What value (if any) does sport bring to society?

To be honest, the big deal made over sports and athletes used to really annoy me.

I used to think to myself things like, 'why do people look up to athletes so much and feel so inspired by them? What do they really do or achieve? They don't feed the hungry or solve global issues, they just exercise a lot and do something like kick a ball around for a job. How lame! Honestly, why do people get so excited about sports?'

However, my attitude towards sports changed when I had an epiphany and realized that sports are a form of entertainment and athletes are entertainers. I personally really value entertainment. I love movies and TV shows and I think that entertainment is a very important part of life. I don't mean this in a superficial way and of course too much of a good thing isn't good, but I do think entertainment can mean a lot to people and maybe even save lives. Snuggling up with my favorite show has helped me through plenty of hard and lonely times, especially as an expat living abroad away from my family. Movies and shows have been a great distraction at times when I have needed a break from worrying about something. The value of entertainment can be found in the way it can help people relax, how it can provide common interests and topics to talk about that can strengthen relationships, and how enjoying something together can be a bonding experience. It can make time alone less lonely, it is a great way to make happy memories with others, and it provides an easy way to be with others, even at times when you are tired or feeling weak and vulnerable. It provides so many opportunities for laughter, for empathy, for reflection, and even for growth. It can inspire us, challenge us, and make us feel really good, even when life is tough.

When I realized that sports can have the same positive impact that other forms of entertainment like movies can have, I started to appreciate the value. I started to see that athletes are actually contributing to society and individual lives in a significant way. Also, even more so than actors, athletes often have tales of overcoming hard times and injuries that can inspire people to persevere and not give up. Actors can feel a bit more removed from the everyday-life experience, but athletes are often easier to relate with and their life stories and hardships may resound more with the average person. Supporting a particular athlete or team can create opportunities to bond with others, make new friends, and enjoy time together. On top of that, seeing an athlete beat the odds and do something amazing can make our own struggles not seem so insurmountable after all. Therefore, while you may never see me screaming at the top of my lungs at a baseball game, I have come to have a new appreciation of the value of sports.

Belinda

Vocabulary

epiphany (noun) – moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way
bonding experience (noun) – an activity that helps you feel closer to someone and build a stronger relationship with them
persevere (verb) – to try to do or continue doing something in a determined way, despite difficulties
beat the odds (idiom) – to succeed despite being unlikely to do so
insurmountable (adjective) – too great to be overcome