Why We Believe in Sport

Those who contribute to this column are huge believers in the wonderfulness of sport – as you might expect. But why we watch sport is not so easy for everyone to understand, and there are many theories.

The ESPN Sports Centre illustration is a handy explanation for many: it’s a means of us transcending our current existence and living, for a moment at least, on a higher plane.

Although this article is not strictly about the commercial VIP hospitality business [Eva Szekely’s Olympic gold medal was won in the 1952 Olympics], her story is uniquely powerful. As the obituary for the 92-year-old published by the Guardian makes clear: the fascist company commander with ‘one grey eye and one brown eye’ had the power to end Eva’s life at 17. But sport, swimming in particular, gave Eva her life back literally.

Please make sure you read through to the end.

That’s why all of us believe in the power of sport.