Leave ego at door if you want to help sport

There are influential people in the society and the sport system who simply can’t get past their ego, selfish impulses and habits.The problem with ego is it creates personality conflicts, feigned interest, and lack of meaningful and sincere consultation. It puts self preservation and personal interest above the common good.   But it is about the choices you make. People choose their actions. People choose their outcomes. Psychological studies reveal that 95 percent of everything we feel, think, do and achieve is a result of a learned habit. Habits can be helpful, as long as they are good habits. With repetition, any behaviour, good or bad, becomes automatic overtime. It stands to reason that since we learned every habit we have, we can also unlearn the ones that aren't serving us well. A word to the wise: Life is a lot like the game of tennis- if you don't serve well, you will end up losing. You want to be a success? Then help others succeed.

 

 

Little changes can grow into bigger solutions. I have always found Minister Anil Roberts respectful of the roles and responsibilities of the TTOC and NSOs. His involvement with London 2012 was about the athletes and he never sought to distract nor burden the TTOC with unnecessary requests or demands. In addition to international prestige, medals, titles and an economic contribution, sport can make an invaluable contribution to the social development of teenagers including helping them resist, drugs, crime and other high risks behaviours. But the positive contribution that sport can make is meeting with unnecessary obstacles. London 2012 was a landmark success. That people prefer to adopt a most selfish and self serving attitude behind all the smiles beggars belief.

Further that they will slander organisations and individuals who have no cocoa in the sun and who seek no monetary rewards, stipend or awards of any kind for their volunteer support and contribution is tremendously sad. In that there are people who refuse to respect what the Olympic Committee and Olympism stands for, is simply a stark feature and unfortunate reality of life.  The TTOC cannot be cowered or held to ransom.

 

 

 

It must remain not only above the fray, but unflinching in its dedication to Olympism and the Olympic values and spirit. If T&T wants to shape a sustainable future for local sport and for those citizens who simply desire to play and enjoy sport every organisation bar none has a role to play. Why take advantage of people's good nature, dignity, integrity and the fact that they are far too polite to fight their battles in public? In doing its daily work of leading the Olympic movement, the TTOC must, as a normal course, discuss issues such as governance and ethics, commercial performance, development and elite performance. And as such the TTOC will seek to innovate and exchange ideas, even though it must be always be mindful of the Olympic Charter and Olympic values, culture and spirit.

 

 

 

Non Viscera Non Gloria - We must strengthen our values, be more determined to work for the society we believe in to make opportunities for people. To have possibilities in life, we have to stand for our values. If we don't stand for what we believe in, we fail.

Let's not become a congregation of evildoers, false witnesses and dissemblers in whose hands lie mischief. People come and people go. The scale and complexity of efficiently, effectively, ethically and sustainably delivering sport is beyond any one person and organisation. The best sporting institutions require everyone involved to leave their ego at the door - to remember they are not bigger than the team.

 

Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee-  http:// www. ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.