The importance of sports and Olympic games

Lets first look at the ?? ?? ?? ?? scenario of sports.When we look at the history of Indian sports we see a lot of importance was given to sports in India. We will find a long list of games that originated and played in India right from chess (indoor game) to hockey (outdoor game). Sports was considered essential at that time for two main reasons 1. physical fitness and 2. to pass time.

Then came the time of ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????, ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????! This line was used by most of the people in India a few years back. Sports was considered as a waste of time in those days. A lot of emphasis was given on academics and sports was considered as distraction. People young and old were discouraged to take up sports.

The picture is changing now. Sports in India is not just considered essential for physical fitness and to pass time nor its waste of time anymore. Sports in India has a wider scope now. If we compare ourselves with other sporting nations we are still at a very beginning stage. Nevertheless sports today is far beyond physical fitness and time pass. Importance of sports can be seen from the individual level to societal level to global level.Olympic games are the largest sporting event, in terms of the number of sports on the program, the number of athletes present and the number of people from different nations gathered together at the same time in the same place. The UK-based Simon Anholt, who advises governments on their ‘nation branding’ strategies, sees the Olympics as one of the best ways for a country to get international attention. Therefore now is the time to showcase our country’s ability.<

To explain the importance of sports and Olympic games here are a few points:

Sports and Health:

Physical activity has a crucial impact on society’s health and well-being as well as health care costs. Sports and exercises help in strengthening and toning the muscles and bones in the body and also helps in keeping the immune system strong. Sports provide not only physical health benefits but also Mental Health benefits. Success and failures are both part of sports as well as life. Sports teaches an athlete how to handle both failures and success. It also teaches how to handle competition fearlessly and overcome adversities.

Sports and Unity:

Sports has the power to unite people. Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South African President, initiated a unique venture to unite the apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Indian cricket team also has a power to unite the whole nation, remember 2011 cricket world cup?

Sports and Economic Development:

Sports can contribute to economic development by creating additional sources of income including the manufacturing of sporting goods, the development of sports related services and infrastructure or the hosting of sports events. Sports can also boost other sectors like international trade, tourism, social entrepreneurship, etc.

Sports as Moral equivalent of war/ Sports and peace:

All human beings have an urge to prove one’s superiority over others. This urge has led to most of the wars in human history resulting in destruction and bloodshed. Sports has evolved as a remedy to satisfy this urge. After the second world war, one of the European thinkers has commented that the Olympic movement must be sustained and developed since the only alternative available to it is war. “Stop war. Start tennis” Bopanna and Qureshi, an Indian Hindu and a Pakistani Muslim, spread their message of peace on the tennis court.

Sports and Pride:

Above all, winning in sports events is a matter of national pride, well this can be seen by the way fans express themselves through their teams and the way successful teams convey and instill pride in the society.

Support sports for a positive social change!