Career in Sports: Scoring for people and the planet

Ranjan K Baruah *

When we play games we want to score and win. True spirit of sports is always positive which helps people to be united and spread friendship.

Sports means not only playing but it includes many other aspects when it comes to a career in sports. The importance of sports has always been relevant from ancient days. Apart from winning medals or trophies it can also become a toll for peacebuilding and bringing positive changes in the society.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), which takes place annually on 6 April, presents an opportunity to recognize the positive role sport and physical activity play in communities and in people’s lives across the globe.

Sport has the power to change the world; it is a fundamental right and a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and promote sustainable development and peace, as well as solidarity and respect for all.

The global theme for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2023 is “Scoring for People and the Planet”. As in previous years, this overarching theme allows for IDSDP activities to broadly focus around the impact and influence of sport on sustainable development and peace.

From empowering women and girls, young people, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups to advancing health, sustainability, and education objectives, sport offers tremendous potential for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and for promoting peace and human rights.

The United Nations has long recognized the power and universality of sport, using it to unite individuals and groups through supporting sport for development efforts, participating in events from the global to the grassroots level, and developing its own sports-related campaigns and initiatives.

Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace.

To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the IDSDP by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the UN of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.

When it comes to career then there are many opportunities and the best one is to become a sports person for which we need training and practice from childhood. Apart from being a sports person we can study courses like Physical Education and become coaches for others.

There are many sports institutions in the country and abroad that train sportspeople and others who want to make physical education as their career choice. Other common career opportunities related to sports include event managers to organize sporting events, sports journalists, physiotherapists, sports journalists, sports commentators, etc.

We are aware that sports Industry means any sponsor, corporate, health workers, fitness trainers, broadcaster, or any other individual or entity involved in promoting, developing, and/or investing, either directly or indirectly, in sports-related activities in India.

Skill erosion in sports is a serious constraint as more than 90 per cent of the sports persons who take up sports as a passion leave sports because of non-availability of opportunities within the Sports Sector. There are more opportunities now as sporting events have increased and India has moved beyond cricket of 50 over or test matches.

Government provides support to sportspeople and many get employment in the public sector undertakings or other corporate. There are also scopes for sports psychologists and strategists who can make good winning strategies. The best part is that one can be successful in this field even if s/he is not good in academics.