Beyond Athleticism and Elitism: Why Sport Is More Than Just Entertainment
What is sport actually for? We celebrate champions, cheer for medalists, celebrate national records, and advocate for greater investment in athletes. These things matter. Excellence matters. Representation matters. National pride matters. Yet I have increasingly found myself asking a different question: What happens after the medal? A gold medal does not prescribe medicine. It does not build a hospital, fund a public-health programme, or cure a disease. Or does sport contribute to those things in a way that we have been overlooking? Perhaps the answer begins by distinguishing sport from physical activity . Sport Is One Door Into Movement The World Health Organization defines physical activity as any bodily movement that requires energy expenditure. Sport is one form of physical activity, alongside exercise, walking, cycling, wheeling, dancing, play, household activities, active transportation, and physical activity at work. That distinction matters. Because when we equate physical acti...