela: "Sport has the power to change the world. It has a power, unmatched by anything else, to bring people together. It speaks to young people in a language they understand. Sports can create hope where there is despair."