As the Parisian sun sets on another epic Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and with the arrival of our 94th National Day, I find myself contemplating the nature of national sporting success.
What is it that separates countries in their achievements? I look at Netherlands, a land of less than 18 million people, in sixth position on the Paris medal table and think, ‘how can that be’? The same question comes to me surveying India’s fortunes. The world’s most populous country ranked 71st.
Is there an innate athleticism bestowed on the people of some countries over others? Only perhaps in extreme, serendipitous and outlying cases, such as the Nandi people from the Kalenjin tribe, whose runners defy the laws of averages with 72 Olympic medals (and counting) for Kenya.
What then? The economic fortunes of nations where working for subsistence outweighs the potential upside on dreams of professional sports success? India’s middle-class, approaching 400 million in number (which would, in its own right, make it the 3rd largest nation on earth), helps to put that one to bed.
Eventually, in my search, familiar answers reveal themselves: governance structures and the acknowledgment of sport as a cultural, social and economic driver. Sport needs strong foundations and better connectivity to join all the components in a manner that generates elite success. And people (and sometimes governments, thankfully this is not the case in Saudi Arabia) need to appreciate the opportunity that can be achieved through sport to participate.
The importance of longer-term engagement with sport from a young age is clear not only in improving a nation’s sporting fortunes but also to counter the growing problems stemming from inactivity, obesity and unhealthy amounts of screen time.
The role of sport played in schools in laying the foundations for an athlete’s success cannot be overstated, and there’s a huge disparity in approaches from country to country.
School sports, for many a first exposure to sport based on age and ability, is something taken for granted in places like the US, Europe and the Far East. In these countries, it is so ingrained that its importance as an early step in the participation pathway goes without note. It remains, however, a considerable societal challenge for others.
The importance of school sports is now fully acknowledged in Saudi Arabia. While physical education has been mandatory, after-school activities had been optional. Today, however, these examples from overseas have provided critical learnings about how opportunities outside of the classroom can be a key part of the developmental cycle and our key stakeholders have acted with clear direction.
The recent opening of Mahd Academy’s first educational school in Riyadh marked a pivotal moment in KSA’s ambitions to fulfil its hopes of being a meaningful sporting power. Saudi Arabia as a powerbroker, host venue and innovative thinker has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the landscape, but there remains a need to generate local stars to inspire sustained participation. The Sachin Tendulkar effect. The Tiger Woods effect. The Mia Hamm effect.
A ‘sports school’ to harness the burgeoning abilities of young talents, and to inspire more extensive pick-up of ‘school sports’ should be a game-changer, if more of these schools are opened throughout the country to ensure both academic and athletic skills are honed and developed across multiple sports.
More and more Olympic success derives from successful countries, notably the US, linking school sports with sports schools. Take, for example, university sports; talented students transition from the school sports system to universities where training and study are respected in equal measure.
The concept was established by the Soviet Union in the 1960s before being emulated and advanced by the East Germans and Chinese.
We now have sports schools in Germany, Norway and Austria. Such schools have also been introduced in Africa and the Middle East including Morocco, Qatar, and now Saudi Arabia.
The connected approach and robust governance needed to secure success at the very top level are now in place. And, as success is achieved through the best practice of Mahd Academy, we gain another priceless component: the ability to tell the most compelling stories.
Tales of our national heroes and heroines will capture the hearts of our youth, and set in motion the succession plan of participation, which sees the kids of yesterday become the stars of today and the inspiration for the youth of tomorrow.
Yes, the foundations are strengthening. Perhaps not in time to bring remarkable success in the Paris Games, but there are grounds for confidence that homegrown stars lie in wait for Los Angeles in 2028 and beyond.
Happy National Day, all!