'Peace and unity through sport'

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

'Peace and unity through sport'. That is the appropriate theme of the 10th edition of the South Asian Games now in progress in all its splendour and glory in many centres in the country.

It is peace and a honourable one at that, that all Sri Lanka is praying assiduously for and waking up every morning. So the theme 'Peace and unity through sport', is timely and it is hoped that peace would be a reality soon.

It is accepted that sport is the great leveller. It is hoped that all sportsmen and women competing in the Games would do so in the best of spirits, keeping in mind always that winning or losing is not what matters but how one played the game.

Today with sport being highly commercialised, winning at all costs has become the bottom line. While everyone participates to win, winning must be achieved fairly and honourably.

Today the drug menace has reared its ugly head. Sportsmen and women have developed the ugly habit all over the world of relying on performing enhancing drugs to achieve their goals. True, winning brings great honour to the individual, the country and helps to enrich one's lifestyle. But like the Lord has said - what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his own soul.

It is sad to note that many sportsmen and women, who have set up world records, being punished and disgraced for having tested positive having relied on banned performance enhancing drugs. A glaring example was Canadian Ben Johnson. One hopes that no sportsman or woman would suffer this ignominy in the ongoing SA Games in Sri Lanka.

At the time of writing, Mayumi Raheem in swimming and 'golden boy' Chintana Vidanage have won gold medals for Sri Lanka. Weightlifter Vidanage who brought great honour to the sport and the country is continuing the good work and should be further supported and encouraged.

We wish the local participants many more gold medals and may they surpass the medals won at the previous Games held in 1991 in Sri Lanka.

Soccerites excel

Sri Lanka's soccer and its officials have in recent times been the whipping horse of some critics who know next to nothing of the sport.

The under-23 soccerites who are showing their prowess in the Games tournament, gave the sport a big lift when they posted an admirable victory defeating the Maldivians.

Although the victory was not by a big margin - one-nil, the way the Lankans played was encouraging and if they continue like that should go a long way and silence their frustrated critics.

Manilal Fernando who is the god father of soccer in the country was seen shedding tears of joy when the Lankans achieved victory.

Not for 15 years have the Lankans beaten Maldives. Fernando has always taken the brunt of the unjust criticism.

He has done wonders for the players, the game and the administration, but unforgiving critics take him as the bite whenever the team loses. How silly.