Category: Sports

How true is it that people who crave danger have nothing better to do with their lives?

While some people who crave danger may lack fulfilling alternatives, many seek thrill for personal growth, achievement, and mental health benefits, challenging the notion that they have “nothing better to do.”

While some people who crave danger may lack fulfilling alternatives, many seek thrill for personal growth, achievement, and mental health benefits, challenging the notion that they have “nothing better to do.”

I. Introduction

  • Hook: Those who crave danger are mindless and selfish.
  • Background: Overview of the reasons behind thrill-seeking behaviour.
  • Thesis Statement: Craving danger is not necessarily due to a lack of better alternatives; it can be motivated by personal growth, achievement, and mental health benefits.

II. Supporting View 1: Lack of Purpose and Alternatives

  • Topic Sentence: Some crave danger as there might not be better alternatives.
  • Example 1: Urban exploration in abandoned buildings in the UK (2019-2021). Young people explore dangerous sites due to boredom and lack of opportunities (source: The Guardian, 2019).
  • Example 2: Illegal street racing in South Africa (2018-2021) as a thrill-seeking activity.
    • Context: Participants often lack access to structured motorsport opportunities (source: BBC, 2020).
  • Example 3: Cliff jumping in Greece (2017-2021) among unemployed youth.
    • Context: High unemployment rates drive young people to seek thrills (source: Reuters, 2018).
  • Analysis: For some, thrill-seeking fills a void created by lack of purpose or opportunities.

III. Supporting View 2: Personal Growth and Achievement

  • Topic Sentence: Some crave danger for thrill-seeking high. They feel that such danger is good for personal growth.
  • Example 1: Mountaineering in Nepal (2016-2021) as a personal challenge. Climbers aim to conquer Everest for personal accomplishment (source: The Guardian, 2019).
  • Example 2: Free solo climbing in Europe (2017-2021) by professional athletes. Athletes push their limits for achievement and recognition (source: BBC, 2018).
  • Example 3: Ultra-marathon running in the Sahara (2018-2021) for extreme endurance.
    • Context: Participants test their physical and mental limits (source: Reuters, 2019).
  • Analysis: Personal growth and the pursuit of achievement drive many to seek dangerous activities.

IV. Supporting View 3: Mental Health Benefits

  • Topic Sentence: Some who crave danger and thrill opine that such adventure can provide significant mental health benefits.
  • Example 1: Skydiving in New Zealand (2016-2021) as therapy for PTSD. Veterans use extreme sports to cope with trauma (source: The Guardian, 2018).
  • Example 2: Bungee jumping in Switzerland (2017-2021) for adrenaline therapy. Participants report reduced anxiety and stress levels (source: BBC, 2019).
  • Example 3: Adventure racing in South Africa (2018-2021) for depression. Outdoor challenges improve mental health and well-being (source: Reuters, 2020).
  • Analysis: Thrill-seeking activities can offer therapeutic benefits and improve mental health.

V. Opposing View 1: Thrill-Seeking as a Distraction from Life’s Issues

  • Topic Sentence: Some use thrill-seeking as a distraction from personal problems.
  • Example 1: BASE jumping in Norway (2017-2021) as an escape.
  • Participants often seek relief from personal stresses (source: The Guardian, 2020).
  • Example 2: High-risk skateboarding in Spain (2018-2021) to avoid life pressures. Young people turn to extreme sports to cope with societal pressures (source: BBC, 2019).
  • Example 3: Parkour in France (2019-2021) to escape urban life challenges.
    • Context: Practitioners use parkour to navigate and escape urban stress (source: Reuters, 2020).
  • Analysis: For some, thrill-seeking serves as a means of escaping personal or societal issues.

VI. Opposing View 2: Thrill-Seeking Due to Societal Influence

  • Topic Sentence: Societal and cultural influences drive some people to seek danger.
  • Example 1: Extreme sports in Japan (2018-2021) influenced by media. Media glorification of extreme sports increases participation (source: BBC, 2020).
  • Example 2: Adventure tourism in Iceland (2017-2021) driven by social media. Social media trends encourage risky tourist behaviours (source: Reuters, 2019).
  • Example 3: Dangerous stunts in Russia (2019-2021) inspired by online challenges. Viral internet challenges push people towards risky activities (source: The Guardian, 2021).
  • Analysis: Societal and cultural pressures can significantly influence thrill-seeking behaviour.

VII. Opposing View 3: Controlled Risk-Taking as Part of Professional Pursuits

  • Topic Sentence: For some, thrill-seeking is an integral part of their personal and professional pursuits.
  • Example 1: Professional stunt performers in the UK (2016-2021). Thrill-seeking is part of their job and skill set (source: BBC, 2019).
  • Example 2: Scientific research expeditions in Antarctica (2017-2021). Researchers face extreme conditions for scientific discovery (source: Reuters, 2020).
  • Example 3: Wildlife photographers in Africa (2018-2021). Documenting wildlife requires facing dangerous environments (source: The Guardian, 2021).
  • Analysis: For professionals, thrill-seeking is often a necessary and calculated part of their careers.

VIII. Conclusion

  • Restate Thesis: Craving danger is not necessarily due to a lack of better alternatives; it can be motivated by personal growth, achievement, and mental health benefits.
  • Summary of Key Points: Lack of purpose, personal growth, mental health versus distraction, societal influence, professional pursuits.
  • Final Thought: Understanding the diverse motivations behind thrill-seeking can help address misconceptions and provide better support for those engaged in such activities.

Sport is human life in miniature. Discuss.

Sports enthusiasts opine that sports reflects life. Sport encapsulates many aspects of human life, including competition, teamwork, and personal growth, but it can also oversimplify and distort life’s complexities.

I. Introduction

  • Hook: Sport reflects many elements of human life.
  • Background: Brief overview of sport’s role in society and its symbolic nature.
  • Thesis Statement: Sport encapsulates many aspects of human life, including competition, teamwork, and personal growth, but it can also oversimplify and distort life’s complexities.

II. Supporting View 1: Competition and Struggle

  • Topic Sentence: Sport mirrors the competition and struggle present in human life.
  • Example 1: In the Premier League, teams compete fiercely for the title, reflecting life’s competitive nature.
  • Example 2: The Tour de France requires immense endurance, similar to overcoming life’s challenges.
  • Example 3: In Japan, sumo wrestling showcases the dedication and effort needed to achieve success.
  • Analysis: These examples show how sport reflects life’s competitive and challenging aspects.

III. Supporting View 2: Teamwork and Cooperation

  • Topic Sentence: Sport emphasises the importance of teamwork and cooperation.
  • Example 1: In Spain, FC Barcelona’s “tiki-taka” style relies on teamwork and coordination.
  • Example 2: New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team exemplifies unity and collective effort.
  • Example 3: In Germany, Bayern Munich’s success is attributed to strong team dynamics.
  • Analysis: These examples illustrate how sport mirrors the collaborative efforts required in life.

IV. Opposing View 1: Oversimplification of Life

  • Topic Sentence: Sport can oversimplify the complexities of human life.
  • Example 1: The intense focus on winning in Indian cricket oversimplifies the nuances of success.
  • Example 2: In Brazilian football, the hero-worship of players ignores the broader societal issues.
  • Example 3: In Russia, the emphasis on athletic achievement overlooks personal and emotional development.
  • Analysis: These examples highlight how sport can reduce life’s complexities to mere competition.

V. Opposing View 2: Distortion of Values

  • Topic Sentence: Sport can distort important values and priorities.
  • Example 1: In Italian football, corruption scandals undermine the integrity of the sport.
  • Example 2: The obsession with winning in Chinese gymnastics leads to unethical training practices.
  • Example 3: In Kenyan athletics, doping scandals distort the true spirit of competition.
  • Analysis: These examples demonstrate how sport can sometimes lead to unethical behaviour and distorted values.

VI. Conclusion

  • Restate Thesis: Sport reflects many aspects of human life, such as competition and teamwork, but can also oversimplify and distort life’s complexities.
  • Summary of Key Points: Recap the main supporting and opposing views.
  • Final Thought: Sport is a valuable microcosm of life, but it should be viewed critically to understand its limitations.

Countries with poor human rights records should not be allowed to host international sporting events. Discuss.

Possible points for allowing countries with poor human rights records to host sporting events.

  • consider why certain countries are deemed to violate human rights
  • evaluate the importance of hosting international sporting events in a range of countries
  • make a judgement, based on consideration of the evidence and argument put forward about allowing countries with poor human rights records to host sporting events.
  • hosting these events being profitable and creating employment for all kinds of people
  • the possible endorsement of morally questionable actions by nations and governing bodies
  • those countries which feel their status is reflected in sporting achievement
  • events being unjustifiable when citizens lack rights or live in extreme poverty
  • there being a strong case for excluding countries which tolerate forms of cheating
  • those countries which make positive changes in order to be internationally acceptable
  • contact with sportspeople and spectators having a positive impact on the home population
  • human rights being a contestable issue for a variety of social and cultural reasons.

Evaluate the extent to which sport and leisure should be priorities for your country

Keywords: ‘Evaluate the extent’ and ‘sport and leisure’ and ‘priorities’ and ‘your’.
• Improve the health of the nation
• Constructive use of free time
• Encourage better self-image (e.g. reduce obesity)
• Participate in prestigious world events (e.g. Olympics/World Cup/Youth Olympic Games)
• Promote interest in outside work
• Escapism
• Reduce stress/depression
• Social/family benefits
• There are other financial priorities (education/economic/health/welfare)
• Basic survival
• Could just cater for a minority
• Too obsessed with winning (e.g. China/Russia)

To what extent can sport foster a sense of community beyond the events themselves?

Possible points for can sport foster a sense of community beyond the events.

• The Olympic spirit
• Encouragement of harmless patriotism
• Antidote to racism and other forms of discrimination
• Informal opportunities for world leaders to meet
• Can be a spur to economic development
• Encourages sharing of enthusiasms and interests
• Can produce appalling forms of exploitation
• Can engender xenophobia and hooliganism
• Can provide opportunities for unscrupulous politicians
• May result in feelings of national humiliation
• Adds to the dominance of strong nations
• Is an expensive distraction

Have international sporting events lost their true purpose today?

The Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” interpreted into English means “Faster, Higher, Stronger”. The motto has inspired and motivated sports athletes throughout the years. The motto is a call to scale the heights, broaden horizons, reset standards, beat the clock, and better the best. Sports have always served a myriad of purposes from fostering teamwork to bringing communities together. However, the corruption and commercialisation that exist in sporting events have led many to believe that they have lost their true purpose. Agreeing with this view, it can be said that international sporting events have lost their true purpose today.

Sporting events are believed to foster human strength and character. Sports still promote these values and imbibes a sense of pride in the athletes. Many athletes work tirelessly to break records in sports which are usually considered impossible to achieve. For example, Usain Bolt has created records that are hard to break. Owing to his achievements and dominance in sprint competition, he is widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. Similarly, inspired by Michael Phelps, Joseph Schooling, won Singapore’s first-ever Olympic medal in swimming. International sporting events are instrumental in the developing physical strength, building character and developing strategic thinking. Thus, international sporting events have not lost their true purpose today because it provides athletes to display their strength and character.

International sporting events also help in bringing communities closer and foster a sense of brotherhood. International sporting events help in building a shared common identity among people. Furthermore, sporting events helps individuals to understand themselves as members of communities by engaging in sports. For instance, Spanish national soccer teams display a combative playstyle known as the red fury. Spaniards mirror their national teams’ play style when they face adversity. Apart from national identity, international sports also give people to bond over their common interest in sports. For instance, cricket is a sport which is enjoyed by countries like India and Pakistan. Cricket matches are a great way to help countries build strong and amicable ties even off the field. To further illustrate this point, the example of the Olympic games can be cited where the value of international friendship and cooperation among the participating athletes and the countries they represented was truly demonstrated. Thus, International sporting events have helped in promoting peaceful international relations among diverse nations as people compete without strife by setting aside their political and geopolitical differences.

Despite the positive purpose of sports, the dark side of the sporting events cannot be ignored. Today many countries do not realise the true purpose of sports. Many countries that host prominent international sporting events are not concerned with building a sports culture. Their motivation to organise these events is – profit. The hosting of the Rio Olympics in 2017 a shift in Brazil budget allocation. Where the country focused on investing huge sums in building sporting infrastructure while ignoring important sectors like education and healthcare. Though from the country’s perspective it could be said that the economic factor was important. It cannot be ignored that the lack of consideration led the country to face one of the worst recessions which led to further budget cuts. Moreover, sponsorship in sports has made it just a marketing commodity. The players are known for their worth in terms of how much they earn. An example of such sponsorship is seen in stadiums where dozens of sponsorship ads are displayed from edge to edge of the outfield. During the Olympics 2018, the IOC was criticised by the media undermining its emphasis on health and athleticism by taking money from companies like McDonald’s that sell junk food. Such instances highlight how sports today is a profit-driven industry. Making money is their only concern and sporting ideals are being forgotten. Thus, international sporting events have lost their true purpose today because of blatant commercialisation.

International sporting events today are also marred by the athletes who participate in them. Athletes today believe that they need to win at any cost. This determination to win can make them lose the sense of right and wrong. Today sportspersons are set up on high pedestals which lead them to use tactics like doping to maintain those records. For example, systematic doping in Russian sports has resulted in 47 Olympic and tens of world championships medals being stripped from Russian athletes. Similarly, Lance Armstrong, one of the greatest cyclists, was stripped of his titles and banned from pro cycling for life in 2012 for doping. Apart from doping charges, athletes have also been involved in other controversies that make people lose their faith in the legitimacy of international sporting events. Thus, international sporting events have lost their true purpose today because of the athletes who indulge in unfair practices.

In conclusion, it can be said that international sporting events are losing their purpose today in the world. Blatant commercialisation and lack of fair play have led to the deterioration of values that are important in sports. Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee once said, ‘It takes more than crossing the line first to make a champion. A champion is more than a winner. A champion is someone who respects the rules, rejects doping and competes in the spirit of fair play.’ There is no denying that sporting events bring people together and there is a need to identify the true purpose of sports – friendship, team spirit, and respect for equality and integrity.

To what extent is sport in your country considered as part of its heritage?

Is sport in your country considered as part of its heritage

• Any sport could be mentioned but it must relate to your country
• Relate to competitions, leisure facilities, popularity and media coverage
• Define heritage (tradition, its history/origin, could be football but could
be played for a traditional trophy)
• How unique is the sport?
• There could be no sporting heritage or a lack of interest in sport
• How integrated is it into a country’s culture?
• Perhaps sport is part of a global heritage (world cup) copied by other
countries

To what extent does participation in sport promote character development?

Does participation in sport promote character development?

• Calls for leadership
• Calls for teamwork
• Requires stamina and endurance
• Participation may be as a supporter
• Can take on aggressive characteristics
• Other activities can also be character building
• Sport has a community function
• Can give hope to youth
• Give confidence to the disabled