The Hindu Business Line : Sport is more than a game in Europe

Europe's triumph in sports is because of careful talent identification, rigorous, meticulous training, fair exposure to opportunities and handsome rewards system.

Travelling last week, I was in the transit lounge in Copenhagen airport where I ran into an old German friend, Dr Thomas Bach. Apart from being a brilliant lawyer, his career as a sports leader has so far led him to the Vice-Presidency of the International Olympic Committee, and an elected President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation with 30 million members.

Obviously, `sports' was the theme of discussion for the next 40 minutes. The raison d'être of European triumph in sports, as I understood from Dr Thomas Bach is careful talent identification, rigorous and painstakingly meticulous training and development, fair exposure to opportunities and handsome rewards system.

Further, scrupulous control on doping, political meddling and corruption. And, lastly, zero tolerance to celebrated mediocres!

We, in India, have every reason to pay attention to the premise of belief one of the most powerful men in world sport reflects and learn from the evidently successful European example in promoting the spirit of sports.

Here are some key elements:

Teamwork

Performing a Mozart quartet or a game of football demands the same ability to develop a sense of teamwork, ability to communicate and ensure that the talent of the individual is combined with the work of the others involved.

Patience, tolerance and working towards a common goal are educational values taught all through the European education system from primary schools, upwards.

EU Sports Policy

The Council of Europe policy is to "promote sport and social and health benefits which it brings, to individuals and to society".

In the Council of Europe, the Sport Department co-operates with governmental and non-governmental organisations and carries out initiatives which both benefit the practice of sport and make it accessible across Europe.

Talent Recognition

The dimensions of the European talent identification programme are quite staggering. The German programme, for instance, is highly organised and structured.

It includes a compulsory programme of physical education in schools, early identification of sports talent, and a club system for talented individuals in separate sports. It also entails continuity of selection and ruthless elimination of those that do not measure at each stage, a scientific approach to elite performers training and long range objectives.

Selected schools fully support the `flair scouting' with talented children being trained at training centres. There are almost 5,000 of them catering to approximately 200,000 young sports people. There is also a system of youth sport schools attached to a sport club at which only specific sport disciplines are trained.

There are also about 20,000 full-time coaches involved in the training of young athletes. Competition is separated into age groups. Substantial financial and material support is also provided by both the Federal and State governments.

Training Phases

Much of the European triumph in track and field can be ascribed to the attention that is given to the foundation and build-up phases of the talent identification programme. The first phase, which is called the foundation training phase, focusses on greatly varied training in different sports and is usually completed in early childhood.

The second phase, known as build-up training, begins at 13-15 years and lasts 4-6 years. This phase involves the participant beginning to specialise to a degree and also continuing varied training. Versatility encouraged in this phase develops the ability to learn quickly and correct faults.

In short, talent identification programmes are scientifically based and assessment is on a continuous basis. The final phase of talent identification is mainly concerned with high calibre athletes, for example, national team members.

Talent identification in this phase is very sport specific and painstaking. With particular attention paid to the athletes' health, physiological adjustment to training and their latent potential for further improvement.

Talent Development

Talent, ability and an aptitude to do something, and do it well, are only a starting point. Europe devotes enormous attention also on talent development.

It has to do with what a player is willing to put in to the process of talent augmentation, what he is prepared to endure; weather, injuries, rehabilitation, adapt to coaching styles, playing/training against challenging competition or the inevitable streak where performance is just not good.

There are a number of common factors that are prevalent during the career of successful elite player. The European system puts emphasis not only on the physical, technical and decision-making aspects but also to commitment, character development, honesty, integrity, desire to win, responsibility, discipline, confidence and above all, dealing with adversity.

Role of the Coach

Within Europe, there is an established coach education and certification structure, comprising Five Training Levels for Coaches. Scientific principles apply at every level of coaches' training, to achieve in Level 5 the highest qualification.

Responsibilities and professional competence gradually build up from Level 1 to 5. The development of coach education systems is carried out in partnership between the competent authorities in each country and the relevant sports federations.

Europe is a continent with such a fantastic sporting tradition. And, I know that very many Europeans are involved in this tradition.

Voluntary work is not a blank expression here. The European fabric of sport is based on this concept, which covers an enormous amount of goodwill, selflessness and individual commitment.

In a sense, what is happening in Europe is a perfect design of the ideals that we need to promote, in India: the values of sport that are a vector for camaraderie and a source of gratification, day after day.

(The author is former Europe Director, CII, and lives in Cologne, Germany. Feedback may be sent to mailto:mohan.murti@t-online.de or mohan.murti@t-online.de)