SPORTSMANSHIP
lympics is around the corner and both sportsmen and their coaches are putting a lot of effort to win medals and make their countries proud. This reminds me of a race I read about years ago. A race that always manages to put a smile on my face.
Though the participants in this race were not Olympic- level athletes, but they had prepared well before the race. They all lined up at the starting line and then there were a few false starts. The over- enthused participants found it difficult to wait for the referee to blow the whistle and signal the start.
Finally, the referee blew the whistle and the race started. All the participants ran as fast as they could. Then the inevitable tumble happened and one participant fell down. That is when magic happened... All the participants stopped and they came back to help their competitor who had fallen. They picked him up, wiped his tears and held his hand. In fact, they all held each other’s hands, walked confidently and crossed the finish line. They all won the race; they were all winners.
These winners had a smile on their faces. It helped that they were all five- year olds and won their first race. The race track was resounding with the applause and cheering of the audience.
I still remember this race because of the most amazing display of sportsmanship. These kids went on to display there is much more to a game than winning or losing. Now, some people may go on to say that this is not sportsmanship as one of the elements of sportsmanship is giving your best. The kids did not put their best efforts and this is how seeds of mediocrity are sowed.
I humbly beg to differ. I believe sportsmanship is also about team spirit, fair play and most importantly, the ability to carry on despite losing. It is not just about winning or losing. Sometimes, it is also about getting up, dusting yourself and say the game is still on.
My dear readers, I would urge all of you to imbibe this element of sportsmanship in your life. Never give up and never lose hope. Be a winner.