In the smell of Olympics, ‘MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO’

By Ashok Silwal

The Tokyo Olympics are one year late, but in 2021 they are about to arrive.

When do they start? The Summer Olympic Games officially begin on 23 July 2021.

On that date, there will be also the official opening ceremony with the lighting of the Olympic torch. But the flame of the athletes is already starting to burn on Wednesday 21 July, the first day of competitions starting with team sports.

The closing ceremony, on the other hand, is scheduled for 8 August when there will be the last races.

From 24 August until 5 September we will be able to attend the competitions of Paralympic athletes.

It will be sporting at the highest levels…..us as remote viewers and not really sportsmen…. enjoying the show comfortably seated in our armchairs….

These Olympics mean :

• 3 weeks of competitions
• 33 different sports and 50 disciplines
• 5 are new as climbing, karate, skateboarding, surfing, baseball/softball.
• 339 events
• 42 different locations
• 207 countries participating
• 10 thousand athletes (80% should be vaccinated before the start of competitions and for the others, mandatory swabs)
• 0 spectators, due to Covid-19 pandemic

This ever exciting world event brings me to stop a bit and write some lines about the sport and the practice of physical activity. I know that a lot of you, probably better than me, who is a little lazy (!), practiced physical activity at home during the long months of lockdown: they knew that the relationship between mind-body is very strong.

‘MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO’

This expression is often used to emphasize the importance of physical activity for our health and well-being. And although these few words are very widespread and often heard, not everyone knows what their meaning really is.

The expression is used to indicate that both the body and the mind are important and that the health of neither should be neglected. Basically, the meaning is that if you want to have a healthy mind, you must also take care of your body (and there is nothing shameful or embarrassed in this, indeed) and it is precisely for this reason that the world of sport has often made it it’s own.

The sentence is from JUVENAL a Latin poet (1st century AD) who inserts it in his ‘Satires’. And really, the meaning of the phrase, at the origin, was a little different due to the historical context. The Roman conception of ‘physical activity was military training.

Although Juvenal’s phrase was quite different from the meaning it then assumed with modernity; it must be said that, over the centuries, science has shown that physical activity (and therefore a healthy body) is actually able to prevent even some diseases of the mind. (for example Alzheimer.)

For this reason, the modern meaning of the phrase is the one commonly accepted and known, as well as the most widespread in common usage, as a ‘slogan’.

The expression is used to identify the close relationship between physical and mental wellness-being, pointing out that keeping the body in shape also helps brain health.

Studies show that children who play sports perform more in school, while for adults, exercise is linked to greater longevity. Mind and body are two worlds in constant reciprocal influence.

Today, the World Health Organization provides us the meaning of health understood as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not simply the absence of disease.’

For example, studies have shown that it is possible to reduce anxiety thanks to sport and therefore to the consequent release of endorphins.

Have you been though that gastroesophageal reflux, headache, or stomach acid could result from excessive stress or tiredness?

Our body represses everything we feel and, at a certain point, throws everything out, like a relief valve: negative moods become symptoms and a negative emotional state can be the origin of a physical illness, and, in the same way, the onset of a positive emotional state can lead to healing.

Physical activity is necessary because it produces beneficial effects directly on the body and on the mind.

People then are less prone to depression, demonstrate better mental efficiency, rest better, and have higher self-esteem. A real elixir of life!

And it is good for all ages:

In children, it promotes physical development and helps socialize and body and mind grow and mature together. A lack of physical activity and too much TV, computer, and videos games feed laziness and slow down mental development.

For adults, physical activity reduces stress levels, improves physical and mental health: heart, muscle, mental performance ….

For the elderly, performing regular movement and light physical activity helps to decrease the risk of some chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

And with the physical activities, it is good to add: a correct diet with healthy food, outdoor activities joining sunlight and nature.

All things we know perfectly but sometimes also it is good to hear them say one more time… also because ‘physical activity does not mean 50 km running one day yes one day no or 3 hours gym 3 times a week….!!! Abdominal movements can be done while sitting on a chair and a brisk walk in the city or in the hills is always possible and better than the screen of a smartphone !!!

From today, therefore, consider the movement as an act of respect and love towards yourself ….. speaks one who often forgets it !!

Enjoy the show of the athletes at the beginning of the Olympics in Tokyo and Japan ……perhaps some passion for the sport will be born….

Remembering, in conclusion, that as the baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of modern Olympic Games -1896-, said:

‘PARTICIPATING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WINNING.’

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