Introduction:
The history of sports takes us back to the ancient world. The physical activity was performed as arts or were rituals or for entertainment purposes. Initially, it was performed to determine the individuals who were fit and thus embark their power on the weak. Then it was also an aid to military training to determine the individuals that were fit for military service. Back in the history of India as far as Mahabharata and Ramayana are concerned we can find sports or physical activity as a means to prove the dominance of the party and thus declared as the winner. Any kind of sports is not limited to just competitions it has now become the way of living, nowadays people have a stressed lifestyle thus leading to depression, anxiety, obesity, and other mental health issues. However, this reflects sports is not just an option but a compulsion.
History of Sports:
The Ancient Greeks introduced formal sports to the world. The first Olympic Games took place in 776 BC. The game of cricket became a national sport which was invented around 1853. Well, sports were not just limited to the outdoors, in 1887, softball was invented by George Hancock, as a form of indoor baseball. American football was derived from rugby and soccer. The game of Golf was derived from a game from the kingdom of Fife that involved swatting a rock with a stick around a determined goal, thus leading to the invention of golf in the 15th century in Scotland.
Employment and Economic Growth:
A survey was conducted to get a detailed analysis of the employment data and this was broken down by activities associated with participation in sports (participation) and activities with events which did not participate (non-participation). As a Result over 10,801 jobs were generated through sports including participation and non-participation sectors. Sports services, sportswear, and equipment sports education under participation created 8,405 jobs whereas spectator sports, sportswear, and equipment, sports broadcasting under non-participation created 2,396 jobs.
Using the Sports Local Economic Model the sports services, sportswear, and equipment, sports education under participation added 119.8, 34.1, 86.5 gross value respectively resulting in a total gross that was added 240.4. The non-participation sector includes spectator sports, sportswear, and equipment, sports broadcasting added 22.8, 50.7, 15 gross values respectively thus resulting in a sum of 88.5 gross value.
Impact of Sports on Health:
This is not a secret that physical activity, sports and any form of exercise are good for you. There are numerous theories circling around exercising, diets and lifestyle. Not a rigorous routine of exercise or physical activity is needed to be followed to be in good shape and health. Just 30 minutes, yes! You heard it right, just 30 minutes of physical activity a day is more than enough for you to feel healthy and energized all day. Mental Health has been a concern which has promoted and recommended physical activity to feel better and can battle feelings of anxiety and depression, sharpen your focus, and improve self-esteem. A Sport also helps one to manage weight and improves metabolism in the long run. It improves cardiovascular health resulting in reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. Running, Cycling, Swimming can improve the body's ability to transport and utilize oxygen in the lungs and blood. Improved muscular strength, joint flexibility, and range of motion are also improved.
A Sport also relieves Stress which has become a common problem because of the constant competitive lifestyle. Definitely, competition is important but healthy competition. Everyone is struggling and striving in a race to reach a definite position but unhealthy competition is not the solution. One should always preach a healthy competition where one is also kind towards the people around and oneself because people around might be struggling in a hideout and one should to kind enough to oneself to spare time for healthy physical and mental both. A Sport also aids insomnia and other mental health issues.
Stigma Attached:
Initially, I felt we were being hush-hush about it - Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety in the year 2013 however she opened up in an interview that her mental illness was kept confidential for the first few months of her diagnosis. She opened up about her battle with depression in 2015. She felt like everything was done in a hush-hush so that her information is confidential and which therapist to trust was a question?
Deepika said that most people suffer in silence because it's not something you seek externally so there is guilt attached to it because people think they are the only ones going through it. Deepika being candid about her experience wanted to really let people know that they are not alone and she said "we are in this together".
"Life post mental illness is a ‘before and after’. I had a particular life before depression and I have a very different life after that. I keep saying that there’s not a day that goes by without me thinking about my mental health. To ensure I don’t go back into that space, it’s very important for me to focus on the quality of my sleep, nutrition, hydration, exercise, how do I process stress and my thoughts and mindfulness. These are the things I have to do on daily basis not because they are fancy words or it’s cool to do this but I won’t be able to survive if I don’t do all these things” Deepika said in an interview.
Live Love Laugh (LLL) was founded by Deepika Padukone in 2015 in order to help people suffering from mental illness. Deepika Padukone was a former badminton player has said that the sportsman spirit has always taught her to accept success with humility and to cope with failures and disappointments with dignity. The act of not giving up and losing hope has come from the teaching of her sports background.