IS PROFESSIONAL SPORT OVERRATED?
Sports exist as long as people do. Through all the human history, sports have had an important role. In Ancient Greece the war stopped when there were Olympic games. Back then the winner was gifted with laurel wreath. He and the other athletes enjoyed fame, glory and were admired. Nowadays the only important thing is to be a professional athlete. I do not think any winner would be satisfied with only laurel wreath, it is all about the money which is not guaranteed. So yes in my opinion professional sport is overrated.
Firstly, even though sports should be focused on only athletic abilities, studies have shown that money, high-income families and other privileges mean more than your athletic ability. That is wrong for so many reasons, as sport should be all about talent and your abilities, it is extremely unfair that the sport world is so corrupted.
Secondly, so many athletes engage in unhealthy extremes to become more successful. Many complications come from the fact that a career in sport is a short term job and it can end from an injury or simply from ageing, as sports require your body to be young and in the best shape.
Many of athletes also do not finish school or do not do well in school because they have to put all their energy and time in their training. So if their career ends, due to an injury, there life is crushed because they have no back up and education to employ in some other area.
The sport industry should make sports accessible to non-wealthy people. Moreover, a certain level of education should be required so athletes who do not succeed have a secure future.