Reinvigorating the nation's sporting culture is an essential factor in nation-building. India needs to develop a sporting culture at the grass-root level and train kids in different types of sports. Sportspeople are the problem solvers, positive influencers on other people and the nation, and are highly ambitious to move the country forward. It helps the individual other than physical fitness; it teaches strategic thinking, analytical thinking, leadership skills, goal setting, and risk-taking qualities.
Sportive behavior provides an outlet for one's aggression by letting it out physically instead of verbal or psychological outbursts.
Good sportsmanship makes competitive play more enjoyable for everyone. While winning might feel the most important, it teaches the competitor to be gracious and respectful towards the opponent. Sports also contribute to the country's economy by supporting employment through commercial activities. It facilitates a better lifestyle and lifespan for the population, increasing income.
Sports have an essential role to play in nation-building.
It teaches qualities like discipline, determination, teamwork, and fitness. Sports define the character of the nation. The feeling of nationalism apart from religion, caste and creed come from sports. It is the only bond that binds people together in developing a sense of patriotism and unity, which could, in turn, counter the wicked acts of various separatist forces.
After the industrial revolution, our lives have become far more sedentary due to various comforts brought by the advent of technology. Many scientific achievements have made our lives considerably more accessible and reduced physical activity.
Sports help unify the people within the state to remain politically stable and viable in the long run. Sports also help to improve social skills through teamwork, creating new friendships, emotional maturity, and becoming a better communicator and listener. Sportsmanship teaches how to improve and optimize a range of mental qualities to withstand the pressure they experience. Sports can develop society in moral virtues and vices, loyalty, dedication, integrity, and courage. It helps the social-psychological function by providing a sense of excitement, joy, and diversion for many people.
Government should encourage the youth in sports for nation-building since they become the future nation builders of the next generation. Sports teach social qualities such as resilience, leadership, accountability, respect, and patience. Sports help in building infrastructure in a nation. The 1964 Tokyo Olympics, 1988 Seoul Olympics, and 2008 Beijing Olympics showcased the transformation of their country's remarkable economic power on the global stage. Similarly, in India, the then prime minister Nehru's attempt to forge new Asian solidarity, the Asian games were invented by India, and the first Asian game in 1951 was held in Delhi.
Any major international sporting event promotes a universal brotherhood and gives a sense of belonging to a larger global community. In 1982, when the Asian Games were held in New Delhi, it facilitated the creation of the first national TV and introduced color TV to India. The
game pulled the city into the 21st century through new flyovers, widened roads, augmented public transport, and new phone lines were added to the city's infrastructure. The sixteen-day event witnessed thirty-three countries and 4500 athletes in nearly 100 sporting events; it changed the face of Delhi forever.
Sportspeople have always been successful goodwill ambassadors for any country and have admirers across the border. Sports bring strangers together, irrespective of their differences in politics, religion, and identity, and lock arms to support their national team. Though it serves as mere entertainment, the national team's success is a valuable tool in nation-building. The social importance of sports highlights the potential mechanism for creating a national unity in an otherwise fractured and politically unstable environment.
There are many ways in which sports can help build the nation. However, there are some adverse effects of sports too. For instance, more money is invested in men's sports than women's sports. This is discrimination as women are also equally talented as men in sports. It is nice to see the crowd supporting their team in the stadium, but when fan fights happen, it causes much harm and injury to people.
As Nelson Mandela said, sports have the power to change the world; they can inspire to unite people in a way that little else does. It is more powerful than the government in breaking down racial barriers. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. It can create hope where once there was only despair.
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