Sport- Magic Bullet for Health, Happiness and a Holistic Life, ET BrandEquity
Image for representative purposes (iStock)“It used to be said that boxing was for men and not for women. I thought I’d show them one day. I made a promise to myself and I proved myself.” A quote from the indomitable Mary Kom that resonates with athletes but more importantly illustrates the everyday struggles of a normal person. Sport is a great unifier. The new Olympic motto was introduced during Tokyo 2021 (originally 2020) – “Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter” in Latin, i.e. “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” in English. The change adds the word “together” after a hyphen to the former “Faster, Higher, Stronger” Teacher, panacea, guide, and ally for health all rolled into one. Here are my five observations on the impact sport has on a person’s life off the field.
1. Mental health implications
Sport and physical activity release endorphins and serotonin, the happy hormones, and lower the level of the stress hormone cortisol. Countries with a sports culture such as Australia and Germany emphasize that a child should play at least four different sports by the time they reach their teens. Ideally two individuals and two teams Sports. It helps in boosting self-esteem, self-confidence, sense of community and well-being. The more time is spent playing games and sports, the less time is spent on social media and looking at screens. It also improves sleep quality, which is important for maintaining mental health and a good quality of life.
2. Building tenacity and resilience
A spinal tumor was diagnosed at the age of five, followed by three years of treatment, and at the age of 29 he returned. It took three surgeries and 183 stitches to erase her body’s cancerous tumor. But it left her paralyzed from the waist down. That’s only half of Deepa Malik’s story. Well, the other half – She is the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympic Games and won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio in shot put. Sport is the closest reflection of life because there will be more failures and obstacles than victories and successes. Tenacity and resilience become your most important qualities as you face the greater challenges that life has to offer.
3. Discipline, dedication, determination – the basis for success
Outselling all other international batsmen, Rahul Dravid faced 31,258 deliveries during his Test career, a world record. This roughly equates to 44,152 minutes and almost 741 hours on the fold. Rarely will you find a sports champion missing one of the “3Ds”. The 1000 hours of practice, the steely grit and the steady eye (QE). The Steady Eye (QE) – defined as the final fixation or pursuit of the gaze at a task-relevant location prior to initiating the final phase of movement. While the science behind QE in sports is extensively researched, the real life applications and implications cannot be ignored.
4. Team spirit and leadership
1983 Cricket World Cup and 2004 Football Euro, a bit of script similarity. In 1983, India the great underdog West Indies defeated the overwhelming favorites to lift the trophy after beating them in the first game of the tournament. Also at the 2004 European Championships, an unheralded Greece defeated hosts and favorites Portugal in both the first game and final to emerge as champions. No one gave India and Greece a chance, but led by strong leaders Kapil Dev and Theo Zagorakis believed in playing together as a team, not triumphing as lone wolves. A hackneyed acronym – Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM), but works like magic. In today’s dynamic times and the VUCA world, a good manager and a well-rehearsed team are crucial for every success
5. Diversity, equity and inclusion
The recently completed fifth edition of the khelo India Youth Games was a resounding success both as a concept and as a long-term implementation plan. Such an initiative will fuel India’s journey from a sporting nation to a sporting superpower. But what it will also do is convey the values of DE&I at a young, impressionable age without being explicitly lectured about it. The young athletes interact, train, compete and eat during such meetings with athletes from different parts of the country. The prejudices and prejudices that exist regarding race, gender, creed and social status are suppressed in the mind of the young athlete. Hopefully many of them will take part in national and international tournaments. And what is even more encouraging is likely that the seeds have been sown for an open, respectful and inclusive society in the future.
While we as individuals may not do our country proud, stand on a medal podium, or lift a trophy, we can always be the best version of ourselves – physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Sport helps us improve, maintain our health, treat people with more respect and generally try to make the world a better place to live.
Keep this in mind the next time you pick up a badminton racquet to play with your daughter in the backyard – she may be aspiring to be the next PV Sindhu. And for you
– A Life Champion is not such a bad nickname to aim for. Think about it.
The author is Senior Vice President of Ogilvy Health and Wellness.
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