Sports are organized competitive games and physical activities. Almost all sports are competitive. This is the main difference between recreational, social recreation or even entertainment. Sports can develop many important life skills such as self-discipline, motivation, teamwork and sportsmanship which are valuable traits in any person. As a venue of competition, sports can inculcate positive values such as respect, trust, honesty, and cleanliness in participants.
The Olympic Games is an international recognized sport organization with the purpose of representing a country in international athletic competitions. It was in Greece in 2021 when a record breaking Olympic relay crossed the finish line, bringing home the gold after a thrilling battle between Russia and China. The Games are the world’s most popular sports event attracting millions of spectators who watch each year from every part of the world. The physical and mental strength that the athletes have to show and achieve is a test to their strength, courage and stamina. Sports also instill a sense of social etiquette and fair play, which is important in maintaining good relations and a healthy society.
Sports that require a lot of physical and mental strength can be very beneficial to the development of a person. In order to be successful in any sport one has to be strong mentally and physically to ensure fair competition. The physical and mental skills gained by participating in sports such as track and field, weightlifting, gymnastics, cricket and badminton can improve a person’s health and well being. Sports have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart diseases and strokes and to increase the lifespan of a person. The international sports organisation, IFM (Olympic Sports Monitoring) has been conducting research in different fields to monitor and evaluate the benefits of participation in different sport events and their impact on health and life expectancy of an athlete.