Metamorphosis - Sport for Good

Sport for good

metamorphosis

/ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs,ˌmɛtəmɔːˈfəʊsɪs/

noun: metamorphosis; plural noun: metamorphoses

1. (in an insect or amphibian) the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.

o a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one.

This is the story of a metamorphosis – the journey within. A story of how I went in the timespan of four years from a depressed, unhealthy corporate employee caught up in the rat race. To a self-employed, fit, aiming for the stars, and most importantly, fulfilled human being. This doesn’t mean there is no adversity in my life; on the contrary, my strong state of mind makes hardships much more manageable.

The current chapter within this process of metamorphosis started about six months ago. Finally, pulling through and signing up for Ironman 70.3 Portugal – Swim 1.9 kilometers, bike 90 kilometers, followed by 21.1 kilometers run. You’d ask why, the answer at the time was to cross it off the list and get it done.

Over the past months, the goal of completing one race morphed into training several hours per day, getting a coach and aiming to qualify for the world championships. The timespan; 12-24 months. I will not go into the long-term milestones as this will unfold over the coming months.

What it at the moment boils down to is the following. In the process of training for middle and long distance Ironmans you spend a lot of time with yourself, just you and your thoughts. And I came to realize that this process is rather narcissistic - all training is about you. I suddenly had a very clear realization that I want to give back in some shape or form. That I need to utilize all the time and energy that I spend in becoming one of the best in mobilizing efforts to benefit a strong cause. That’s where, after carefully comparing many initiatives, I decided to raise funds for Laureus.

In a nutshell, Laureus is a global organization that celebrates sporting excellence and uses the power of sport to transform the lives o f children and young people. The organization is based on the principle that sport can bridge societal gaps and change how people view the world. It provides access to sports for young people to overcome challenging social issues including poverty, homelessness, violence, drug abuse discrimination and AIDS. They currently support 289 programs in 40 countries. These programs for children and young people in today's global socio-economic environment are needed more than ever. I invite you to discover more about the impactful work they do at Laureus

Especially in today's world, organizations like Laureus are required to show children there are alternatives and that there is perspective in their lives. When kids grow up in a challenging environment, their reality is warped – but if they get active in sport, get an idol, someone to look up to it can change the trajectory of their life. Sports provides access and exposure to positivity and positive people, that effect trickles down into the possibility children see in their life. It is about planting a seed in the mind of the future generations, that anything is possible. It doesn’t mean every child needs to become an athlete, but it will give them perspective in situations and provide a mindset they can apply throughout life.

Mandela once said:

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand."

This journey is just the start for me; donating money is easy, I realize that very well. Therefore, I am outlining a plan how to get personally involved over the coming year to contribute my time and energy in various projects. But I need to start with the first step, and that is raising funds for Laureus that will be put to good use for the young, which are the future of our societies. Clearly, the thought crossed my mind if this is not greenwashing myself from the ‘individualist Ironman training’ and my wholehearted answer is - no. This is the first step, it comes from a good place in my heart, and doing this as a first step is definitely better than doing nothing at all.

This will be a 24-month journey. There is more to come; this is only the beginning. If you kindly decide to support and donate, I will keep you informed about the final donation to Laureus and the next steps in the process.

Finally, Siya Kolisi nails the message perfectly in his address

I thank you in advance; your contribution does matter.

Dirk