What makes sports so loved worldwide? Is it the countless fans packed in stadiums and arenas watching their favorite teams compete? Is it the generations of youth working tirelessly for their dreams to be the best? Or, is it a way for people to express who they are while doing something that they love? It’s actually all of these things. Sports bring purpose and meaning to people’s lives. For some, it’s a way to escape the dire conditions that they were raised in and make a living for themselves. For others, it’s a good pastime and a way to exercise or increase their overall activity. But for all, it is something to be passionate about.
Sports worldwide are some of the most popular pastimes in the world. Billions of people play sports and train every day. According to PlayToday.co, An estimated 68% of the world watches sports on TV or online streaming platforms. TV broadcasting contracts alone generated $50 billion worldwide in sports media rights in 2019. Sports generate so much revenue because people are so passionate about what they are cheering for and watching. It provides entertainment and competition like a theater or a movie. People are so passionate about what they love that they spend millions of dollars on team memorabilia and tickets to see events. The sports merchandising sales in the U.S. were $15.26 billion in 2022. According to Fox Business, just one ticket to see the Super Bowl in 2022 was $5,823 and one ticket to see a World Cup game in 2022 was $175-$750 per ticket. Sports revenue has only been increasing over the past couple of years. From 2022 to 2023 the global sports market grew at a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% going from $486.61 billion last year to $512.14 billion this year.
Sports are also a way to escape the difficulties of life and live in the moment. Others, however, use sports as a gateway to a better life. Kevin Durant is a two time NBA champion, 2014 NBA MVP, and is considered one of the best players in NBA history. Last year, he signed a four year, $194.2M contract with the Phoenix Suns. However, he was not born into wealth. Durant grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, on the eastern outskirts of Washington, D.C. He grew up in poverty living in a 95% black neighborhood with 80% of residents living in poverty. Additionally, Durant states that basketball was the only way to escape his difficult background. He used basketball as a way to make a better life for himself and escape from poverty to become one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
Sports also provide entertainment and competition into people’s lives. Think of sports similar to a movie. The better movie franchises or actors are likely to receive higher grossing movies and higher box office scores. It’s the same with sports. Skilled athletes, prestige coaches/organizations, and rivalries all play a role in how many people watch or go to sporting events. The Michigan v. Michigan State game last year had around 9.29 million viewers despite the fact that Michigan State was unranked. People still wanted to see the game to support their side of the famed rivalry.
Sports have even brought communities together here at Rochester High. New clubs and teams surrounding less popular sports are emerging as extracurriculars at Rochester. Senior Zayn Baig says, “My favorite sport is Ping-Pong because I love playing with my friends and we’ve actually grown a community here at school.” Sports are also ways that groups of friends can support each other. Junior Zaid Siddiqui says, “Tennis, my favorite player is Junior Arya Rukadiker because he’s so inspiring.”
Sports are one of the most important and popular pastimes in the world. Sports bring people together, build communities, give people opportunities, and provide entertainment across the world.
