When one really thinks about it, what is the logic in pushing one’s body to and beyond the limits in swimming, gymnastics, athletics, or using it as a battering ram in team ball sports, with the aim of beating others; coming first?
As with art, where one person may have superior abilities enabling them to excel over another, in athletics, combined with the right conformation, complete dedication and intensive training, the same may be true. However, is it all worth it?
Having been in athletics in one’s youth (but side-tracked by many other interests), it has taken me 50 years to conclude that when all said and done, human achievement concerning sport is really of little consequence.
The biggest, fittest, fastest, most cunning and capable cave man or woman would have once made a difference in survival but in this day and age, the only ‘pluses’ with rough, football, rugby, team sports, is as an outlet for aggression and excessive male energies.
A sad and disturbing fact is, that a large majority of Australians know (and care) more about who is kicking or hitting a ball, whilst ignorant and unconcerned about the havoc being inflicted on this beautiful country and its wildlife, in the form of logging and land clearing!
If only at least a fraction of the energy and hype expended on sport by so many, could be diverted to a real concern for what really matters- the preservation of our eucalypt forests and their inhabitants!
The real heroes of today are those brave people who risk their lives in defence of forest, ocean and the environment - going against a human tsunami of ‘redneck, greenie haters’, who seek to continue destroying it!
Diana Gillies, Moruya