World Championships Research Articles

The Road To Achieving The World Championship In Age Group For An Olympic Distance Triathlete

The Road To Achieving The World Championship In Age Group For An Olympic Distance Triathlete

GAME TERMINOLOGY ANALYSIS BASED ON LEAGUE OF LEGENDS 2022 WORLDS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

In the ever-evolving world of online gaming, the development and adoption of specialized terminology play a crucial role in enhancing communication, strategy, and understanding among players and spectators. The League of Legends World Championship, commonly known as "Worlds," stands as one of the main events in the esports calendar. This paper delves into the intricate world of game terminology, with a specific focus on the unique videogame vocabulary usedin Worlds 2022. The terminology applied during this event was explored with the aim of unravelling the multifaceted layers that make up the language of esports.Throughout this article, the origins, meanings, and impacts of key terms associated with League of Legends, were analysed,focusing on the intersection of language, technology, and culture in the realm of competitive gaming.

Reverse periodization in ultratrail: The road to the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships of an elite female ultrarunner

Introduction and Purpose Traditionally, linear periodization has been widely applied to endurance training programs, whereas reverse periodization has been often used for shorter endurance events (Clemente-Suárez et al., 2015; Clemente-Suárez et al., 2018; Clemente-Suárez & Ramos-Campo, 2019) and fitness (Prestes et al., 2009). The aim of this study was to describe the training characteristics of a Spanish high-level female ultrarunner in her preparation to the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships using a reverse linear periodization model. Methods Day-by-day data training of 1 study subject for 29 weeks (from November 2022 to June 2023) was retrospectively analyzed. Training form (endurance, strength or complementary sessions), intensity (low-, moderate-, and high-intensity training), intensity distribution, exercise endurance mode (cycling, elliptical, running or trail running) and specific exercise mode goal session (running uphill, running flat, running downhill, hiking or mixed) were considered. Specific sessions, key competitions, tapering, hypoxia period and periodization were also analyzed. Results An average training of 8 hr and 53 min per week, covering 87.2 km and 3,755 m of altitude gain, was completed. The hardest week consisted of 14 hr and 58 min, 145 km, and 7,552 m of altitude gain. Distribution percentage of the training form of total training time was ~60% of running, ~17% cross training (mainly road cycling) and ~11% of strength training. Intensity distribution varied considering specificity and characteristics of the main races, progressing from more polarized to pyramidal pattern distribution. Moreover, running volume increased during the preparation period and more specific sessions and with mixed specific exercise modes was realized close to the main races, with the longest trail run of 4 hr 18 min of duration. Training in hypoxia was also completed, and tapering started 12 days before the world championship. In addition to the World Championship, National Championship races were held during the preparation period, where a 4th and a 3rd place in the Marathon (February 2023) and Ultratrail (April 2023) National Championships, respectively, was achieved. Discussion Reverse periodization has been successfully implemented in an elite female ultrarunner, finishing 11th in the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. Reverse periodization was planned and completed, mainly considering volume and tendency of distribution, going from a polarized pattern to a pyramidal one. Moreover, overall planning and key sessions progressed in specificity, developing more rolling-hill trail runs, longer trail runs, longer longest trail run of the week, and more specific exercise modes (i.e. more hiking and mixed sessions vs flats runs) along the macrocycle. Conclusion Training specificity in trail running, considering race intensity, exercise mode and race characteristics (i.e., elevation gain and distance) progressed during the macrocycle. Reverse periodization can be successfully implemented in ultratrail running by focusing on specific training and race demands, especially close to the main races.

Hematological and performance adaptations to altitude training (2,320m) in elite middle-distance and distance swimmers.

Elite swimmers often schedule altitude training camps ahead of major events in an attempt to maximize performance. However, the relationships between altitude-induced hematological changes, markers of training adaptation, and performance changes in such context are unclear. This study assessed hematological status, markers of daily adaptation, and swimming performance in elite middle-distance and distance swimmers during a 22-day altitude training camp at 2,320m, 2weeks prior to World Championship qualification competition. Venous blood was obtained and total hemoglobin mass (tHbmass) measured (CO rebreathing) in 7 elite swimmers (4 females, 3 males) 8days before and on day 22 of the altitude camp. Resting heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, urinary specific gravity, body mass, fatigue and self-reported sleep duration and quality were monitored daily during the altitude camp. Swimming performance was assessed through a standardized set (6 sets of 4 maximal repetitions of 100m front crawl) on days 3, 10 and 17 of the camp, and at sea level competitions (200m-1,500m) immediately after the camp, and 2weeks later. tHbmass (+5.6 ± 3.3%; range: 2.1%-11.0%; p < 0.05), red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit increased at the end of the training camp (p < 0.05). Performance at altitude improved throughout the camp (+1.4 ± 0.4%; range: 0.7%-2.5%; p < 0.05). No significant relationship was noted between hematological changes, the change in altitude performance and any of the monitored daily markers of adaptation during the camp. Compared to the swimmers' previous personal best, competition performances did not improve immediately (2.5% ± 1.9% slower times) and 2weeks after altitude (1.2% ± 1.4% slower times). The 22-day altitude training camp at 2,320m was beneficial for elite swimmers' tHbmass, hematological status and performance at altitude, but these benefits did not clearly translate into enhanced sea level performance immediately after or 2weeks later. The present study confirms the large inter-individual variability in hematological responses to altitude training, and that the improvement in performance at altitude and sea level may depend on factors other than the increase in tHbmass alone.

Subacute and long-term effects of COVID-19 on cardiac health and function in German elite athletes assessed by strain analysis: a speckle tracking echocardiography observational trial

Abstract Introduction During the COVID-19-pandemic, most elite athletes were infected with the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Initial worries of high rates of multi-organ complications including the heart and ending sporting careers were disproved by large studies. However, the effects of COVID-19 on the heart and its function in elite athletes remains unclear, especially in the prolonged post-infection follow-up and during and after return to competition. Methods In the year 2020, a cohort of 127 elite athletes (boasting an accumulated 58 Olympic and world championship medals) was recruited, 76 of them recently having undergone a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Echocardiography was conducted 1 (T0), 5 (T1) and 9 (T2) months after the infection in the infected cohort and at baseline for the control cohort. Left-ventricular global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain was compared cross-sectionally at baseline between athletes after a COVID-19-infection and control athletes, as well as longitudinally in the COVID-19-cohort. Results At baseline, global longitudinal strain (reported as absolute %-values) was significantly higher in the COVID-19-cohort in comparison to control-cohort (20.37 ± 1.98% vs. 19.41 ± 2.11%, respectively, p = 0.042). In the longitudinal assessment within the COVID-19-cohort the global longitudinal strain was significantly higher shortly after the infection (T0) than at the two follow-up measurements (T0: 20.37 ± 1.98%; T1: 19.34 ± 1.65%; T2: 19.30 ± 1.68% (p = 0.0052 and p = 0.0044, respectively)). No significant differences for any of the comparisons were found for circumferential or radial strain. Discussion The significantly elevated values in the COVID-19-cohort at T0 may be due to an affectation of the autonomic nervous system, which has previously been documented as a result of COVID-19-disease. No cardiac injury after COVID-19 was detected using strain analysis. All documented global longitudinal strain values were within the normal range for athletes. A return to training and competition had no deleterious effect on cardiac health in athletes after a COVID-19-infection in this trial.

The CADE-29 Automated Theorem Proving System Competition – CASC-29

The CADE ATP System Competition (CASC) is the annual evaluation of fully automatic, classical logic, Automated Theorem Proving (ATP) systems – the world championship for such systems. CASC-29 was the twenty-eighth competition in the CASC series. Twenty-four ATP systems competed in the various divisions. This paper presents an outline of the competition design and a commentated summary of the results.

I want to go last: How performance order affects Women’s Artistic Gymnastics?

The order in which gymnasts perform their routines varies across competitions in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG). In this study, we aimed to investigate if the Performance Order has any influence on gymnasts scores and, secondly, which apparatus is the most important predictor for higher Scores in All-Around. For that, we analyze data from three World Championships: Kitakyushu (2021), Liverpool (2022) and Antwerp (2023), encompassing 171 routines in all four WAG apparatus (Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam and Floor Exercise). Results have shown no evidence that Performance Order affects Total Score in Apparatus Finals, however we found that gymnasts who start on Vault in All-Around phase have significantly higher means (p&lt;0,05) than gymnasts who start on other apparatus. Furthermore, results have shown that Uneven Bars and Balance Beam are the most important predictors of Total Score in All-Around phase. Additionally, D-Scores have demonstrated a greater impact on results compared to E-Scores. Keywords: Artistic Gymnastics, Performance Order, Evaluation, Score

Europe has the fastest Ironman race courses and the fastest Ironman age group triathletes

The majority of participants in Ironman triathlon races are age group athletes. We have extensive knowledge about recreational athletes’ training and competition participation. Nonetheless, Ironman age group triathletes must achieve fast race times to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. They can, therefore, benefit from knowing where the fastest Ironman racecourses in the world are. The aim of the present study was to investigate where the fastest Ironman racecourses for age group triathletes are located in the world. Data from 677,702 Ironman age group finishers’ records (544,963 from men and 132,739 from women) originating from 228 countries and participating in 444 events across 66 different Ironman race locations between 2002 and 2022 were analyzed. Data was analyzed through traditional descriptive statistics and with machine learning regression models. Four algorithms were tested (Random Forest Regressor, XG Boost Regressor, Cat Boot Regressor, and Decision Tree Regressor). The models used gender, age group, country of origin, environmental factors (average air and water temperatures), and the event location as independent variables to predict the final overall race time. Despite the majority of successful Ironman age group triathletes originating from the USA (274,553), followed by athletes from the United Kingdom (55,410) and Canada (38,264), these countries exhibited average overall race times that were significantly slower compared to the fastest countries. Most of the triathletes competed in Ironman Wisconsin (38,545), followed by Ironman Florida (38,157) and Ironman Lake Placid (34,341). The fastest overall race times were achieved in Ironman Copenhagen (11.68 ± 1.38 h), followed by Ironman Hawaii (11.72 ± 1.86 h), Ironman Barcelona (11.78 ± 1.43 h), Ironman Florianópolis (11.80 ± 1.52 h), Ironman Frankfurt (12.03 ± 1.38 h) and Ironman Kalmar (12.08 ± 1.47 h). The fastest athletes originated from Belgium (11.48 ± 1.47 h), followed by athletes from Denmark (11.59 ± 1.40 h), Switzerland (11.62 ± 1.49 h), Austria (11.68 ± 1.50), Finland (11.68 ± 1.40 h) and Germany (11.74 ± 15.1 h). Flat running and cycling courses were associated with faster overall race times. Three of the predictive models identified the ‘country’ and ‘age group’ variables as the most important predictors. Environmental characteristics showed the lowest influence regarding the other variables. The origin of the athlete was the most predictive variable whereas environmental characteristics showed the lowest influence. Flat cycling and flat running courses were associated with faster overall race times. The fastest overall race times were achieved mainly in European races such as Ironman Copenhagen, Ironman Hawaii, Ironman Barcelona, Ironman Florianópolis, Ironman Frankfurt and Ironman Kalmar. The fastest triathletes originated from European countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, and Germany.

Training volume, intensity, and performance of world-class Chinese rowers prior to the 2019 world championships: A case study

Six world-class Chinese male rowers (age: 28.2 ± 3.2 years; height: 1.93 ± 0.02 m; body mass: 94.7 ± 3.9 kg) participated in the study. The training volume in different modalities and intensities were recorded over 44 weeks. To evaluate rowing performance, rowers completed four 2000 m and 5000 m maximum effort time trials and two incremental step tests. Total training time for the season was 907 h, which consisted of 67.5% of rowing training, 16.9% of strength training, 15.2% of warm-up and flexibility, and 0.4% of non-specific endurance training. The rowing training intensity distribution (TID) was 87.0% performed at low intensity (LIT), 8.4% at moderate intensity (MIT), and 4.6% at high intensity (HIT). There was no significant difference in average weekly rowing training volume (distance) at LIT across four phases (p = 0.12), as well as rowing training at MIT (p = 0.07) and HIT (p = 0.97). The fourth 2000 m time trials performance significantly improved from the first trial (−6.4 s, p = 0.02). The fourth 5000 m time trial performance was significantly improved from the first (−13.4 s, p = 0.02) and second trial (−14.1 s, p = 0.01). The final-step mean power output (W) in the second incremental step test improved significantly (p = 0.04). In the 2018–19 season, China's world-class rowers conducted considerable LIT rowing. The training volume distribution and rowing TID were similar in all phases.

Less is more? An analysis of end time limits in individual divisions at international Boccia events

ABSTRACT The strategic throwing of balls in Boccia matches is influenced by the end duration, prompting athletes to consider their moves carefully. Implementing different end’s time limits could enhance game dynamics, motivating athletes to elevate their performance and engage the audience further. Therefore, this study aims to assess the suitability of the pre-established time limit for each end in Boccia across individual divisions (BC1, BC2, BC3, and BC4) by analysing their remaining unused time. A total of 784 matches from international competitions, including the Americas’ Championship, Asian and Oceania Championship, European Championship, and World Championship, were examined. Findings suggest the potential for a one-minute reduction in the currently established time for BC1 and BC2 divisions. A decreased time limit could enhance the appeal of Boccia for spectators, media, and sponsors.

World champions in training: germany’s difficult relationship with its military special operations forces

Povzetek Primeri skrajno desničarskega ekstremizma v nemškem poveljstvu specialnih sil kopenske vojske (Kommando Spezialkräfte Heer, KSK) se že več let uvrščajo na naslovnice mednarodnih medijev. Ogorčenje nemške javnosti in zahteva po spremembah sta ponudila priložnost za prestrukturiranje ne le KSK, temveč vseh nemških vojaških sil za specialno delovanje (GERSOF). Pričujoči prispevek zagovarja, da je celovita prenova potrebna zaradi številnih izzivov, s katerimi se spoprijemajo GERSOF, vendar je bil zagon izgubljen zaradi odnosov med nemško vlado in ključnimi deležniki, vključno z mediji. Prispevek na podlagi teorije akterjev in omrežij raziskuje te zapletene odnose in ponazarja, zakaj je vlada zapravila priložnosti za okrepitev GERSOF kot elementa nacionalne varnosti in za ponovno potrditev zavezanosti zaveznikom.

Lifelong physiology of a former marathon world-record holder: the pros and cons of extreme cardiac remodeling.

In a 77-year-old former world-record-holding male marathoner (2:08:33.6), this study sought to investigate the impact of lifelong intensive endurance exercise on cardiac structure, function, and the trajectory of functional capacity (determined by maximal oxygen consumption, V̇o2max) throughout the adult lifespan. As a competitive runner, our athlete (DC) reported performing up to 150-300 miles/wk of moderate-to-vigorous exercise and sustained 10-15 h/wk of endurance exercise after retirement from competition. DC underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing in 1970 (aged 27 yr), 1991 (aged 49 yr), and 2020 (aged 77 yr) to determine V̇o2max. At his evaluation in 2020, DC also underwent comprehensive cardiac assessments including resting echocardiography, and resting and exercise cardiac magnetic resonance to quantify cardiac structure and function at rest and during peak supine exercise. DC's V̇o2max showed minimal change from 27 yr (69.7 mL/kg/min) to 49 yr (68.1 mL/kg/min), although it eventually declined by 36% by the age of 77 yr (43.6 mL/kg/min). DC's V̇o2max at 77 yr, was equivalent to the 50th percentile for healthy 20- to 29-yr-old males and 2.4 times the requirement for maintaining functional independence. This was partly due to marked ventricular dilatation (left-ventricular end-diastolic volume: 273 mL), which facilitates a large peak supine exercise stroke volume (200 mL) and cardiac output (22.2 L/min). However, at the age of 78 yr, DC developed palpitations and fatigue and was found to be in atrial fibrillation requiring ablation procedures to revert his heart to sinus rhythm. Overall, this life study of a world champion marathon runner exemplifies the substantial benefits and potential side effects of many decades of intense endurance exercise.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This life study of a 77-yr-old former world champion marathon runner exemplifies the impact of lifelong high-volume endurance exercise on functional capacity (V̇o2max equivalent to a 20- to 29-yr-old), partly due to extreme ventricular remodeling that facilitates a large cardiac output during exercise despite reduced maximal heart rate. Although it is possible that this extreme remodeling may contribute to developing atrial fibrillation, the net benefits of extreme exercise throughout this athlete's lifespan favor increased health span and expected longevity.

Exceptional exercise capacity in a late bloomer octogenarian triathlete.

Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O<inf>2max</inf>) gradually declines across the lifespan. However, little is known about the octogenarians. This is a knowledge gap given that individuals living >80 years old is the fastest expanding age-group world-wide. The increase in the elderly population has generated greater awareness in healthy ageing including psychosocial, physical, and cognitive domains, all of which benefit from engagement in physical activity or sport. In the present article are reported characteristics of an octogenarian man (GM), starting training for triathlon when he was 75 years old. GM performed an incremental Cardiopulmonary Treadmill-Running Exercise Test (CPX). A competitive 5-day consecutive triathlon event (sprint distance on days 1, 3, 4, 5 and Olympic distance on day 2) was monitored using an advanced smartwatch. Between 2021 and 2022, he trained for 10-to-12 hours/week, and participated in 59 and 39 competitions, respectively. The CPX showed a V̇O<inf>2max</inf> of 39.8 mL·min-1·kg-1, the 3rd highest value ever described in the literature among octogenarians and corresponding to the ≈60th percentile of 40-to-49-year-old men. During the 5-day triathlon (overall 12:15 h:min), 88% of time was spent at 77-95% of maximum heart rate (i.e., vigorous exercise intensity). In addition, GM was the 2022 Triathlon Olympic distance World Champion. The remarkably high V̇O<inf>2max</inf> and performance described herein were associated with exceptionally high exercise volume and intensity during training and competition, up to more than four times the recommended physical activity by current guidelines. These results further support the benefits of endurance exercise among octogenarians.

Theoretical and methodological foundations of the organization of sports selection of Spanish football players

In the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was held on the fields of the Republic of South Africa (South Africa), the Spanish national team defeated the national team of the Netherlands and became the world champion for the first time in its history. The basis of the Spanish championship team was made up of pupils of the world-famous Barcelona football academy "La Masia". The football academy of the Spanish-Catalan "Barcelona" with the name "La Masia" was founded in 1979, but received real recognition in the 90s of the twentieth century. At that time, the main professional team of the Barcelona football club as a head coach was headed by the Dutchman Johan Cruyff. It was the "Flying Dutchman", as the three-time Ballon d'Or winner was then called the best player in Europe, who introduced a systematic approach and a general educational methodology for educating young people into the activities of the Barcelona academy. The purpose of the study is to determine the features of the organization, conduct and scientific and methodological support of the process of teaching the game and sports selection and game orientation of football players in Spain. The study of the phenomenon of Spanish football as a successful long-term sports project is an important aspect of a systematic approach to solving the problems of sports selection and game orientation of football players in Ukraine.

Beach Sprints Rowing: Injury and Illness Prevalence at the 2022 World Championships

BackgroundInjury and illness surveillance helps establish the infrastructure to provide adequate medical support at regattas and is the foundation for developing prevention strategies.Objective(s)To assess the prevalence and characteristics of injuries...

Musculoeskeletal injuries and illnesses in the Spanish and French trail running teams during the WMTRC 2023

IntroductionAs a result of the recent professionalization of trail running, the epidemiology of injury and illness of professional athletes is still unknown. The aim of the study is to describe the epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses among professional trail runners of two national teams participating at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2023. Material and MethodsThe study included 77 professional trail running athletes from Spanish and French National Teams that competed in the Championships. Data of injuries and illnesses were recorded in “Daily Medical Report on Injuries and Illnesses” form, designed according to the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee consensus statement. ResultsThirty-eight percent of the athletes had an injury or illness; of them 22 % suffered an injury and 16 % an illness. Regarding sport performance, 24 % of the athletes suffered an injury and illness that affect their sport performance and 12 % had to withdraw due to a major injury or illness. By anatomical location foot is the most affected and hyperthermia and dehydration are the most frequent aetiology of illness. ConclusionsMore than one third of professional trail running athletes suffered an injury or illness during the World Championship and around one in ten were unable to finish the competition due to a major injury or illness. The principal cause of withdrawal is dehydration, followed by overuse injuries and acute traumas.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OPTIMIZING PHYSICAL TRAINING: IMPACT ON COMPETITIVE PERFORMANCES IN DANCE SPORT

These instructions are formulated for presenting the template used for editing the articles for the scientific journal Bulletin of Transilvania University of Braşov. The material presents the camera ready form of the articles. The abstract should synthetically outline all the pertinent results, in a short but intelligible form. The abstract should begin through clearly stating the purpose of the paper and should end by formulating the most important conclusions. There will be used short, direct and complete sentences, written in a single paragraph, without “tab”-s. The abstract will have 7...10 lin The arbitration criteria in sport dance, established by the WDSF and FRDS regulations, form the basis for the activities that referees undertake to assess the technical, artistic, and sports performance quality of dance couples. The research aims to analyze the results of 16 Romanian dancers (aged 15-18) in official competitions, specifically the finalist couples of the National Section Championship, Youth Latin – 2022. This includes their participation and results at DanceMasters, Bucharest 2022 – WDSF Open Youth Latin, WDSF World Championship – 2022, WDSF European Championship – 2022 (for the two couples representing Romania), and the National Section Championship, Youth Latin – 2023, considering their placement in the competition, performance in the rumba dance, and the scores awarded by each judge in the competition jury. Using IBM SPSS Statistics 20, we compared the results recorded from one competition to another throughout a competitive year, specifically between National Section Championships. The analysis highlights the importance of close collaboration between physical preparation and athletes’ performance. The obtained results demonstrate the validity of the working hypothesis that the dynamics of performances in national and international competitions can effectively influence the physical training efficiency of sports dancers.

The Physiological and Performance Development of Two Multiple Olympic Champion Rowers: A 20-Year Follow-Up Study.

This study reports the results of a 20-year (2005-2024) follow-up study of two 2-time Olympic and 6-time world champion rowing athletes. To provide a comprehensive picture of adaptations in physiological and performance characteristics to long-term training, we monitored the athletes' physiological and performance data annually through five 4-year developmental phases. Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), maximal minute power (MMP), and power output corresponding to anaerobic threshold (PAT) were derived from a ramp-wise exercise test on a rowing ergometer. Additionally, average power output sustained during all-out tests over 2000-m and 6000-m on a rowing ergometer was also obtained. V̇O2max peaked at age 22 for Athlete A and at age 25 for Athlete B (at ~7 L·min-1), before stabilizing and then gradually declining to a range of 6.2-6.5 L·min-1 for both athletes. MMP stabilized in both rowers at values between 550 and 575 W and displayed minimal fluctuations over the final two phases of the study. Additionally, MMP closely resembled the corresponding average power output sustained during the 2000-m all-out tests on a rowing ergometer. Average power output during 2000-m and 6000-m all-out tests showed steady improvements over the monitored phases of the study, with highest power output crew averages for both 2000-m (532 W; 5 min 48 s) and 6000-m (463 W; 18 min 4 s) tests recorded during the last 4-year phase of the assessment. Improvements in rowing ergometer performance over 2000-m and 6000-m appear to be largely independent of the multi-year changes in V̇O2max. Long-term rowing training resulted in continuous improvements in MMP and PAT throughout the monitored phases, which more closely mimicked improvements in rowing ergometer performance.

Contributions Regarding the Improvement of Specific Physical Training in 14 – 16 Year-Old Handball Players

By carefully watching the handball games both in the domestic championship and the games from the World and European Championships, we come to the conclusion that great performances are only achieved by teams that have a very good physical training, so implicitly a general and specific motor ability excellently doubled by a preparation on training factors: technical, theoretical, tactical and psychological. The choice of plyometric exercises must imitate handball skills, to maximize the strengthening of the muscles that trigger the movement and, in certain cases, to generate "motor memory", consolidating the technical skills involved.

WALLOPING NEGATIVE TRENDS IN PAKISTAN’S YOUTH THROUGH SPORTS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Sports have been recognised as an integral part of human life, and their significance cannot be overstated. In Pakistan, however, sports have not been accorded due importance, which has had a negative impact on the country’s youth. Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) is a popular way to address variety of social issues, especially in regions afflicted by negative tendencies. Numerous peace and development organisations, including the United Nations and international development agencies, have acknowledged sportsas asignificant social catalyst. Pakistan is globally tagged for negativity since there is a dearth of literature that corroborates its positive aspects. This country has been a world champion in four sports, and its gloom-ridden image has overshadowed such positive aspects of Pakistan. This research paper exploresthe challenges and opportunities of using sports to address negative trends in Pakistan’s youth. This paper is an effort to introduce the concept of sport for peace and development, as well as a demonstration of how sport may help create peace, promote a favourableglobal image, and involve Pakistani youth in constructive activities. The paper in the beginning highlights sports’ significance for a nation, then illustrates the sports landscape in Pakistan. It then delves into the challenges faced by Pakistani youth in terms of physical fitness and mental health. Since Pakistan is a sports-loving nation, there is a dire need to revive the sports culture in Pakistan to engage its youth in constructive activities for pragmatic outcomes. The paper concludes by highlighting the opportunities that lie ahead by fostering the sports spirit through the collaboration of the government, private sector, community, and civil society