Today's Sport

24 August 2007

Sports are long-established, for the display of athletic qualities. They have fostered goodwill among participants and spectators and symbolised the value of excellence and the will to achieve one’ s best. We have many meets, ranging from national to international which are theoretically the contests of athletic skill and power. In today’s context, the ideals of competition and fair-play have been plague by certain problems.
Often, the association sports is fair-play, humility in victory, etc. The ideal of competing in the Olympic games, is to be friendly and this noble ideal is often ignored. In the times before the 19th century, Olympic athletes took pride in competing for their countries and developed friendship and promoted international understanding. Since, Hitler the dictator, politicised the 1936 Berlin games, these meets held once in every four years have obtained political implications. In the 1980, when the United States boycotted the moscow games in protest against the soviet invasion of Afghanistan, its lead was followed by about forty nations. Russia acted by not participating in the Los Angeles games of 1984, this might be considered as an act of revenge. The pursuit of national glory should not be allowed to be affected by politics of participating nations.
In recent times, sports today is the involvement of money. People participate in sports to gain wealth and fame. The importance of winning medals seems to have died out. There is an impulse for the filthy lucre, this is being sought after not only by participants but also sports organizers. The spirit of competition and the true victory and achievement are being eroded by professionalism. One exceptional example is the game of soccer. In today’s context soccer is not only seen as a game based on team-spirit and skills but also as a mean to great wealth. Soccer players are traded with profit for the club as motive. Many athletes are sponsored by huge corporations and these athletes are motivated by money to serve the purposes of sponsors. Hence, sports is being polluted by greed. There are many athletes who do not have a sense of patriotism, they bid farewell to national pride and join another club or other countries that are able to offer a higher pay. If the project on human genome is immensely successful, clones of famous athletes can be made. This would cause the formation of individualistic teams and thus, tarnishing the values of sports. As a result, sports, in the future, would be fully commercialized.
Is your passion motivated by money or genuine interest?
Nowadays, parents are ambitious and coaches are demanding. No one would disagree that sports for children are pleasurable and to keep them occupied and make them both physically and mentally fit. However, when parents are involved, sports became a task rather than being active and having fun. These children are fed with their parents ego. These ambitious parents may try to realise in their children what they failed to do so when they are in their youth. These children have to satisfy the demands of their coach. When parents create an atmosphere of professional sports for them, their interest fade off, but carry on despite their dislike and developing years that are to be enjoyed by engaging in variety of activities are wasted.
Athletes are constantly in the public eye as participants in sports, icons, endorsers,etc. There are many athletes who disrespect their opponents and throw tantrum, while there are those who help charities and people who are in need. Although, an athlete skills and strengths are esteemed by people, their rude and crude behaviors have a negative influence on teenagers. These youths may think that their superstar/idol is worth imitating, to be cool or represent their loyalty to their superstar/idol.
In addition, pure sportsmanship is being corrupted by the use of drugs. These drugs enhance the performance of athletes. Those who use the drugs have the dishonorable advantage. Doping is unethical and is absolutely cheating.
In conclusion, sports should the pursue of passion and not filthy lucre. Theoretically, sports should eliminate atrocious behavior and influences of money and fame. Also, competitions should not be commercialized and should draw out virtues that are valued from athletes.



Athletes that are considered as bad role models are those who:
-pursue fame and filthy lucre
-Doping
-Rude and crude behaviors

Athletes that are considered as good role models are those who;
-Pursue their passion
-Kind hearted (doing charity activities)
-Do not cheat
-Respect other athletes including referees.
-Bring out the virtues of their sport.