A changed view on sport?

 

So the Olympics? Not my sort of thing really is it? Well, that’s what I’ve always led myself to believe as sport has never really been an interest of mine. The rest of my family has developed a love of the likes of the World Championships, Commonwealth games and the Olympics for years now, but I’ve always ignored such events as I’ve 'known' I don’t like sport. But as a proud Brit and a keen lover a good bit of TV, I thought Id make an effort to watch more than just the opening and closing ceremony this year. What harm could it do me?

No harm at all. Its only been 5 days and I’ve watched more sport than I have in my entire lifetime, and more importantly I’ve really enjoyed it. Not only have I been watching as much as possible when at home, I've been catching up on what I’ve missed at work on a daily basis. I must admit that most of what I’ve watched has been Swimming and Gymnastics so far, but I’ve caught a little bit of the vast majority of sports on offer. I cant wait for the Track and Field events to start, as well as more Gymnastics and Diving. Its made me question why I never enjoyed watching, or perhaps taking part in, sports before? I’m a naturally competitive person, who enjoys the atmosphere a crowd can give to an event and the older I've got, the more conscious I have become about things like fitness and exercise.

So where did this disinterest, dislike and sometimes hate of sport come from? I think it all boils down to one place, school. When it came to Sports days, Football and Rugby, I would try to ignore them all together, making excuses not to take part, or even throwing an embarrassing tantrum on Sports day in primary school. I did manage to get through some games of Tennis or Basketball, slightly enjoy Gymnastics and even be relatively good at Sprinting, but I chose not to join in any more than the odd games lesson due to how both the students and staff around me would act and treat me, the sports hall and gaming field was a place I genuinely began to fear, due to a fear of bullying.

I was that geeky, scrawny, gay kid common in many schools and like anyone in a minority group, I got bullied a lot at school. I was intimidated, threatened, taunted for being different, picked on for being bad at sports and called about every name under the sun, the majority of which took place in the changing rooms at school, or in the sports lessons. Fortunately it never rose to physical abuse, but its no wonder I didn’t want to take part in anything to do with the P.E department. To many people, it may seem naïve and even stupid to say, but through the Olympics 2012, I’ve seen how positive sport can be to peoples lives. It can bring people together in a way like no other. But I never ever felt this at school, quite the opposite. No matter what sport it was, I felt I couldn’t get any better at them or even try to enjoy them, as the people around wouldn’t let me. Perhaps the kids at school didnt know any better? Perhaps familys were not educated enough on bullying within schools? But unlike other lessons at school, I never felt I had the support to report this bullying to the staff, so tried everything I could to just get out of the lessons entirely to focus on my other interests of music and theatre. I only realise now, years later, how sad that really was.

Now 7 years after I had my last games lesson, where I swore that I hated sports, I can enjoy the amazing experience that is London 2012 without any fear of judgement. But I hope children who are in the position I was at school feel that they can enjoy sports no matter who they. Exercise, team spirit and friendly competition is important to children’s development and I really feel for any child suffering from bullying who may not be able to enjoy these things. I believe that homophobic bullying can certainly decrease over time, with the amazing examples set by the likes of the 'It Gets Better Project'. But I feel this article wouldn’t have been written and the games wouldn’t have been viewed with such an open mind by myself, without the work done and example set by ex England rugby player Ben Cohen and his 'Stand Up: Foundation'. The 'Stand Up: Foundation' is a fantastic organization with the sole purpose to stamp out bullying, in particular homophobic bullying, in sports both in school and professionally Ben Cohen has become somewhat of a hero of mine, I just wish Id been at school when his foundation was in effect. I hope it continues to grow and makes a real difference to the kids and sportsmen that need it most.

So there you have it, a slightly different article for me. But one I felt the need to write. Back to my original point though, I’m genuinely loving the Olympics and this will hopefully lead to an enjoyment of sports in the future. Come on team GB!!