Exploring the elements of sports

There is more than a tinge of fluidity which has given rise to different interpretations to the meaning of sports. A conundrum one would say. Debate has developed over the years as to which activities could be classified as sport and which could not. Opinions differed and they still do. This makes for a pot-pourri of ideas.

The best definition of sport I came across was in the Oxford Universal Dictionary, a priceless work which also delves into the lexical etymologies. The encompassing meaning is that sport is a pastime inducing merriment within a contest (competition) pre-supposing physical exertion.

The raison d’être of sport is the shedding away of energies and suppressed emotions which could have negative effects on social behaviour. This is also seen to be an exhortation or uplifting to a purified atmosphere where there is cleansing of all that is unwanted in the interrelations of human beings.

In order that this is satisfied, sports activities demand the physical and mental elements which a priori cannot exclude tech­nical/tactical and competitive factors.

Whether the disciplines are classified as Olympic sport or part of internationally recognised activities, on a federations basis, is of relative importance. Such ideas took root as different sports mushroomed along the ages.

The fact that rugby union and cricket, to mention just two sports, are not listed as Olympic disciplines, does not in any way exclude them from having a very conspicuous place in the long array of recognised sports.

Sports primarily entails physical effort or exertion and the lesser the degree of such the lesser the entitlement the activity should have to being recognised as a fully-fledged sport.

Physical factors within competitive contests principally take into account strength and endurance of the athlete while the mental factor presupposes the so-called spirited or psychological qualities of the athlete during the contest. The technical/tactical element emerges from the pure skills, athletic and aesthetic, of the athlete.

Whether sport is practised individually or collectively (as a team) and whether it is an indoor or outdoor activity, is immaterial. What is necessary is that we all recognise that the discipline indulged in is a sport since it embraces all the elements referred to.

If any one of these is absent, or figures low in the list of components constituting sport, then the need arises for a proper classification whereby an adequate distinction between sports and so-called pure games is made.

This is not an easy exercise since there is a plethora of sports or games, including exclusive strength and endurance feats, aesthetic competitions, card, board and table games. These all lay a claim to being included in one of these categories.

This can be done if well-versed people in this matter are called together to formulate guidelines as to the main categories. The forum could well be within the Kunsill Malti Għall-Isport.

The fact that in the past these guidelines were missing, or at least nebulous, when criteria for previous sports awards were set should not deter us from starting afresh.

Streamlining the name of the national awards into “Athlete/Young Athlete of the Year” could probably be the best solution towards rationalising the contest, even if a winner in a different category embracing games/feats could also be recognised as, for example, “Top Performer of the Year”.

In this way, controversies will be practically eliminated and future award-winners and organisers of these contests will not be subjected to criticism.

Yes, let’s see what sport really is first and then have proper guidelines to show us a clear way.