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Easy2Siksha
How Politics and Sports First Became Friends
A long time ago, sports were just games that people played for fun. Then, people realized
that sports could bring large groups together. Imagine a cricket match in the schoolyard
where every student cheers for their team. Soon, the school principal (let’s call them
Politics) realized, "Hey, this could help me get everyone's attention and even make some
decisions!"
From that day, Politics and Sports started collaborating. Politics provided the stage (like
stadiums and international tournaments), and Sports entertained and inspired everyone.
Politics Influencing Sports: The Principal’s Role
Politics, like the principal of a school, often steps into sports for various reasons. Here are
some examples:
1. National Pride: Imagine your school competing with another in a basketball
tournament. If your team wins, you feel proud, right? Similarly, when a country’s
team wins the Olympics or World Cup, the entire nation celebrates. Politicians often
support sports to boost national pride.
Example: The Olympics are more than just games; they are a way for countries to show
their power and culture. In 1936, Hitler used the Berlin Olympics to promote Nazi ideology,
but Jesse Owens, an African-American athlete, broke racial barriers by winning gold medals.
2. Diplomacy: Remember the time two rival schools became friends because of a
cricket match? That’s called sports diplomacy. Countries use sports to improve
relations.
Example: In the 1970s, the U.S. and China played Ping-Pong Diplomacy through table tennis
matches. It helped ease tensions between the two countries.
3. Hosting Events: Hosting big events like the Olympics or FIFA World Cup is like
organizing the school’s annual day. The government spends money and builds
facilities, showing their country’s progress.
Example: India hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010, which helped showcase its
growth to the world.
4. Controlling Rules: Just like the principal sets rules for school sports, governments
sometimes influence how sports are played, funded, or organized.
Example: In many countries, sports bodies like cricket boards work closely with
governments to make decisions about matches and teams.
Sports Influencing Politics: Sports as the Cool Friend
Now let’s flip the story. Sports also help politics in many ways:
1. Unity in Diversity: Imagine a football match where students from all classes come
together to support one team. Sports create unity in diverse nations.