When Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout, the living room filled with my friends’ screams. I, who was dozing off on the couch, woke up suddenly. On March 21, WBC (World Baseball Classic) ended as Japan clinched victory over the U.S. Japan earned its third title in the WBC in 14 years.

In February, the Super Bowl was one of the biggest events. I remember that all the restaurants and bars along the street were full of people. Sports is one of the things that I started to pay attention to after I came to the U.S.

In Korea, the 1988 Olympics and 2002 World Cup created a social atmosphere of interest in sports. Before this period, sports were not a prime issue for Koreans. Thus, the lack of foundation for sports was also the main reason that people couldn’t enjoy sports.

According to the article of The DONG-A ILBO, “The number of public sports facilities in Korea has more than tripled from 5,371 in 2000 to 26,927 in 2017, but it is still insufficient compared to advanced sports countries. Norway has one gym per 1,700 people, Japan has one gym per 15,000 people, and Korea has one gym per 53,000. Critics point out that sports facilities were concentrated in large cities due to severe regional imbalances, while rural areas were relatively alienated.¹”

However, sports are dominant in modern society now. The first reason is that the sports industry has been expanded. Sports are not only offering pleasure but also making reasonable systems through sports teams and audiences.

Secondly, sports players are “heroes” to people. They are socially and culturally important role models for people.

Lastly, the most powerful effect that sports can bring is community solidarity. People can be united or resolve conflicts through sports games.

The U.S. sports industry is constantly gaining size. According to Statista, total revenue in the sports segment is projected to reach U.S. $1.33 billion in 2022. Total revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (2022-2027) of 5.69%, resulting in a projected market volume of U.S. $1.82 billion by 2027.²

Moreover, general sports institutions located in various states in the U.S. are also striving for sports and leisure activities for persons with disabilities. This is based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires people with disabilities to have the same access to all programs, services, and activities as the public. Whether playing games or just observing games, it is easy for anybody to enjoy sports.

I didn’t know the charm of sports previously, but these days I think it is attractive because we can’t predict the future. Players create different stories per game, and audiences are together with it. Even though my knowledge of sports is not great, I can just enjoy the moments with the people with who I am watching the game. Sharing snacks, clinking glasses, and following people when they yell. The time we spend simultaneously makes us delightful. Cheers!

Juri Kim is an international intern from Korea.