How to Truly Appreciate a Sport

The thrill of being up close and personal when watching your favourite sport means you can experience the skill, commitment and spirit first-hand, whether that be of the players, riders or of a whole team. 

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At the football ground, basketball court, trackside or in the stands cheering on your horse racing favourite, being a spectator can also put you right at the heart of all the action.  We take a look at exactly why spectating is the only way to truly appreciate a sport. 

The best spectator sports

Despite the rise in virtual access to sporting events via TV and the Internet meaning you can watch your favourite sport from the comfort of your own home, there’s nothing like watching the action live while waiting in anticipation for your wager at Betfair to come in. The most popular sport for spectator numbers is currently football, with basketball, cricket, horse racing, golf, rugby and tennis not far behind. Attendance figures for these sports boosting the total sporting income and if interested in rugby, you can shop for rugby shirts here.  However, healthy spectator numbers are much more than ticket sales, and they add real value to the experience for both the players and the sport’s fans: 

• Creates a sense of community – spectator sports often have their own traditions and culture that creates a sense of familiarity amongst the crowds. This sense of belonging enhances loyalty with your chosen side, player or sport, making you feel part of the 'team’. Wearing team colours and participating in the ‘off-pitch’ action such as half-time entertainment and chanting, further bonds this community experience. 

• Puts you at the heart of the action – while you may not actually be lining up to take that penalty or galloping the racehorse down the straight, passive participation as a spectator gives you the thrill and adrenaline rush of being so close to the action. This vicarious sense of achievement when your team or horse wins – as well as the collective disappointment if they don’t fare so well – makes spectating a truly exhilarating experience. 

• Boosts your cognitive appreciation – you may be on the side-lines of the actual live sporting action, but you are by no means passive as spectating a sport is a great workout for your brain. Sight, touch, sounds….your senses are heightened and tested during a live sporting event, as your brain computes the fast-paced action it is witnessing. Scores, odds, official decisions, team tactics, the referee’s whistle – they are all laid out directly in front of you and as you get invested in the live-action, you are planning and mentally performing alongside your team. 

• Inspires you to be active – watching live sport, especially when the players or riders are at the top of their game can be really motivational and can boost your own health and wellbeing. Being a regular sport spectator is not only good for your physical health as it inspires you to be more active in your own life, it is also good for your mental health as you build social connections and a sense of community by sharing your love of sports with others. And that is one of the best ways to truly appreciate any sport. 

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