The energy in my bedroom was infectious, as PV Sindhu, an Indian, played in the 2016 Olympic Badminton Women’s Singles finals against Carolina Marin of Spain. I remember watching each point with my eyes glued to the television, cheering when Sindhu scored, and jerking when the impact of a lost point came at me right through the screen. My heart rallied along with the shuttlecock, each point a matter of pride gained and lost. I have never been a sportsperson, and couldn’t care much about the difference between a racquet or a paddle, but something in today’s match made those 90 minutes all too real.
Unfortunately, Sindhu lost the final match today, but my Facebook feed is still overflowing with praises for the 21-year-old woman, who won India its first silver medal in Rio. Sindhu is also the first Indian woman to win a silver medal at the Olympics. Indians, who just like me have never cared much for sports, are pouring out their support for Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Dipa Karmakar and other Indians who have done the country proud, regardless of the sport they play or they medal they bring home. This display of national allegiance isn't specific to India, but is a worldwide phenomenon, with citizens of all countries faithfully cheering their athletes with waving flags and encouraging words.
The Olympics isn't just a collection of sports events that bring tourists to exotic world locales; it is also an expression of diplomacy at its finest. While the competition is intense, it still leaves room for cooperation. Praises for Sindhu today extended to the slightest fact that she picked up the racket that her overjoyed opponent, Marin, flung to the side when she won the game. At the Olympics, criticism and blame take a back seat, while exceptional talent is widely acknowledged. While my mom and I had been rooting for Sindhu, we still commended Marin on an excellent performance. People all over the world praised US gymnasts, Simone and Aly, when they took the gold and silver respectively.
This is why, although I'm no sportsperson, I still understand why the Olympics and competitive sports, are integral to the world. Today, there aren’t many safe spaces in international relations, but the Olympics is one of the untainted spaces where national pride can stand tall alongside transboundary friendships. It is one of the few platforms where the rules aren't dictated by any individual, and each country is on equal footing.
So while to the sportspeople of the world, the Olympics is about swift movements and point tallying, to everyone else - the Olympics isn't just a sporting event, it's more like a microcosmic platform for exhibiting national pride and promoting diplomacy worldwide.
