The sporting spirit

I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the world could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. Even if one didn't know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it from general principles.

Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level, sport is frankly mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators: and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe - at any rate for short periods - that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.

I was once present at a tug - of - war in which the two teams were so evenly matched that neither could win. The umpire in charge of the match was at his wits' end. Finally, one of the teams, by a superhuman effort, managed to drag the other team over the line. The crowd went wild with joy. This incident left a deep impression on me. I saw that in a world where people are obsessed with winning, the slightest advantage can trigger a violent reaction. It is this spirit, I believe, that underlies the modern Olympics. We are so used to seeing champions crowned and anthems played that we forget the darker side of sport. The Olympics should be a celebration of human achievement, not a battleground for national pride.

当我听人们说体育运动可创造国家之间的友谊，还说各国民众若在足球场或板球场上交锋，就不愿在战场上残杀的时候，我总是惊愕不已。一个人即使不能从具体的事例（例如1936年的奥林匹克运动会）了解到国际运动比赛会导致疯狂的仇恨，也可以从常理中推断出结论。

现在开展的体育运动几乎都是竞争性的。参加比赛就是为了取胜。如果不拚命去赢，比赛就没有什么意义了。在乡间的草坪上，当你随意组成两个队，并且不涉及任何地方情绪时，那才可能是单纯的为了娱乐和锻炼而进行比赛。可是一旦涉及到荣誉问题，一旦你想到你和某一团体会因为你输而丢脸时，那么最野蛮的争斗天性便会被激发起来。即使是仅仅参加过学校足球赛的人也有这种体会。在国际比赛中，体育简直是一场模拟战争。但是，要紧的还不是运动员的行为，而是观众的态度，以及观众身后各个国家的态度。面对着这些荒唐的比赛，参赛的各个国家会如痴如狂，甚至煞有介事地相信——至少在短期内如此——跑跑、跳跳、踢踢球是对一个民族品德素质的检验。

我曾亲眼看到一场拔河比赛，两队的实力相当，不分胜负。负责比赛的裁判员也不知所措。最后，其中一个队作出了极大的努力，把对方的队拉过了线。观众欣喜若狂。这件事给我留下了深刻的印象。我明白了在一个人们都想获胜的世界里，一点点优势就可能引发强烈的反应。我认为正是这种精神是现代奥林匹克运动会的基础。我们已经太习惯于看到冠军们接受奖牌、听到国歌奏响，以至于我们忘记了体育的阴暗面。奥运会应该是人类成就的庆典，而不是民族自豪感的战场。