“Sport should be an escape,” was a term shared with me recently by a former elite sportsperson, who is still involved coaching the next generation. The term struck a chord.
For ask any medical practitioner and they will advise people who are feeling down or depressed to exercise. As exercise releases feel-good endorphins, and other natural brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of well-being.
When we go and play sport for an hour or ninety minutes it enables us to forget our troubles, our worries, and work for a period of time and enjoy ourselves. That enjoyment can be heightened by a good game, a good personal performance and a win.
Years ago when many of us played sport the only things that identified us when we walked or ran out onto the field of play were the colours that we wore, which let people know the team that we played for. Then there was the position that we played. This would often be determined by where we stood on the field of play or in some cases by the number on the back of our shirt.
Things were very simple back then.
Sure, there were some teams that stood for a section of the community, and that was clear from the colour of their shirts or the badge on their shirt or cap, but in truth few worried about such matters. They were simply the opposition for that week’s match.
Today why do we feel everyone who plays sport has to be put into a box? Whether that is a religious box, or one to do with their sexuality? Do these things really matter when people come together to play sport? Surely all that really matters is whether they can play, and are worth their place in the team. Whether they contribute to the team and fit in from a playing perspective; as any sports psychologist will tell you a team in which everyone is best mates will rarely succeed. If they are united in their task that is good, but social cohesion can be a disaster, certainly in high performance sport.
It does not matter the colour of your skin, your sexual orientation, or your religion, the bare facts are that just like in employment, you will feel happier at some clubs than at others. Some will be more welcoming, and you will form a stronger bond there than at others. This often comes down to the petty politics that is prevelent in many clubs, and sport in general. Rarely will it come down to those other issues.
Most will remember Tiger Woods famous quote when he came onto the scene, “I don’t just want to be the best black player or the best Asian player. I want to be the best golfer ever.” Yes he can be an inspiration to those who are Black and Asian, but he has in fact no doubt inspired hundreds of golfers irrespective of their skin colour, race or religion. So as he said the key is wanting to be the best, simple as that.
The other risk you have when you highlight such issues is when things don’t go as well as people expect it can be extremely painful for the individual. They become teh easy target. You only have to look at the situation that Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has had to face. Known publicly as the sole muslim in the Indian Cricket team, when the team has lost or performed badly who becomes the scapegoat, irrespective of all the outstanding performances he has put in for his team?
This probably was at its worst when India suffered a defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup just over a year ago. Shami received almost unprecedented abuse and much of it targeted his religion.
Virat Kohli, the captain of India stepped forward and spoke out on behalf of his team mate, and probably thousands of others. “Attacking someone over their religion is the most pathetic thing that a human being can do. They have no understanding of how much effort we put on the field,” Kohli said. “They have no understanding of the fact that someone like Shami has won India matches in the last few years. Honestly, I don’t even want to waste one minute of my life to give any attention to those people and neither does Shami and neither does anyone else on the team.”
These are the perils of giving individuals labels and promoting them because of a part of their life, rather than their ability or contribution to the sport. Many in the PR and Marketing game see such things as fantastic, and use them to supposedly create interest. Yet how many truly care about such things? Don’t most us judge a player purely on their performance? While pushing this angle for a story how much thought is given to the individual and the impact it could have on them, not necessarily now, but in the future?
It seems that in today’s world everyone and every event has to have a label. Why? Do these labels actually really help the situation or do they potentially create more problems?
Some sports are truly obsessed with labelling each round of their competition to tie in with some cause or external event. In some cases this is valid, especially when done properly. In Australia this week we will witness a number of sporting matches played on Anzac Day, and almost all without fail will be carried out with respect and reverence to those who fell in conflict, fighting for the greater good.
Some of the labelling of these rounds of fixtures are a complete waste of time, as true educational opportunities are missed, and when they are the label becomes pure tokenism. (Trying To Be Too Clever) Once again you will always find some clubs that really take these matters seriously, usually because they have a connection to that particular cause or label. They will ensure once again that they turn this particular game into a winner for all in terms of the respect shown and the educational opportunity. Regrettably these are few and far between.
Which begs the question why are we seeing this happen? What is the benefit? It would appear the only benefit is it ticks some government box, which implies that the sport is doing the right thing in this space.
However, producing these labels and boxes many will argue is in fact having the opposite affect on sport, in that it is often divisive when it is promoted as being inclusive. Some will argue that this is harsh, but on what basis is that cause or section of the community given this platform? What about all of the others in the community being given the same opportunity? Surely if it is good enough for one then you must do the same for all? Which as we all know is impractical and unrealistic. Yet sport is supposed to be for all.
Which is why the good old days when your team and your position were the only things that mattered created a far healthier environment in which to participate. Sport is about all walks of life coming together irrespective of background, religion, school, job, skin colour or sexual orientation, and playing and competing in harmony but most important of all having fun.
When did it become necessary to highlight these differences and promote all playing harmoniously? This was already happening.
