Italian version

The verb compete originates from the Latin cum petere:

• cum means with, together
• petere (with the accent on the first e) means to go toward, to direct.

Thus the etymology of the verb compete, which we also find in Italian competere and French competitionner, conveys to us an idea of cooperation, joint effort to achieve a goal together. Although it is not explicitly present, there is a sense that competition is a collaboration aimed at the creation of value (in this regard, I encourage reading the article The definition of value).
Competition is an integral part of our personal and social lives. We talk about competition between companies in business, just as competing is a verb that is part of professional and sports life.
I believe that the concept of competition in these fields has strayed far from what the etymology represents. Almost always the actors in competition perceive each other as adversaries, each seeking his own advantage at the expense of the others, and competition often turns into conflict. Increasingly, the word competition has its roots in the famous Latin saying Mors tua, vita mea.

Today I am happy to share an experience of healthy sports competition. Last night I went to Piacenza to watch the semifinal of the Italian volleyball championship, between the teams of Piacenza and Trento. It was a very heartfelt match, with two teams full of Olympic, world and European champions and talented youngsters.
I sensed the healthy competitive atmosphere as soon as I arrived at the sports hall. I did not see law enforcement manning the road, all spectators entered peacefully from a single entrance, there was no frisking. Everyone took their numbered seats (I was ten feet from the playing field), with no barriers or security personnel.
The game was beautiful and exciting, full of high-level technical gestures, competitive play, respect and politeness. Everyone cheered on their team, without booing or insults against opponents.
It was a very agonistically intense match, ending 3-2 for Trento after about 2 1/2 hours. At the beginning of the fifth set there were a couple of disputed decisions of the referee, with a couple of over-the-top protests punished with yellow and red cards respectively (in this case it was an intemperance of an executive on the bench who, as soon as he received the card, walked off the court without protesting). Even these more tense moments were experienced with poise by both the players on the field and the audience, they left no aftermath of nervousness, and the game resumed as if nothing had happened.

Here is the value of healthy sports competition. To confront each other bitterly giving the best of oneself, and to offer the audience not only sporting beauty, emotions, but also an example of respect for the opponents and the referee. And in the end, everyone went home with the feeling that they had participated in and contributed to a valuable event.