I think that every single person should play sports.

Donovan Bailey, the sprinter who once reigned as the fastest man on earth, proclaimed with clarity: “I think that every single person should play sports.” These words, though short, resound like the echo of a starting gun, a summons not only to athletes but to all humanity. For in sports there is more than play; there is discipline, struggle, brotherhood, and triumph. To Bailey, who felt the fire of the Olympic torch and the roar of victory, this was not a casual opinion but a truth tested on the track of life.

The origin of his wisdom lies in his own journey. Born in Jamaica and raised in Canada, Bailey found in sports a bridge between worlds, a way to channel his energy into greatness. The track was not just lanes of rubber; it was the proving ground of willpower, a place where sweat forged character. He knew firsthand that sports shape not only the body but the mind, and that their lessons endure long after medals tarnish. From his experience, he declared that all people, whether strong or weak, rich or poor, should taste this discipline.

Throughout history, civilizations have understood this truth. The Greeks built the Olympic Games not only to glorify champions but to cultivate virtues of courage, endurance, and honor among their youth. The Romans trained their legions with games of strength and coordination, knowing that sports prepared the body for the battlefield and the spirit for adversity. Even in distant lands, from the martial arts of the East to the wrestling pits of Africa, humanity has always bound the practice of sport with the formation of character.

When Bailey speaks, he reminds us that sports are not for the chosen few, but for all. They are not merely about records or gold medals, but about learning how to fail, how to rise, how to work with others, and how to respect both victory and defeat. A child running in a village field, a teenager playing basketball on cracked pavement, an elder walking briskly at dawn — all embody the same principle: that through movement, the human spirit awakens.

Consider the example of Nelson Mandela, who once used sports as a force to unite a divided nation. When South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1995, Mandela wore the jersey of the national team, a symbol once despised by many. That simple act, and the shared spirit of the tournament, healed wounds that politics alone could not mend. Here we see that sports are not only personal, but universal, capable of binding hearts across divisions of race, class, and nation.

The lesson is clear, O seekers of truth: to live fully, one must embrace the practice of sports. Not for fame, not for trophies, but for the wisdom it plants within the soul. Every contest teaches perseverance; every fall teaches humility; every victory teaches gratitude. These are the virtues that make not only great athletes but great human beings.

Therefore, take practical steps: play, move, test yourself. It matters not whether you are young or old, whether you run a marathon or kick a ball with children. What matters is that you engage your body, sharpen your will, and join in the timeless tradition of play that unites all of humanity. Let sports be your teacher, your healer, and your companion in the journey of life.

Thus, Donovan Bailey’s words should be remembered not as advice, but as a commandment of human flourishing: every single person should play sports. For in the field of play lies the classroom of the soul, where strength, honor, and joy are forged — gifts that endure far longer than the fleeting applause of victory.