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Mind and Body, June 1915 The
Rise and Decline of Sport If one inquires into the origin of sport or athletics, one finds that the physical activities embraced under this head are fundamental movements like running, jumping, climbing, swimming, throwing, etc., movements which under primitive conditions are necessary for the preservation and prolongation of life. With increasing culture and wealth the necessity for using these activities to obtain a livelihood becomes less pronounced. In fact under modern economic conditions one finds many people who never use them. These fundamental activities, however, are necessary if we wish to remain healthy, if we hope to maintain or increase our strength or endurance. In fact, if they are not indulged in deterioration begins. Modern conditions, especially in large cities, do not allow an adequate practice in these forms of body-building movements. Artificial forms of exercise, usually designated gymnastics, must therefore be resorted to. Combined with these artificial forms of exercise the racially old fundamental forms of movement are also used. The reason for their use, however, now is a different one. Under modern conditions they are not practiced to gain the necessities of life, the means for existence, but they are used for physical training purposes, for strengthening the body, for muscular development. Used in this manner they represent the beginning of sport, of athletics. In order to increase their effect and to give increased joy to those participating, several of these fundamental exercises are often combined in the form of games. With increasing skill, the joy of accomplishment also increases. The means used for physical training now, gradually, are becoming and end in themselves. The individual sports or groups of them are indulged in with the predominant aim of becoming most skillful in them. Educational ends also appear, and the use of sports for mental development gradually becomes more pronounced. The training of the will-power by means of athletics is another great advance. Following this development we soon reach the climax, that is, competitive sports and games. Group competition in the form of team work presents the climax of the use of sports for educational aims. The climax bears within itself the seeds of degeneracy. This is ambition. Good at first, the effects are bad as soon as ambition becomes too strong to be curbed. When no longer influenced and guided by common sense, it forces individuals to ignore the fact that nature has set a limit to all bodily endeavors. This limit not only varies with each individual, but it also is strongly influenced by age and by sex. Laudable ambition, also, often is influenced adversely by vanity. In some instances it leads to arrogance and to an over-estimation of the value of sports. To every sane person sport should be a fountain of joy, a recreation, and a preparation for his vocation. With unbalanced persons sport often becomes the aim of life itself, completely dominating every thought and recognizing no other duties than the gratification of its selfish desires. This condition also leads to professionalism. Under this influence sport activities, again return to their origin, and are pursued as a means of livelihood. There is, however, a great difference, for in the latter case these activities become an exhibition of one's skill for pay. With the amateur the ideal reward for athletic activities is the joy of victory. Athletics indulged in under such conditions arouse spectators to the most profound enthusiasm, born by witnessing a manful, unselfish struggle for victory. The result is an increase in self-confidence, in manhood. To the professional athlete a victory means an increase in moony-value. This road easily leads to gladiatorial combats, to spectacles presented to large paying multitudes, nerve-stimulating exhibitions for passive spectators. Sport, athletics, is necessary under modern economic conditions. Its aim, however, must be educational. To be this it must not be allowed to degenerate into a spectacle. It must be such that every able-bodied person can participate in it. |