Singapore, go play.
In The Straits Times on Monday, January 19 2009, was an article titled 'Sport isn't just for champions'. The writer, Rohit Brijnath, stated that schools must encourage kids to play - all have a right to health and fun. Some excerpts from the article:There is no evidence to suggest that Plato ever did a push-up, but the philosopher from the land that gave us the Olympics presumably saw a nobility and value to sport. As he once noted: "Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise saves it and preserves it."
The Minister for Education Dr Ng Eng Hen mentioned in a recent speech that he has asked the Education Ministry to study the possibility of encouraging participation in at least one sports activity for every child. If you distil his enlightened idea into three words it is this: "Singapore, go play."
There is sport whose mission is the production of champions and thus focuses solely on the talented, and there is sport that is played for pleasure and which can be enjoyed by every kid. Dr Ng championed inclusivity and stated that "recreational sports should be available and enjoyed by all".
It was a pertinent point, for in a world addicted to competition, we tend to lose sight of a single truth. Which is that sport does not belong only to the gifted, it is not only the preserve of the lean, agile hero. Everyone has the right to play sport, and badly, to mis-kick a ball and throw an errant pass, because everyone has the right to health and fun.
Sport is often a noisy activity but it is also a quiet, insistent teacher, and we learn often without even recognising we have been educated.
Sometimes, our first understanding of teamwork occurs when a friend reassures us after an own goal; our first taste of sacrifice comes when a colleague dribbles the defence but lets us score; our first introduction to fair play arrives when a rival concedes his hand hit the football.
But mostly, it is some parents who will take convincing, for an hour on a field is somehow interpreted as an hour subtracted from doing homework. But kids require balance and eventually societies must recognise the long-term virtue of an all-round education.
"It is exercise alone that supports the spirits and keeps the mind in vigour," sound like wise words. Especially since they come from Cicero.
Oh so true! Sport really isn’t just for champions. Encouraging participation in sport for every child is a step towards developing the sporting scene in Singapore, a step towards good health for all individuals. This is also a timely reminder in the midst of my retirement from competitive kayaking. Although the article is targeted at kids and schools, I believe that the idea of “play” can be extended to the community of working adults. Being human, whatever the age, there is still a need to exercise and keep fit. There will still be benefits from involvement in sports. The elements of teamwork, sacrifice and fair play, as mentioned in the article, will undoubtedly still be evident in sporting activity, serving as constant reminders of their existence and importance. Additionally, the working adult can contribute back to their sport via coaching, mentoring and encouraging life-long participation. This community definitely has a part to play in creating a sporting culture in Singapore. Apart from sharing their sporting experiences, they still have a right to pick up new sports and learn from their more experienced counterparts. This right to learn need not be limited to the youth! I urge all working adults (including myself) to integrate sport into their lifestyles and be willing to teach and learn. Indeed, to all, “Singapore, go play.”
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