Celebrating the International Day of Happiness with sports

Recognizing happiness as a fundamental human goal, the UN has marked 22nd March as the International Day of Happiness since 2013. Emphasizing happiness and wellbeing as important goals of public policy, this day calls for a more equitable approach to development and wellbeing of all.?

Why sports matter

When we think about the happiest moments of our lives, many would recall their childhood, especially playing sports or doing some physical activities with friends. Memories made while playing sports last a lifetime.

Playing sports is beneficial to children in numerous ways, helping them become more capable adults. It has been proven that children who play sports at a young age develop crucial life skills like discipline, social skills, communication skills and, most importantly, mental and physical health, which makes them happier and more satisfied with their lives.

A vital medium for happiness

Dr Herbert Simoes, a researcher and professor at the University of Miami, trains people to become top Olympic athletes and helps them live lives more positively – he has stated that sports is a powerful tool for developing essential life skills.

A cursory look at the top Indian athletes would show that most have come from humble beginnings. Several of them have stated how sports has changed their lives and made them happier. Elite athletes like Sachin Tendulkar, Sania Mirza and Neeraj Chopra have all noted that sports has helped them lead a happier life.

Devendra Jhajaria, a double gold medallist at the Rio Paralympics 2016, stated that sports brought him out of depression after he lost his arm during an electrocution accident.?Vijender Singh also mentioned how sports was his only respite during his youth, as his family struggled financially.

Happiness through grassroots sports

Pro Sport Development (PSD) has been working with young people through community-based sports programs in Bhubaneswar since 2015, and through our flagship Community Sports Program, we have reached out to over 3,500 young girls and boys, and nurtured them to develop their soft skills and bring a sense of contentment and joy through sports.

Laxmipriya Pradhan shares her experience of how sport has changed her life for the better: ”We don’t just learn games with PSD’s Community Sport Program (CSP), we also learn various games skills through games like communication and teamwork, which helps me a lot in my daily life,”?she said about her experience with the CSP.

Literature also supports a positive association between sports, self-esteem and happiness. According to Dr Nandini Mathur Collins, “Self-esteem is highest amongst children who play sports. Adolescents who play sports regularly are happier and do better in studies.” This has, especially, been true during the worldwide COVID–19 pandemic, which was a stressful period for all around the world.

During the pandemic, the CSP was pivoted online, ensuring that children stayed active and connected with each other during a particularly tough and isolating time. Sibani Pradhan, a CSP participant in 2020-21, noted that the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns were a tough time for her and her mental health, but the situation was made better once the CSP was brought back online. She emphasized that her ability to stay connected to people through the CSP was especially important to her, noting: ““One of my special reasons to attend the CSP sessions [online] is the opportunity to talk to my friends.”

With restrictions lifting as the intensity of the pandemic subsided, PSD got its sports-based programs back to the on-ground format, across the city of Bhubaneswar. In 2021-22, the CSP got #BackToThePitch, reaching out to 547 children across four schools, where children noted how engagement with the program has brought them happiness and joy. In 2022-23, we have reached out to 568 children and youth.?

Nitish Rajbhar, a Class 8 student and participant of the CSP, said, “I feel really happy playing with PSD. Whenever I play with my team, I feel really confident. I feel the happiest when my team supports and encourages one another.”

Sport and happiness for all

One of the biggest positive aspects about sports is the pure, unadulterated joy that it can bring about – not just for the players, but also the coaches, spectators, and everyone else involved.?

Since adolescence is a crucial time in which to instil lifelong health behaviours, the benefits of participating in physical activity will positively impact adult physical and mental health. It is integral that we increase access to sport for all children and youth, so that they can exercise their right to sport, as well as their chance at happiness.

Like the famous businessman and sports enthusiast, Richard J. Corman, so movingly quoted, “Sports, at its best, at its most human, is able to inspire joy that is unique to each of us.”