Sacrificial Altars

A long time ago we built altars on which we made sacrifices to our gods.  In some cultures these sacrifices were human, preferably virgins or innocent children.  Of course, we understand now that the ceremonies were designed to reward the people, not the gods.  It would be a petty god (created in man's image, one might say) who took pleasure or comfort from our mundane activities. 

Thank goodness we live in more enlightened times.  Our children are protected in more ways than ever before.  Food, education, entertainment and love are lavished on them, and there are laws to protect them from abuse of every kind. 

Changing the subject (but not completely) it has been interesting in recent weeks to listen to the arguments put forward for the continuing lack of British sporting achievements.  The media bring out the usual suspects: managers and coaches; players who make mistakes or lose their nerve.  Then, when we have crucified or sacrificed our heroes, we look for a more meaningful answer.  Almost without exception the cause is identified as an inadequate youth policy.

If we look at the super heroes of individual sports (Tiger Woods, the Williams sisters) we realise that their journey to the top started when they were very young.  It follows, then, that all we have to do is provide the opportunities for very young children to kick balls, pick up golf clubs, tennis rackets, or cricket bats, and spend millions on coaching in schools.  Then, as those with natural talent and ability are identified, they can be whisked away for intensive training, and in a decade or so we can bask in the reflected glory of their triumphs in the world's sporting arenas.

As in all aspects of life, if we start with a false premise we will come to the wrong conclusion.  The first question should not be 'How do we create better sporting heroes?' but 'Do we want to create sporting heroes?'.   A sporting encounter should test the competitors' nerve and skill in an entertaining manner.   It can bridge cultural and social divides, bringing more harmony into the world.  But as prize money increases, and sponsors take over; and as cheating is condoned and bribes and drugs become rife; sport brings more and more disharmony into the world.  Identification with a winning team or player becomes paramount, giving the winners the arrogance to taunt the losers, and provoking the losers into verbal or physical violence.

Men and women who dominate their sport have made enormous sacrifices to get to the top.  The biggest sacrifice is a normal childhood, the fertile ground of emotional and spiritual development.  In childhood and adolescence we begin to learn who we are (much more important than what we are) and we acquire the skills needed to form relationships.  Should parents and promoters be encouraged to sacrifice this stage of a child's life before the child has sufficient maturity for his or her own decisions?  Perhaps, for the few who make it to the top, the sacrifices are worth it.  But is it worth it for those who made similar sacrifices and didn't achieve success, and might now be socially or emotionally mal-adjusted?

Sport can help to enrich our lives.  When it starts to damage lives it is time to dismantle the altars we have built for the gods of money and sport.  No matter how many children we sacrifice, those gods will never be appeased.

ã Harvey Tordoff
15^th July 2000