How Cheprot ‘Stole’ The Show At Okpekpe

Okpekpe Road Race June 2, 2019 Blog, Event, News

The introduction of prize money into sports has cosigned the spirit of sportsmanship, friendship and brotherliness to the background. And has, rather, engendered fierce competition among players/athletes where winning at all cost is the motive. Prize money has also make players to strive for excellence by going the extra mile.

In a world where fame plays a major role, and since sports celebrate only winners, it has also ensured that players/athletes strive to undo one another in order to attain glory.

In track and field, gold medals and first place are the things athletes crave for. And because of the urge to attain such lofty goals, sense of justice, sympathy, and responsibility are not just words for them at least while competing. As a result of the desire to outdo one another, sport in the modern day has witnessed its fair share of gamesmanship and been blighted with ludicrous moments when players have tried to gain unscrupulously by making the most of situation.

However, there are occasions in the history of sport, be it a team sport or individual sports when results take a back seat, when everybody comes out a winner and the sporting spirit triumphs above all. On such occasions the spirit of sportsman can truly triumph above all.

Various instances are bound when players/athletes display the spirit of sportsmanship with the financial reward or fame taking the back seat.

A good example of such touching sportsmanship happened at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Nikki Hamblin, an athlete from New Zealand, sacrificed her own Olympic race to help the US runner, Abbey D’Agostino, when she fell and seriously injured her leg. Nikki supported her rival, and they completed the race together and showed the real “Olympic spirit.”

When it is a question of life and death, there are no rivals in sports. Oleg Gusev, a Dinamo football player, was accidentally hit by another player and lost consciousness on 30 Sunday March 2014. He nearly died as he swallowed his tongue, but Jaba Kankava, from the opposing team, rushed to the injured man and saved him from choking. Oleg might have died, but help was right on time.