Francis Gonsalves

Adam, it’s said, is the fastest athlete in history, since he came first in the human race! And, now, Adam’s descendents have converged upon Delhi to race and to celebrate our commonwealth of races and nations. Indeed, India herself has been bracing up and racing to honour commitments to host this Commonwealth. So, with a gracious “Vanakkam! Swagatam!” Mother India welcomes her guests in a thousand Indian tongues, inviting everyone: “Come Out and Play!”
Seventy odd nations are competing in the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG). The number reminds one of the Biblical Worldview in Genesis (BWG) whereby humankind descended from Noah’s three sons — Shem, Ham and Japheth — and their wives. Apparently, 70 nations were drawn from Noah’s three sons: 26 from Shem, 30 from Ham and 14 from Japheth. “From these, the nations spread abroad on the earth” (Genesis 10:32). Typological interpretation sees Shem as the forefather of the Semitic people; Ham, of the African; and, Japheth, the European.
The meaning of the names of Noah’s sons is significant. Ham means “warm”, Japheth, “open” and Shem implies “prosperity”. Isn’t it our cherished desire that the CWG be conducted in an ambience of sisterly warmth and brotherly openness, promoting the prosperity of all nations, everywhere?
The BWG “table of nations” in Genesis Chapter 10 prefigures other conceptions of world community. In 1795 Immanuel Kant’s Perpetual Peace: a Philosophical Sketch floated the idea of a comity of nations to promote peace among peoples. The League of Nations and the United Nations Organisation later gave concrete contours to these conceptions. However, there’s nothing so engaging, enthralling and energising as a sports’ ex­tr­avaganza that catalyses the commonwealth of countries.
Sport belongs to the commonwealth of humankind. Organised sport originated way back in 776 BC when the ancient Olympics in Greece introduced many footraces run in the nude, and eventually contests of strength like boxing and wrestling. Vedic India already spoke of riddle contests, gambling, races and other exhibitions of mental and physical strength.
The Bible says little about sports although some Biblical characters would’ve given CWG contestants a run for their money. Jacob wrestled with an angel (Genesis 32:22-32); David slew gigantic Goliath with a sling-stone (1 Samuel 17); and, Samson could bring the house down or dominate any tour de force with his superhuman strength (Judges chapters 14-17). Heroes though they were, besides Biblical acclaim, they got no medals.
Saint Paul uses a lot of images from the world of sports. He sees life as “a race wherein the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize”. Stressing that “athletes exercise self-control in all things”, he advises us “not to box as though beating the air... but, to run in such a way so as to win the race” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26).
While the CWG will pit player-against-player in races for competition, God’s rainbow in BWG (Genesis 9:8-17) embraces everyone in companionship, for, there is but one race: the human. And in this human race, there’s no first and last, no high and low, no winners and losers for everyone is unique and God blesses the whole universe: “Be fruitful!” (Genesis 1:28; 9:1,7).
God’s primal blessing: “Be fruitful!” reverberates through all global gatherings like the CWG, which must not only bear fruit in measurable terms of medals won, but in the priceless wealth of having come out, competed and won friends. Accomplished athletes in ancient Greece weren’t awarded medals but crowned with leaves from the evergreen laurus nobilis. City walls were pulled down when victors returned home, since it was believed that a city with such valiant men didn’t need walls to defend itself.
Mother India has perennially broken walls and built bridges for her children of diverse creeds and cultures. In November 2003 India successfully bid to host the 2010 CWG with a heartwarming motto: “New Frontiers and Friendships”. Seeking inspiration from the BWG, may the CWG see us running hand-in-hand echoing A.R. Rehman’s: Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto so that when life’s race is run, with Paul we might say: “I’ve fought the good fight, I’ve finished the race. From now on there’s reserved for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:7).

— Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi. He is involved in interfaith dialogue and peoples’ initiatives for fostering justice, harmony and peace. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com