State of sports in Sri LankaAt present, it is rather hit or miss...
The idea that sports redirects certain natural human tendencies towards aggression and competition is as old as civilization itself. The Olympic Games were a formalization of this pseudo-aggression to create cooperation between cultures and nations.
Although sports have gradually become independent entities in themselves and their cultural binds have become weaker or thinner while their recreational, entertainment and entrepreneurial ties have become stronger or tighter with entire industries growing up around such activities, still, as a common, non-threatening, integrating, harmonizing instrument, there are few other human efforts that compare well against sports.
Thus, “sports for peace” is a statement of the obvious and the very reason why sports came into being and became an integral part of human civilization.
Simultaneously, and equally importantly, sports enable practitioners towards healthier and more wholesome lifestyles. A healthy nation is capable of lifting itself up by its own bootstraps and creates the best possible environment for a well-balanced society capable of holding itself firmly over the long term to strong value systems. Factoring in the overarching entrepreneurial and ambassadorial aspects of sport and it is immediately clear how it can boost economies and enhance a country’s reputation through the proliferation of businesses around sport and the performance based excellence of athletes.
Against this background, SPEED sees itself both capable and relevant in addressing and responding to the following critical requirements: