Sports have always been an integral part of human life and
provide a great source of excitement and entertainment to many people. However,
some sports are considered dangerous and can lead to serious injury or death for
the participants and even for the onlookers. In this essay, we will discuss
whether these dangerous sports should be forbidden by law and if so, what kind
of legislation should be in place to balance the thrill of adventure with the
safety of the people involved.
First, it is important to understand that legislation against sports that pose a
risk of death or serious injury to the participant would be an unwarranted
restriction of individual freedom in a free country. People engage in such
sports due to their natural instinct for adventure, thrill, and challenge.
Activities such as horse riding, mountain climbing, and other similar sports
also carry the risk of death, but no sane legislation would bar these
activities. These sports help in the development of certain qualities that are
valuable in youthful people, qualities that are important in times of war or
when a country's prestige is at stake.
However, the term 'sport' is very broad and includes activities that are much
more dangerous than others. Motor racing and competitive motorcycling are just
two examples of such sports. Accidents in these sports can result in the death
or mutilation of not just the participants but also of the onlookers. This has
prompted calls for legislation to be put in place to regulate these dangerous
sports. The families and loved ones of those affected by such disasters have a
strong emotional case for urging such legislation.
Some people argue that the public is responsible for forcing people into these
dangerous sports, as many attend these events hoping to see blood and disaster.
This argument is also extended to professional boxing, where the risk of brain
injury is high. However, this argument is overstated, and the majority of people
attend these events for the thrill. Football, which is considered the least
dangerous sport, is the most popular.
Legislation is necessary in these cases, but it should be framed in a way that
ensures the safety of the public and the participants. For instance, crowd
safety precautions at motor-racing events need to be revised, and professional
boxers should have their license revoked if they show any signs of mental
deterioration. Additionally, there should be some control over the financial
awards available to sports stars, as the need for a high income often leads them
to participate long after they have passed their peak, which can be disastrous
for them and for the onlookers.
In conclusion, any attempt to ban dangerous sports is bound to fail. The
instinct to seek adventure and thrill cannot and should not be suppressed by
legislation. Such laws will only drive the sport "underground," make it more
popular, and result in even worse conditions for the participants and onlookers.
History has shown that when professional boxing was forbidden by law in England,
it drew larger crowds to the scheduled fields than it does today with carefully
staged promotions. Hence, it is important to balance the thrill of adventure
with the safety of the people involved in dangerous sports. |