Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
7th May is celebrated as the World Athletics Day. The first World Athletics Day was observed in 1996. The basic objective of World Athletics Day is to boost the participation of youths in athletics. Someone has rightly said that “Running is a road to self-awareness and reliance-you can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations or coast quietly down a solitary path watching the earth spin beneath your feet”.
Athletics can serve as a powerful academic motivator for all athletes, especially those not otherwise inclined to perform to the best of their ability in the classroom. There are many students who see school as secondary to athletics, but coaches and families often require minimum academic performances of students before they are permitted to play. This teaches athletes to value their classes and earn the privilege of playing sports.
Athletics is considered to be mother of all games and is in fact the way of living and not just a sport. An Athlete is an all-round sportsperson with skills for cricket, football, tennis and has immense control of his body and senses.
Athletics not only builds you physically but it helps in body coordination and gives you mental stiffness. The main objective of World Athletics Day is to educate the generation about the significance of sports, encourage athletics as the foundational sport in schools and educational institutions, increase public awareness about sports in youth and understand its importance, to make athletics the number one participation sport in schools across the world and to construct a link between the youth, sport, and environmental conservation.
There is a proverb that “Healthy body has a healthy mind.” In order to enhance sports activities throughout the world; there are various sports events organised in the world throughout the year. Athletics provide students with crucial experiences and opportunities in their lives. When faced with difficult obstacles, students will be able to apply their experiences in order to overcome challenges. These important activities allow students to gain motivation to continue participating in their sport, and supply athletes with essential skills, including focus and self-confidence.
Athletics is powerful because it can bridge gaps, bring people who otherwise might not interact together, and provide opportunities not available elsewhere. Participating in athletic activities is an essential element in life; this is because during athletics process body movements are made, hence contributing immensely to the normal health of an individual. In addition, during athletic process, individuals lose weight leading to reduction of health associated problems such as obesity and vessel blockages. Athletics can also provide opportunities through relationships. Players on a team often grow close and form lasting bonds, bonds that can support students well beyond high school or college. Staying connected can also afford people job and mentorship opportunities or it could simply provide them with life-long friends.
Sports recognition also puts fans in the stands, which translates to more money poured into the athletics department. This allows coaches and athletic directors the freedom to purchase equipment and training tools that may continue to give their athletes the tools they need to succeed. Student-athletes feel valued when they are properly appreciated for their efforts. Athletic activities also pays more well compared to other kinds of chores in the world.
There is no doubt that successful athletes have the role of thinking critically in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches they make towards the problems they encounter in their daily athletic activities. It is rightly said that “Nothing good comes in life or athletics unless a lot of hard work has preceded the effort. Only temporary success is achieved by taking short cuts.”
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
