The importance of games and sports in one’s life is undoubtedly significant. Apart from the health and physical benefits, the role of games and sports in developing the personality of an individual is equally significant. It is also a proven fact that games and sports are essential for healthy development of a person in early childhood and beyond. Playing games and sports allows young people to experiment through trial and error, find solutions to problems, work out the best strategies, and build new confidence and skills. It helps individuals develop confidence and courage, assists in building confidence, and helps maintain mental and physical balance. Games and sports help us to learn about how to overcome difficult situations in real life scenarios.
Further, games and sports can be used as an effective avenue to foster relationships and unity. It is also an industry that not only aids economic development but also facilitates the growth of other inter-related industries and is also a much sought after form of recreation and entertainment. Most importantly, games and sports these days can be pursued as a professional career option and has the potential to make one earn a decent livelihood. Indeed, the importance of games and sports can make quite a list if we were to jot them down.
Given the volume of its importance, it would be a misplaced belief and a futile exercise to hold the government solely responsible for the promotion and development of games and sports. Being an economically struggling state, it is also not realistic to expect private players to invest in this industry at the moment, especially in terms of sports infrastructure development. Yet, there is plenty of room and opportunity for the private sector, the community and individuals to invest – though not necessarily for profiteering.
Most of the sporting tournaments and activities are promoted by private entities in Mokokchung as of today. The ongoing 15th Imchaba Master Memorial Nagaland Open Volleyball Trophy 2022 organized by the Mokokchung District Volleyball Association (MDVA) that got underway on Tuesday is a glaring example of how sports can be promoted without much government support. Of course, the infrastructure is promoted by the government but almost every other aspect of the event is being managed by the private sector. Further, the success of the tournament held over the years can be thoroughly studied and replicated.
Without taking the credit away from other sports bodies, the Mokokchung District Volleyball Association (MDVA) is perhaps one of the strongest and most active district sports bodies in Mokokchung today, and probably in the state too. Organizing a high profile tournament, and consistently so, is no mean task. Interestingly, a look at the history of the Imchaba Master Memorial Nagaland Open Volleyball tournament points towards private/individual promoters. It also proves MDVA’s acumen in the successful management of a sustainable fund pool to keep the tournament going. This particular sports activity can be taken up as a case study to research, understand and propose suggestions on how to promote games and sports in Mokokchung.