Why sports matter
We need to facilitate, encourage and patron sports… personally, socially, culturally,
religiously and educationally
Asadullah Minhaz
As an ardent follower of sports happenings around the globe, I was trying not to miss any special event during last Rio Olympics. On 8th August 2016, I watched the US 4x100-meter Freestyle Swimming Team win the Gold and then one of swimmers broke into tears at the medal ceremony while their national anthem was being played. Ryan Held, the swimmer, later explained that although he had heard the national anthem hundred times before, the situation at the medal ceremony appeared very different2.
Afterwards, I tried to interpret his views. Was he trying to mention the overwhelming emotion that erupts spontaneously when someone brings a moment of rejoice for the nation? I wondered. Four days later, on 12th August, a Singaporean youth won the first ever gold for the country and created a huge event for nationwide celebration. In a flash, this reminded me a conversation occurred in 2007 at the Singapore Command and Staff College during a military training course.
Have you ever been on a real paddy field? I asked my colleagues.
This sudden interruption took everyone by surprise, ending the about-to-be heated debate. The faces looked bemused and almost all shook their heads no. Not really, no one has.
Then take my word for it. I tried myself. Its really very difficult. I concluded with a lot of confidence.
March 2007. We were in the middle of an argument at the Staff College. The issue was how much a wet paddy field would really impede a cross-country movement of mechanized columns. The impact of ground (terrain - in common military terms) and weather on military operation is a foremost planning consideration. The discussion, as a matter of fact, seized a lot of attention and provoked some thoughts. Alongside a couple of other colleagues I was swimming against the tide, insisting on the point that even an apparent dry looking paddy field could become a complete no-go for light vehicles. I had been talking from practical experiences. My comrades from the city state could not boast equal familiarity. At one point, a fellow officer surprised me saying that he had never seen a paddy field even from afar. I added that we actually had grown up with paddy, rice being our staple food and rice production accounting for about 75 percent of agricultural land use. I also informed him about the importance of rivers for our case and he appreciated knowing that our riverine country has more than 700 rivers including tributaries. He informed about having a fair idea of rivers as Singapore River claimed formidable length and breadth. He asked me about flood, our erstwhile frequent visitor, and I told about our adaptability.
Then he commented, you all must be very good swimmers. Well, I said, most of us.
Only The Almighty All-knowing knew and I did not, nine years later, I would be congratulating my sponsor colleague for his countrys first gold medallion in Olympics. And the medal would be won in swimming.
Joseph Isaac Schooling was only thirteen when he met his idol, the all-time greatest swimmer Michael Phelps, at a country club in Singapore in 2008. That year, US Olympic Swimming Team was on their way towards Beijing and had made a temporary halt at the club where schooling used to train. Phelps, already a legend by then, agreed to pose for a picture with the kid. Schooling surely had preserved that precious photo with care and often looked at it with pride and delight. But with every glance, he also had strengthened his resolve. Someday he would again stand beside the same man, but a little higher - before an audience of the whole world. He would definitely stand to bring overwhelming joy for a nation that never won an Olympic gold; he would make happen to play his motherlands national anthem which others would listen in admiration; he would, for sure, make a nation proud.
So when on 12th August 2016 at the Rio Olympic Aquatic Stadium, the history is in the making, we see a boy turned youth suddenly becoming the symbol of aspiration and unity of a delightful nation. Schooling wins the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly finals beating his idol Michael Phelps, setting new Olympic records with a time of 50.39 seconds. The history is created when stage was all set for Michael Phelps to win his (unbelievable!) 23rd Olympic gold, and no one had a slightest doubt about it. The tiny Singaporean at lane 4 could barely be noticed as favourite. But definitely there are more things in heaven and earth, than are dreamt of . And an astonished world witnesses the passing of the torch from a legend to his protg. Phelps does justice to his magnanimous greatness, promptly hugs and welcomes the new kid on the block with a smile. A overjoyed grateful nation, that consists of only about 5.5 million people, pays a tribute by awarding worlds biggest Olympic cash prize (I million S$). Schooling returns home to receive a state reception and to plant seeds of dream for thousands of Singaporean kids.
For us, the children will have to wait for that moment to arrive; to date, an Olympic success has not been on the horizon.
With its little over 90 million people, Vietnam has many things identical to Bangladesh. It is quite a populous country, 14th in world ranking (Bangladesh is little ahead with 8th position), had to hard-earn the liberation and sovereignty after several bloody wars; boasts similar weather, food habit, culture and physical built of the people. Before Rio 2016, the country won two Olympic silver medals in 2000 and 2008 (in Taekwondo and weightlifting respectively). In 2016, Hong Xun Vinh, a colonel from the Vietnam Army, did what nation has so far been longing for. On 6th August, he won the gold medal in 10m air pistol, first time for his country. Vietnam national standard was raised high and the national anthem was played. The recharged shooter almost repeated the history four days later, by winning the silver at 50m pistol.
Since their first appearance in Summer Olympics in 1948, the Puerto Ricans did impressively well (especially in boxing), bagging a total of 6 bronzes and two silvers before 2016. Not a sovereign country itself (though maintaining own anthem and flag), the tiny island (insular territory of USA) holds only three and a half million people, but definitely enough to make an Olympic gold winner3. At Rio 2016, Monica Puig Marchn, a 23 years old unseeded tennis surprise package rises with incredible power. She beats the second ranked player of the world to become the first Puerto Rican Olympic gold medal winner. The islanders burst into rejoice. With a geographical area (9104 sq km) half of Dhaka division and a population size half of Dhaka City, the tiny island has worked for decades to become a sports hub of the region, inviting and organizing a number of world championship events. In that small part, there are as many as 37 natatorium, colosseums, stadiums and other high class sports facilities. Puerto Ricos investment pays off; its sports identity overrides the political identity. On the western part of Bangladesh in Rajshahi, Kashipur is just another typical hamlet of Durgapur Upazilla. The events of Rio 2016 mattered less for its residents, except of course, on 20th August when the youngsters stayed up the night. They were longing to share the glory of winning a gold medal in the Olympic, through a son of the soil, Abdullah al Mamun. On that day at Rio de Janeiros Olympic Arena, rhythmic gymnast Margarita Rita Mamun set a new Olympic Record and won gold in the womens individual all-around event. Born in Moscow, Margarita is definitely a Russian. But her father, Abdullah Al Mamun, hailed from Kashipur. Margarita used to retain her Bangladeshi nationality so long it was permitted, visited her fathers village as a kid and in 2005 took part in a competition as Bangladeshi National4 in the junior level. These instances may not be sufficient to overrule other unique economic, organizational or genetic realities that a nation has to deal with. Nevertheless, we are not alone with such sports performances. With around 1.7 billion people, entire South Asian (SA) region can barely claim any notable Olympic triumph.
Sport has the power to change the world, said Nelson Mandela, It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.9
A single sports achievement can boost the morale of an entire nation. A sole personal triumph can be very important for fostering a national spirit. One mans talent can set distinct footprints to inspire a generation. History is replete with instances; one Jesse Owens, one Sachin Tendulkar, one Jahangir Khan .. Tiger woods, Mohammed Ali, Usain bolt, Michael Jordan, Manny Pacquiao, Shakib al Hasan all have had fascinating influences over generations, communities, societies and even on societal consciences. Not only are they role models for millions, but also subtle catalysts to transform the youngsters intellectual domains. They have led them to the parks, schoolyards and playgrounds; tens of thousands were saved from becoming couch potatoes, internet geeks or getting brainwashed by spiritual opportunist and fanatics.
Sports achievement and medallions do count for any nation. A country may not have modern facilities and superb infrastructure to produce medal winners over night. But for us, we do have some fine institutions with long traditions ready to be utilized as suitable breeding grounds for athletes and sportsmen. Organizations like BKSP, Bangladesh Armed Forces, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP have regularly created runners, sprinters, boxers and swimmers. BKSP is a fine example of structured institution that keeps contributing to national sports, producing world class athletes in several disciplines. For an instance, BKSP-born shooter Asif Hossain Khan won gold medal in Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002 (participated by 72 nations). He could be our Hong Xun Vinh! Then only 15 years old, Asif beat his Indian contestant Abhinav Bindra in 10 m air rifle event. Bindra later went on to become world and Olympic champion on the same event, and to become Indias first individual Olympic gold winner in Beijing 2008. If Asifs talents could be fostered well, perhaps that glory could have been ours.
Certainly if a kind of sports does not promise enough financial security in the long run, it may not attract dedicated participation. We now find cricketers are born aplenty and the parents from all mixtures of socio-economic background dont mind their kids turning out to be cricketers. However the case is not the same with an athlete or a swimmer.
Then again, games and sports are not for medal hauling only. Coubertin emphasized more on taking part than winning10. More importantly, as precisely said by Roman poet Juvenal in early 2nd century AD, a sound mind lives in a sound body (Mens sana in corpore sano). Sports build both moral and physical health; provide constructive source of entertainment, social bonding and a global language. Sports build character; sports deliver esprit de corps, courage, fairness, integrity, honesty, perseverance, leadership, mutual respect, sportsmanship etc. as natural by-products. Many term games are a sort of secular religion with collective appeal to combine all basic values and standards. Over all ages, importance of games and sports has been highlighted by scholars and intellectuals, politicians and statesman, philosophers and philanthropists. For example, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to encourage all kinds of famous sports of his era. He even accepted the challenge of a famous Meccan wrestler (Rukaana) and beat him several times.
Asadullah Minhaz is a serving military professional and a PhD researcher at the Jahangirnagar University. The writer can be reached at [email protected]
