Aside from physical fitness, sports also teach students about emotional strength. Many students face emotional issues in their everyday lives, and sports training can help them learn how to accept both wins and losses with grace and dignity. Being involved in a team sport makes students more resilient to the inevitable ups and downs of everyday life. Here are some other advantages of sports:
Rules: The rules and customs of a sport are based on certain principles. They ensure fair competition and consistent adjudication of winners. Some rules, such as the number of participants, refer to specific physical events, while others use judges to score specific elements of a sporting performance. This creates a sense of structure and formality that is necessary for the successful conduct of a sport. Besides the rules and customs, sport also involves emotions.
Nationalist sentiments: The pursuit of sport has historically evoked feelings of nationalism. Some sports even encourage violence in the name of nationalism, a concept that is perceived as contrary to the ethos of sport. In 1972, the Olympic games in Munich were marred by violence when masked men murdered many Israeli athletes. The event became known as the Munich massacre. It is a classic example of how sports and politics can coexist. In addition to sport, politics can play a critical role in society.
Games: Modern sports can be traced to the late seventeenth century. The concept of a sports record first emerged during the Restoration. Puritans criticized traditional pastimes and drove them underground, but their popularity led to the creation of organized games. The Marylebone Cricket Club (founded in 1787) was instrumental in the development of organized games, such as cricket and tennis. The club’s leadership helped the sport develop as an all-round physical exercise.