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www.loveequals.net
Introduction
This was a very interesting week for me when it came to sports and its ability to cross-over to other parts of life. It just reinforced what I was thinking when I published the 500th issue of the newsletter. That is, sports go beyond just fun and entertainment (though both of these things are super-important). Sports also is there to help us understand ourselves, each other and other parts of life. I saw that firsthand multiple times this week.
On Monday, I saw a terrific panel, “Democracy 250: The Impact of Sports on the History of Civil Rights in America,” hosted by the Ash Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School. The stellar panel discussed the very real place that sports has had in affirming, and sometimes, leading, the efforts for the advancement of civil rights in this country. The panelists were clear that sports is this country has the power to affect change but is not guaranteed to get it right every time.
On Wednesday, I was able to join about 25 others to view the documentary, “Baseball: Beyond Belief.” This outstanding film highlighted the many ways in which sports, particularly our national pastime, mirror what we see across a host of major religions around the world. Based on the book by former NYU president John Sexton, “Baseball as a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game,” you can’t help but smile at all of the ways our fandom for the sport aligns with our commitment to our respective religions. We were treated to a great Q&A with John after the film. (the trailer for the film is in this week’s Video section above.)
On Friday, The Raj Center on Indian Economic Policies at Columbia University hosted Ravi Agrawal for the “Eighth Kotak Family Lecture: India in the Changing Geopolitical World,” exploring India’s evolving global role. While this was not explicitly connected to sports, I could not help but think of India’s recent efforts to emerge as a player in global sports. Long overlooked, the country is riding its prominence in cricket to bring attention to its participation in a host of other sports. It is also scheduled to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and to bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics, putting itself firmly in the discussion about global and soft power.
Lastly, something that was explicitly connected to sports is the brilliant documentary, “The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony,” co-executive produced by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, actress and director Mariska Hargitay, amongst others. The film follows the exploits of several impoverished young girls who find incredible joy and fulfillment from participating in gymnastics and the thrill of competition. The film also documents the efforts of the girls and their families to find a place in society, as they are considered “stateless” as a result of geopolitical policies that sometimes defy logic. But the girls, their families, and their coaches persevere. The film leaves us with hope for the main character, Sonia, and the next generation of young gymnasts from Fisherman Colony. Please see this film!
I don’t expect every week to be like this past week, but I definitely am looking forward to identifying those stories for the newsletter that give us a look into the parts of life that are complemented by our love of sports. You may see more of that as we embark on the next 500 issues of Sports Doing Good.
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