Capitalism overrides health in sport
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‘…players were almost begging to come off and we couldn’t do anything about it.’
From the BBC website, 29 June 2025 – and this was only a friendly:
Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward said she had players “begging to come off” due to the heat in Ohio in their 4-0 friendly defeat against the United States.
Temperatures reached 30C during the game at the TQL Stadium and, despite cooling breaks in each half, the Republic struggled with the heat.
Whilst Emma Hayes named a completely different starting 11 from the first friendly between these two sides four days ago, Ward made just four alterations due to the Republic missing a host of regular starters.
She said she was forced into more changes during the game to protect her players’ health.
“On 22 minutes we had players asking to come off, unfortunately, we couldn’t make those changes, then at half-time, three enforced changes as players were physically fatigued and some unwell,” she told RTE.
“In the second half players were almost begging to come off and we couldn’t do anything about it.
“We can’t do anything about the heat, but it is dangerously hot out there and with humidity at 94%, I have never felt anything like it.”
Sport has nothing to do with health, not even in the word’s origin.
Sport the word was first applied by the Emperor Claudius to indicate gladiatorial fights to the death which were arranged “off the cuff” instead of planned well in advance as programs in the circus.Defining “Sport” in the Roman Context:
The term “sport” in this context encompasses a range of public entertainments, often involving violence and competition, that were integral to Roman life. It’s a broader concept than modern notions of sport, encompassing theatrical elements and even public executions.Sport and health may not necessarily go hand in hand but there again I would say most top sportspeople try to keep as healthy as they can.
By ‘sport’ in the Roman context I assume you mean ludus or ludi (they certainly didn’t say ‘sport’, which as far as I know has a medieval French origin), and yes, I know they could get pretty bloody and the partakers probably didn’t think twice about falling ill by moving about quickly in 33 degree heat in the open sun for the glory of it all.
The only reason for this in today’s society is the money imperative.
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