Annually, 7th May is celebrated as World Athletics Day to raise awareness among children and young people about the importance of fitness and encourage them to play sports, especially athletics. It was first introduced in 1996 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), now known as World Athletics.
Sports is an important and necessary part of our lives. Many people mistake sports and athletics to mean one and the same. However, there is a difference as sports is an umbrella term for all kinds of games which can include indoor games like chess, team games and singular games. But athletics on the other hand solely relies on games which are played individually, rather than as a team.
To observe World Athletics Day, we will be looking at the importance of athletics in our daily lives.
- Physical Health
- Mental Well-Being
- Discipline and Goal Setting
- Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem
- Social Interaction and Networking
Starting with the most obvious, athletics is incredibly important for your physical health. It involves regular movement and exercises. As a result, it can boost your strength, endurance, flexibility and cardiovascular health.
Exercise releases endorphins which is a natural mood lifter. While solely relying on exercise is not detrimental to curing mental illnesses, it can help you to improve your emotional well-being.
Athletics requires a lot of effort and dedication. Naturally, engaging in athletics helps you inculcate discipline as you have to follow a strict diet and routine. It also helps you to set realistic goals and targets, which can help you later in life even if you don’t want to pursue athletics as a full-time career.
Being an achiever in athletics will help your self-confidence as you start feeling better about yourself. It also helps when you receive recognition, which helps you to have a more positive self-image and sense of accomplishment.
When you engage in athletics you get to meet a lot of new people. These people can be your lifelong companion. So not only are you achieving strides, but you are also interacting socially. This can also help you build a network, which can be great for future opportunities.
Child Help Foundation recognises the importance of athletics and teaches its students the value of sports and exercise. Sports activities have been organised by Child Help Foundation and International Yoga Day is celebrated annually in ashram schools of Palghar, Maharashtra.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Share this article with all your friends and family members on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to spread awareness of athletics. Make sure to keep checking this space for more such blogs in the future.