BY: CATHERINE SAW

In recent weeks the world witnessed the Tokyo Olympics and the Tokyo Paralympics. Besides this there are a growing number of international sporting events that are taking place all over the world despite the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This augurs well for us and speaks volumes of the role of sports in building bridges and bringing down walls. People all over the world are happy and united whenever there is a great sporting event taking place.

This is a sign and indication of the way sports has become a means of communication to help us understand, engage and relate with each other. Sports is good because it unifies us despite the sometimes fierce and acrimonious rivalry.

This is why Malaysia’s Minister of Sports must seek to introduce all kinds of sporting events to promote racial unity and camaraderie among the people. It is not enough to just organize these sports events but to ensure there is participation and engagement.

As a sporting nation Malaysians must come together to overcome our unhealthy and prejudiced ways, to overcome our fear of each other, our fear of the unknown to get together with the common intention of participating in a sporting event.

By doing so it will foster racial solidarity and build us up as a nation. There is no mistaking the fact that sports can do what diplomacy and wars cannot do. Instead of being at loggerheads with each other let’s instead join forces to enjoy and celebrate life through sports.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher