Competition has become a dirty word in schools, says Dame Kelly

Fay Schlesinger of the Daily Mail reports on the continued softening of Western culture.

"Last year the Football Association banned children under the age of eight from playing in football leagues and cups amid fears they are under too much pressure.

Youngsters can still play matches but results must be kept private and no league tables can be compiled.

They should not compete in knockout tournaments where trophies or medals are at stake, FA officials said."

Dame Kelly Holmes yesterday launched a stinging attack on the decline of competitive sport in schools and said it risked spawning a generation of bad losers.
The double Olympic champion and former Army physical training instructor blamed a culture of political correctness for making 'competitiveness' a dirty word.

Her comments come a year after Gordon Brown admitted Labour had made a 'tragic mistake' by allowing dozens of mainly left-wing councils to scrap competitive sports in schools in the 1980s.

This meant huge numbers of inter- school matches and tournaments were cut from state schools after theorists claimed children on losing teams could end up psychologically traumatised.
(More...)