June 30, 2004
Viewpoint by Clara Hughes
CBC Sports Online

Where's the vote of confidence for the importance of sport?

It seems to me that governments just don't appreciate the importance of sport to a nation. At a time when physical education is being dropped from curricula at schools, or scaled down to a token amount, I wonder if they have any idea what potential sport holds for developing strong, healthy individuals and, in turn, a whole generation of productive citizens.

In ancient Greece, games were a prominent and popular part of school life. They were considered an integral part in the building of character and the development of a team feeling and the unselfishness necessary to function within a group setting.

Long before becoming an Olympic athlete, I participated in a range of sports. From the age of two I began to skate. When I was five, I began playing soccer and ringette. Gymnastics, ballet, softball, volleyball, track and field followed. Basically, if I showed a glimmer of interest in something, my mother somehow got me involved with it.

I had natural ability for most sports. What I absolutely lacked was the discipline to train.

And then I saw the Olympics. Canadian Olympic hero Gaetan Boucher was skating in the 1988 Calgary Olympics. I was inspired not only to pursue a dream of my own, but to change my life for the better. Finally, I had focus. Honesty, integrity and discipline are but a few of the qualities sport brought into my life when I was desperately lacking them.

Now, when I visit schools to share this story, I'm treated to a wide-eyed audience of open-minded kids. The excitement in their eyes mirrors the passion I feel about sport. I am reminded of the child I was, when I didn't yet know of the magical world of the Olympics and the potential they hold.

There's always a few who can't sit still and listen. I remember being that directionless child, causing trouble at the back of the room, lost in the confusion of adolescence and trying to fit in. Because I lacked any interests to direct my energies into, I found myself getting into trouble. I can look these kids in the eye and say, with all honesty, "I was you."

Imagine an Olympic-inspired curriculum every four years

I'm not saying we should have a nation of Olympians. Not everyone is made for sport. But for those that are, at least sport presents an opportunity to channel their efforts into something healthy and productive. For some, it may be a team sport like soccer, while others might be drawn to a more individual pursuit, such as cross-country running. I did not discover my true passion until I started speed skating and cycling.

Imagine an Olympic-inspired curriculum every four years, with courses focused on an Olympic theme, teaching students of all ages the Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) way of challenging life. If young people learned more about the athletes representing them, and of their experiences and struggles, they could be inspired by the heroic tradition they follow.

Joseph Campbell, the best-selling author on world mythologies, wrote extensively of the "hero path," using athletics as an example. "Follow your bliss" was Campbell's motto in describing this pursuit in the way of life that left one "feeling the rapture of being alive as a human being."

If the coming generation can receive even a fleeting glimpse into the world of sport, and be inspired by the exhilaration of great effort and feel the satisfaction of challenging oneself and competing, I can't help but feel hopeful for the future.

This, in my mind, is the true value of sport. It can build a generation of healthy, balanced and motivated people by cultivating the desire to excel. That's not just an athletic asset, it's a life skill.

reprinted with permission