At the 2012 Olympics held in London, part of the opening ceremony involved a short film in which the inimitable, ultra cool James Bond figure (played by Daniel Craig) went to Queen Elizabeth’s Buckingham Palace and escorted her to a helicopter which flew them both above the sports arena into which they (alright, their stunt doubles!) both parachuted, as a fun way to introduce the Queen to the waiting world. The video was aptly entitled ‘Happy and Glorious’.
The Queen died in 2024 aged 96, having served in that capacity for an astonishing seventy years and 214 days.
In that regard, therefore, the English National Anthem proved to be an answered prayer with one of its lines being “Long to reign over us”; she certainly did that! Interestingly other lines in the anthem ask that we “send her victorious, happy and glorious”.
Now there is something special – victory, happiness and glory! Would we not all rather like some of that?
Another queen also raises similar claims and desires and, again, it may only be readers of a previous generation who may click with the references.
The rock band Queen, who have been rocking the world since the 1970s, have a number of song titles that ring true in this arena. ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ would not be the favoured chosen title in this regard, though it may suggest how someone can be successful, but their legendary, often played ‘We Are The Champions’ would fit, as might the song, (is it also a prayer, ‘I Want It All’?).
Then, how about ‘Under Pressure’? Or ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’? All such titles might underline how we can be victorious and glorious. But not happy.
However, let us instead turn to a king, namely Rafael Nadal, the tennis player who has often been referred to as the ‘King of Clay’, having won an astonishing record 14 French Open titles to put alongside his other 8 Grand Slam titles (plus 36 Masters 1000 titles), making him one of only four men to have completed the double career Grand Slam.
- In the groove: Has Enzo Ishall rescinded his decision to quit?
- Interview: Ngwerume’s artistic exploits put Zimbabwe on global map
- Interview: Ngwerume’s artistic exploits put Zimbabwe on global map
- Top Zim triathlete makes history in the US
Keep Reading
We could (and should) add in the Olympic gold medal he won, the 92 ATP Tour singles titles, plus the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award that he received five times and the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year which he won twice.
Throw in the fact that Time magazine named Nadal one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022 and we should be aware that we are talking of someone special.
Let us consider therefore an important point that he is quoted as saying, namely “Glory is not in winning here or winning there.
The glory is enjoying practising, enjoying every day, enjoying working hard, trying to be a better player than before.” He won rather a lot, here and there, (and everywhere it would seem), but he saw the glory being found not in the winning but in the fun and joy and happiness of playing, of practising, of perfecting.
That is the more interesting in that he was coached from a very young age by one of his uncles who according to Nadal himself shouted at him instead of other children, reducing him to tears and fears.
There was little enjoyment in learning to play under such a coach as a child. How many children currently contend with such coaches?
Nadal emphasises that coaches (and parents) will do it right only when they enable children to enjoy practising – yes, even long hours of practice can and must be enjoyed. It must be fun.
We must vary it, make it relevant, make it relaxed – the matches can be enjoyed too (even if they are taken seriously), not being dependent on results.
He added that it must be enjoyed every day, every practise session, not just occasional relaxed sessions. Sport must be enjoyed when working hard at it; he is not saying we clown or mess around for fun but coaches must find ways that the child can still enjoy working hard (that will not be by stating constantly that they will enjoy when they win).
“God save our gracious king; God save our noble King” are the opening lines of the British National Anthem, and we do well to recognise that the words apply to the ‘King of Clay’, Nadal, who showed he is gracious and noble in understanding that the key was being “happy and glorious”, in that order. He served and did “long to reign over” the tennis world (for 24 years, in fact). Tennis was fun, as was the short Bond spoof film ‘Happy and Glorious’. We must do the same for our children. If they are going to play for long, if we are to send them victorious, coaches must ensure that our children enjoy their sport, every part of it, practices and matches. God help us if we do not; the Queen cannot.
