This has been a tough year to be a sports fan. From all-out shutdowns to playing in bubbles, to partial seasons and everything in between, sports fans have seen it all this year. While high-definition television has brought the action as close to home as possible, nothing can replace the roar of a home-court advantage. Luckily for sports fans around the world, live sporting events are back.
After a hard year and a half, people need things to look forward to, get excited for and cheer their hearts out for. For most, sports are an outlet to do this. While it was fun to watch at home in pyjamas while eating takeout, nothing compares to putting on your favourite jersey, walking into a packed stadium and cheering on your team with thousands of other fans.
While it may not seem all that important in the grand scheme of things, having live sports back in action is going to make a huge change in many lives. This past summer we saw the 2020 Olympics finally happen, a year after they were set to begin. Whether you agree with the IOC’s decision to move forward with the summer games or not, you can’t deny that they brought an uplifting energy to the world. Countries banded together in a time of hardship and loss to celebrate sport and the incredible stories that come with it. We saw the Jamaican sprinters sweep the podium, two high jumpers share a gold medal and the first-ever skateboarding champion was crowned. We also can’t forget about the cardboard beds and Tom Daley knitting in the stands. It’s moments like these that can’t help but bring a smile to your face, regardless of the state of our world.
Along with the Olympics, this year has brought the return of leagues like the NBA, NFL and NHL. These leagues bring rivalries, buzzer-beater wins and underdog stories. There is nothing like the feeling of your heart beating out of your chest in the last two minutes of a playoff basketball game, wondering if your team will be eliminated or make it through to the next round. In a year where we have been told to fear strangers and stay away from those outside our bubble, there is nothing like the feeling of turning to the stranger in the seat next to you and starting a conversation about this year’s starting five.
The sense of community that sports bring is something that we all could use a little bit of right now. Whether you watch from home or the stadium, there is nothing like knowing that for a few hours every night, the sports community stops what they are doing, leaves their stresses at the door and comes together to enjoy the game.