There are thousands of sporting fields on the planet that witness some stunning events unfold every hour of the day. Thanks to the journalists’ talent, hard work and acumen, millions of sports fans across the world receive the match related information, and more importantly, form their opinion on the game, the team or the player they love. World Sports Journalists Day is observed on 2 July to celebrate the services of sports journalists and their contribution to the promotion and well-being of sports.
This day has been marked as the official day to remember the services of sports journalists since the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) was established.
The International Sports and Press Association (AIPS) was set up in the year 1924 when Olympic Games took place in Paris and worked on fortifying the bond, camaraderie, and harmony among the sports columnists across the globe.
Sports Journalists Day is celebrated to encourage the members of the sports media fraternity to strive for further excellence in their profession. Sports media alone, in 2019, can push for sports as a vehicle for global peace and make the world a much better place to live in.
A responsible sports journalist can add immense value not only to the world of sports but to the world at large- to the process of highlighting cultural heritage, dissemination, and the celebration of peace and spirit of sportsmanship.
Sports in contemporary times are a necessary beat for each media house. Mainstream media cannot afford to simply overlook the sports beat; such is the demand for sports news.
There could not have been a better quote than the words of the great American sportswriter Gratland Rice to sum up the beauty of sports, the importance of the day and the virtue of sportsmanship, “For when the great scorer comes to mark against your name, he writes, it is not that you win or lose, it is how you play the game.”