With the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, a magnificent global sporting festival came to an end. We witnessed very high-class entertainment by the athletes pushing themselves to perform at levels far beyond the imagination of an ordinary human being. The tears of joy exhibited by some athletes signified their commitment, hard work, and above all sacrifice of family life during the preparatory period in which some of them could not even visit their families even when their dear ones passed away. Covid-19 added misery to the routine share of hardships and tragedies of daily life. Camaraderie exhibited by the athletes despite competing for the same medals is something the young generations can learn from.
Despite such trying circumstances, Indian Contingent gave its best performance by getting the highest number of medals in history. This competitive spirit exhibited through their performance is a great motivator for the next generation to invest in sports. This performance not only sums up the fighting spirit of Indian athletes but also their commitment towards the nation. There is immense pressure on the athletes to perform especially in the present era of electronic media where every action of a person connected with such international events is analysed, discussed and expectations announced in the public domain. History was created in several events, and the one which stood out was the exemplary performance by Neeraj Chopra who made the country proud by bagging the gold medal in the Javelin throw. Indian men’s hockey winning a medal after a gap of 41 years also exhibited determination, commitment, and never say die spirit of the team. Indian Women’s hockey won global appreciation despite narrowly missing the medal. Aditi Ashok has given India recognition in golf which has been alien to our country and considered a sport for the elite and retired. Mira Bai Chanu, PV Sindhu, Aditi Ashok, Lovlina Borghain, and the women hockey team displayed the women power of India. Besides Indian Men’s hockey team Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, and Bajrang Punia displayed their mettle in the respective events becoming role models for generations to follow.
Listing the above achievements cannot take away the hard work and sweat of other athletes who could not bring home medals for us. They worked as hard or maybe some of them even harder but results on the final day were governed by a sum of factors, like form and rhythm on that day. Even they have come back learning how to handle failure and the pressure of performing in events of such stature. I am sure most of them would be now looking at the future with hope and determination and some will surely fetch us a medal in 2024. Most of them must be already putting on the drawing board, their plans to prepare for the Paris Olympics. Such is a sports person’s life. They learn on the job how to handle failures and success alike and take things in stride which is the hallmark of great leaders.
Through Olympics 2020, people once again went via the cycle of preparation, expectations, performance, excitement, successes, and failures. Several Champions failed to even qualify for the finals and were replaced by as many newcomers who surprised them with their scintillating performances by finishing on the podium. This is how sports teach us fair play and reward for performance rather than hype and history. In sports ‘a goal is a goal and foul is a foul’, no matter who is involved in the act. Likewise, the principle of ‘Reward and Punishment’ is best taught through sports as well.
Results during the Olympics strictly follow the motto of Citius-Altius- Fortius meaning ‘Faster , Higher, Stronger’. This motto leads to equality, fair play, and justice which motivates the entire community of athletes throughout the world to sweat for years to become faster, perform higher, and become stronger than their competitors. Sports create a global ecosystem of competitive spirit and excellence.
Sportspersons personify discipline be it physical fitness, training, skill development, diet, or sleep/ rest. Some young athletes can perform very well based just on talent in the Junior Competitions, but to perform consistently at the highest level discipline is a prerequisite which is achieved at the cost of depriving oneself of several worldly pleasures which people of that age enjoy. This long-term investment teaches patience and builds the character of a winner. Winners especially at events like the Olympics are not made overnight but surely through perseverance in hard work and consistency in performance. These are the qualities essential in a leader who wishes to lead a successful organisation be it in military, government, or in the corporate world.
Olympics is not restricted to the venues where it is conducted but it is a movement that inspires sportspersons across the globe without caring for the size, location, or power of the countries. There are qualifying standards laid down which when achieved decide who all participate. There are no quotas for the countries or continents— excellence is all that matters. The effect of this movement is not restricted to the athletes who participate but millions more who trained to attempt qualification and billions who cheer for their respective countries. Olympics inject in a sports person leadership traits which are difficult to imbibe through classroom teaching. Aiming to win, preparing over a prolonged period to achieve that podium finish through hard work, and long-term strategy are a few of the leadership qualities that naturally come to a sportsperson. Needless to state that grit, determination, risk-taking, giving one’s best, and never say die spirit, are the prerequisites for a good sportsperson. Sporting spirit and the team spirit are not restricted to the highest level but it happens even in school or colony level matches. The joy of hitting a six in cricket by Virat Kohli or scoring a goal in hockey by Manpreet as is the same as it is for a school kid.
Olympics epitomise leadership qualities the citizens need to emulate which will surely build camaraderie and cohesiveness in the society. There is a need to take sports to the masses especially in the rural areas and medals will follow besides leaders being made. Society desperately needs leaders at all levels in all spheres to make this world a better place to live in.
During 39 years of military service, Lt Gen Balbir Singh Sandhu secured the apex appointment of Director General of Supplies & Transport of Army, headed a force of approximate 75,000 officers, JCOs, jawans and civilians deployed across India. He also served as the Director General of Information Technology of the Army. He is actively involved with think tanks such as USI, CLAWS, IDSA and ORF. The views expressed are personal.
Olympics cannot be restricted to the venues where they are conducted; they are a movement that inspire sportspersons across the globe without caring for the size, location, or power of the countries. There are qualifying standards laid down which when achieved decide who all participate. There are no quotas for the countries or continents— excellence is all that matters. Olympics inject in a sports person leadership traits which are difficult to imbibe through classroom teaching.