Sports: a Unique Contribution of Indian Ymcas
Sports: A unique contribution of Indian YMCAs
YMCA symbol: the triangle
The popular ‘red triangle’, symbol of the YMCA, denoting the development of body, mind and spirit, was invented by Luther Halsey Gulick in 1891 at Springfield College of Physical Education, USA. It provided the rationale for giving physical education its proper place in YMCA programmes as a whole, which otherwise had so far emphasised only the spiritual and mental well-being of young people.
Physical education and sport have come to form a key factor in building the character of youth irrespective of caste, colour and religion. The Indian YMCA’s most significant contribution to the making of modern India is in drawing the attention of the nation to the importance of physical education. The YMCA secretaries in India sensed very early that the playground offered the best opportunity to break down social barriers. In the heat of play children’s caste identities were soon forgotten.
The Indian YMCA has always promoted rural sports and indigenous sports and has taken sports activities to the remotest of places.
First Indian Olympic Team trained at the YMCA
Ever since the restarting of the world Olympics in the last century, India was conspicuous by its absence in the games. When plans were being made for the Paris meeting in 1924, the World Olympics Committee decided to invite India to participate, and the invitation was addressed to the YMCAs of India. So it came about that the Madras YMCA School was asked to undertake a project which called for a nation-wide organisation and programme which would lead to India’s participation in the 1924 Olympics. The first Indian Olympics Team was trained at the YMCA College of Physical Education in Chennai.
Harry Crowe Buck, the National YMCA Secretary who founded the YMCA College of Physical Education, became coach and manager of the Indian Team and had the distinction of being the official starter at the Olympics.
The first coach of the
YMCA symbol: the triangle
The popular ‘red triangle’, symbol of the YMCA, denoting the development of body, mind and spirit, was invented by Luther Halsey Gulick in 1891 at Springfield College of Physical Education, USA. It provided the rationale for giving physical education its proper place in YMCA programmes as a whole, which otherwise had so far emphasised only the spiritual and mental well-being of young people.
Physical education and sport have come to form a key factor in building the character of youth irrespective of caste, colour and religion. The Indian YMCA’s most significant contribution to the making of modern India is in drawing the attention of the nation to the importance of physical education. The YMCA secretaries in India sensed very early that the playground offered the best opportunity to break down social barriers. In the heat of play children’s caste identities were soon forgotten.
The Indian YMCA has always promoted rural sports and indigenous sports and has taken sports activities to the remotest of places.
First Indian Olympic Team trained at the YMCA
Ever since the restarting of the world Olympics in the last century, India was conspicuous by its absence in the games. When plans were being made for the Paris meeting in 1924, the World Olympics Committee decided to invite India to participate, and the invitation was addressed to the YMCAs of India. So it came about that the Madras YMCA School was asked to undertake a project which called for a nation-wide organisation and programme which would lead to India’s participation in the 1924 Olympics. The first Indian Olympics Team was trained at the YMCA College of Physical Education in Chennai.
Harry Crowe Buck, the National YMCA Secretary who founded the YMCA College of Physical Education, became coach and manager of the Indian Team and had the distinction of being the official starter at the Olympics.
The first coach of the