Editorial

Fascination of sports events

It’s fascinating to witness, even viewing it live through television, the opening programs of international sports events, such as the Olympics which are conducted once every four years when nations’ contingents flock for glory of games and show of mettles. Even the closing programs are equally fascinating as they depict talents and culture at their best in grandiose and colorful presentation.   

The Philippines is host to the ongoing 30th South East Asian Games which opened last November 30 when talents and culture have been outlaid with gusto during the opening program. Yes, preparations for welcoming the sports delegations are perspiringly tedious and costly, but worth the efforts because of the magnificent rich and imaginative choreographic showcase. While our government has hugely poured financial resources for the hosting, the selling points are the tickets, tourism flow, advertisements, crowd cheers, and opportune opening of the country to Asia if not the world.

The core of the sports event is the convergence of nations through the presence of athletes who compete for excellence and a meeting of the physique and minds between and among competitors… it is dialoging through games where people of different cultures communicate through dynamics of special skills and showmanship. To be at the bottom of the game standing is not a shame but an opportunity to further plunge into competitive edge. Athletes earn self-respect after conceding to loses and earn valuable points by exerting more through rigid practice and perfection.

The rallying call for Pinoy athletes as flashed over television is “win as one.” For the conglomeration of athletes, we can aptly say it is “win as one region – South East Asia.”

Come to think of it, a sports tournament is not supposed to breed antagonistic feeling over the opponent but bringing forth the essence of skills excellence… that the winning is indicative of prowess in the field of competition while  losing is a state where weaknesses have to be diagnosed and staked for improvement like in any endeavor. More importantly is the meeting of people of different races and beliefs or even ethnicity in local and regional sports when they greet as persons promoting friendship and goodwill. Humane sports competitions are a trending in the promotion of camaraderie and connectivity. See how a couple meet in the same sports event that they tie their knots in marriage… an evidence of occurrence in the Theory of Proximity in marital relationship.

Sports events are a venue of advancing the essence of regional and world peace in the same way that Palarong Pambansa is an avenue where athletes from different regions compete and engage in “sports for peace.” The message centers on this twinkling statement: “Winners and losers become friends not foes.”

Take note also that excelling in sports, behind are discipline and the value of respecting the opponent. Like after the war, foes become allies. Respect is more than gold.

Also in sports is the value of health and wellness which are the total winning points.