Sports are one of the best things people can do to stay in shape and healthy, foster a sense of community with their peers and practice a solid work ethic. With sports in your life, things tend to get a lot better. But this isn’t the 19th century, where sports generally consisted of stuff you found lying around and a lot of creativity. In this day and age, you need a lot of technology on your side to do anything. Hence, it is even better when you get the right apps.

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You Still Find Things

Technology doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to spend a ton of money on things. No matter how much gym equipment is necessary, you can often get a lot of it for reasonably low prices. In fact, some of the cheapest gym equipment is some of the best. How much does a stopwatch, or a stopwatch app for your smartphone cost? With so many new advances in sports technology out there, the sky is almost the limit—even  if your budget isn’t quite that of a pro ball team.

Know When to Spend

Spending money on sports equipment is great. It is good for the economy and it allows you to have nice things that will beef up your game. Of course, sometimes you will get something great for free for your smartphone, like Yahoo’s Fantasy Football app. According to the Evolution of the Android Market Infographic, free apps are a major part of the Android’s growth.

On the other hand, there are always apps like Golf GPS for Android. While it is not free at all, sometimes you do have to spend for a great experience. This is the nature of having fun, it is okay for it to cost money because you will have so much fun with the app in the long run. Take the Paintball Gun Builder app, which is another enjoyable experience that has very little relationship to real life despite its realistic look.

Of course, not every game is pure fantasy. There’s always Golfplan with Paul Azinger by Shotzoom, which will actually show you ways to improve your game through indoor drills. Speaking of drills, the P90X app will help you get in better shape by logging your workout times, checking out how good your meals are and letting you see how you are progressing.

Being Rich in Spirit

It does not matter if you have a lot of money or not. Ultimately, the only thing you really need to be successful in the world of athletics is perseverance and a solid work ethic. Naturally, having the right app to give you a challenge or tell you how your team is doing does not hurt, either.

 

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Running outside is an exhilarating rush that’s hard to duplicate on the rotating floor of a treadmill. So, don’t be surprised if you find yourself craving the feeling of wind whooshing through your hair as you coast down a hill in the sun. Before you head outside for your next run, don’t forget to be safety conscious.

• Wear bright clothing. It’s a good idea to wear bright colors so that drivers are more likely to see you. If you’re running at dawn, dusk, or night time, wear reflective tape.
• Run Against Traffic. If you run facing the oncoming traffic, you can better monitor the safety of your positions on the road. If a driver doesn’t see you or fails to adjust properly, you can quickly move out of the way.
• Bring a buddy. Having a running partner makes your jaunts more fun. It also makes them safer. If one of you gets hurt, the other person can get help. Running with a friend also reduces the chances that you’ll get seriously lost.
• Take a cell phone. Any extra hassle that’s associated with carrying a cell phone or wearing it in a holder attached to your waistband is outweighed by the added security you’ll have. If you get hurt, tired, or lost, you’ll have an instant connection to family, friends, or in extreme situations, emergency personnel.
• Think about hydration. In extreme heat, consider carrying a small water bottle with you. If the heat is not so bad, make sure you drink plenty of water before and after your run.

By planning ahead, you can have a safe and invigorating outdoor run.

 

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So you think you want to be a runner? Congratulations on making a decision that will have a positive impact on your overall health. (Be sure you’ve consulted with your doctor before starting your training. Otherwise, your running career could be derailed by a health problem.) Here’s some advice for getting started.

Buy the Right Shoes

Find out if you tend to pronate (roll your foot in) or supinate (roll your foot out) with each stride. Select shoes that will help correct your foot movement, making it less likely that you’ll suffer injuries.

Start Slowly

Don’t feel discouraged if your time per mile is not what you want it to be. Running is all about speed and endurance, both of which are developed over time. Start at a comfortable pace and go a comfortable distance. Once your muscles have gotten accustomed to your new activity (a week or so of running every other day), you can begin to push yourself to go a little faster or a little further. If you push yourself too hard too quickly, you’ll loose interest.

Be Consistent

Having a regular running routine is very important, especially in the beginning. Your muscles are being conditioned. You don’t want to develop those muscles and then take an entire week off. While some breaks in training are good, even helpful, lengthy periods of little activity will create setbacks.

On Your Mark

In many cities, there are 5ks almost every weekend. Sign up for a 5k, even if you’ve only been running for a short time. The excitement, camaraderie, and friendly competition will encourage you to keep up the training.

 

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Before you start any new sports or athletic activity, you need to make sure you have the right equipment. Take into consideration clothes, shoes, balls, pads, and any other item that you’ll need.

Running
Having the best shoes for your running style will help you avoid injury and improve your time. Find a retailer in your area who does gait analysis, which involves doing a video recording while you run on a treadmill. This test helps you determine the kind of support you need from your shoe. You can also check out bare feet shoes that have separate compartments for each toe, creating the sensation that you’re running barefoot.

Football
Whether it’s intramural sports or high school football, players need to have the right kind of pads. Investing in quality pads will pay off in fewer injuries. Another important piece of equipment is the helmet. Research the kinds of anti-concussion helmets on the market–it could literally save the season and your life if you take a serious hit.

Tennis
Finding a racquet you like will dramatically improve your game. Racquets come in different weights, which is based on the kind of material that’s used. If you have previous injuries in your ankles or wrists, you might consider wearing an ace bandage to provide extra support and prevent a new injury.

Soccer
Choosing the right ball will come down to a matter of personal preference. There are a variety of brands and colors from which to choose. One thing to have on your shopping list are shin guards. These are a must-have for all soccer players, even those as young as three.

The thought for you child engaging in extreme sports might be the most terrifying thing that you have ever had to face as a parent. However, it is important that if your child is passionate about pursuing their interest in extreme sports that you try to be encourage and find ways to keep them safe.

One of the best things that you can do for your child if they are interested in an extreme sport is to make sure that you get them professional advice. While a child may not want to hear that they have to wear a helmet from you, a couch or professional extreme sport person will be able to tell them that same advice but be better received. Someone in the professional field will also be able to give your child tips and tricks that will make training easier and reduce the amount of falls.

Equipment is another way that you can help to protect your child. If your child is very serious about pursuing an extreme sport then it is important that they are safe as possible. There are thousands of products available for every sport and all of them have the intention to keep players safe. While the good equipment might be more costly, think of it as an investment for your child. They will most likely get a great deal out of the equipment and you will have piece of mind. Purchasing expensive equipment is also a great way for your child to learn responsibility. Have them pay for half and they will be more likely to be careful with it.

Many, many years ago the sports that are common today would have been considered extreme. The idea of going down a hill with two pieces of wood strapped to your feet in the dead of winter probably seemed pretty crazy but today that is simply known as skiing. So as many sports become mainstream what qualifies as an extreme sport as extreme?

To earn the title Extreme Sport a new sport either has to be invented that is dangerous or a traditional sport has to push the bounds of the traditional. Many new sports that are created seem extreme. However, to earn the title the sport has to have an aspect that is considered dangerous. No sport would earn the title if many people were able to perform the same thing. Therefore an extreme sport has to also have a level of expertise to make the sport more difficult. Sports like skateboarding are so difficult because there is a level of danger to performing the stunts as well as a level of professionalism by the people who are performing.

Things like bungee jumping and sky diving would have been unthinkable decades ago, but now thousands of people perform them every year. As more and more people get involved in doing something extreme, the sport must then take on a different and more difficult edge to still be considered extreme. For example, jumping out of a plain is not enough for some people, they have to jump out of a plain with skies on and ski down a hill. Extreme sports much maintain a level of difficult that the vast majority could not do.

Whether you are training for a professional sport or are just looking to get back into shape it is important to find the right trainer for you. If have a membership to a gym then chances are you have seen trainers working with people. Every trainer has a different style of training and a different idea of what training others should be like so make sure that you are choosing the right person to work with you.

If you are training for something special like a marathon or a professional sport then it is impotant to find a trainer who specializes in the field that you are in. If you are training for a marathon it is important that you find a trainer who is involved in running as well. A runner will be able to help you work on your form and give you tips that will help make race day easier. If you are training for a professional sport, try to find someone to train with who used to compete or coach. Not only will they have better understanding of how to help you train but they will understand where you need to be physically to compete.

All trainers have a different style of training and their training may not match your personality. If you are the type of person who is not looking for a friend in a trainer and you are looking for someone to push you really hard then your probably do not want to find someone who is soft spoken and gentle with you.

Extreme sports push the body to its very limits. This type of sporting activity is becoming popular with teens and others who are looking for ways to challenge themselves outside the normal arena of sports. However, before you enroll in these sports, or get started in them, you need to train properly for them. This is the only way to truly protect yourself from the potential risk factors that can affect you on the field.

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Training Tips

When it comes to extreme sports, the risks of injury and loss are higher. It is because of these increased risks that you do need to focus on the options available to you to train properly. Here are some tips to help you with that process.

• Focus on training with a professional in that specific type of extreme sports. You do not want to focus just on someone who knows the sport, but a true professional in it.
• Have the right equipment, designed for the sport you are taking on. Avoid using poor quality equipment that could result in injuries to you.
• Be sure you condition. The best way to remain safe and not injured is to focus on training your body. The key here is to build up to a more extreme level rather than pushing hard right from the start.

Extreme sports are not for everyone. For some people, these types of programs can be very risky. You may want to learn about your skills in that particular area before you actually invest in the process. If you do not have the basic skills of the sport, pushing to the extreme level may not work properly.

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Extreme sports are meant to offer that extra edge of excitement. But even the professional extreme sports athletes take safety very seriously. If you are getting ready to engage in skateboarding, snowboarding, mountain climbing or any extreme activity, then there are certain safety precautions you must take before you get started.

1) Helmet

Whether you are climbing a mountain or jumping out of an airplane, you should always wear a helmet when engaging in extreme sports. Dress up your helmet with sticker or by painting designs on it. But never get involved in extreme sports without having your helmet on.

2) Knee pads

If you watch any professional extreme athlete, you will usually see a pair of knee pads. Not only are knee pads necessary during the times when extreme sports go wrong, but they are also important when things go right. Extreme cyclists will tell you that landing the perfect stunt can be rough on the knees without some good knee pads.

3) Wrist support

When you engage in extreme sports, you use your hand and forearm a great deal for balance and leverage. All of that weight constantly being put on your wrist and forearm can cause damage over time. Give you wrists some help by wearing wrist supports at all times. You can get them from any medical supply store, sports equipment store or you can discuss specially fitted wrist supports with your doctor.

Extreme sports are meant to look dangerous. But they are not designed to get the participants killed or injured. Always protect yourself with the right equipment before going extreme.

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The job of an athletic trainer is very important for any athlete. The trainer’s responsibility is to make sure that athletes are in the best shape possible for their jobs on the field or court. Trainers are in charge of reporting back to the coach if there are any problems from keeping their players to perform at their best, such as strained muscles, torn ligaments or bone fractures.

If there are minor strains that an athlete may experience, a trainer will use massage therapy to work out those injuries. It is not uncommon for a trainer to bandage or tape areas that are or have been damaged to prevent further injuries. Since a pro athlete may need an athletic trainer at any given moment, trainers often travel with teams to be on standby in case of an emergency.

Trainers also talk with athletes about proper ways to care for their bodies and proper nutrition. This is important when an athlete is injured or is having health issues to cause them not to perform at their peak. Most of the time trainers also introduce alternative supplements for more endurance. This can be items ranging from vitamin supplements or protein drinks.

Aside from working in the pros, trainers are certified to work in other areas such as, schools and gyms.  In order to become certified as a trainer you must first get a degree in health science and getting your certification in NATA and CPR. These are important for a long term career in the field. Having passion for helping others is a bonus for caring for those in need.

In playing the game of baseball it is important to keep all you equipment in tack especially the glove that is used. A baseball glove helps in catching and controlling the ball, but if it is not properly taken care of it can ware fast. For professional or amateur players, it is important to keep the baseball glove oiled for protection.

Glove oil can be found at any sporting goods store. Always keep it handy for when the time comes to condition the glove. When you apply the oil, apply it only to the inside surface of the glove lightly. Never apply the oil to the whole glove. This can cause the leather of the glove to be over condition and making the glove to become not as flexible. Once you have oiled the surface, let the glove sit overnight to absorb inside the leather. When you put the glove on, make sure that it is not stiff or dry. If so, apply more oil and leave it for a few hours. The glove should not bend out at any time when wearing it. If this happens you may have to adjust the strings to help with its shape. A nice alternative to keep your glove condition, if you don’t have glove oil, is petroleum jelly or mink oil. This keeps the glove lubricated and condition.

With any leather product it all about making it last for as long as you can. Without proper care, your glove can crack, peel and dry out from use. Be good to your baseball glove and it will return the favor.

Ever heard of an NFL Practice Squad? If you are a sports nut, you might have.

For those who in the dark about it, a practice squad are made up of about eight players on an NFL team that did not make the finale cut as a starter player. They are what you would call the rookies of the league. During the season they are the ones responsible for assisting to prep the starter plays by playing against them in a practice game for drills and plays that are to be executed on the field during a real game. However, according to NFL guidelines, rookies are not allowed to serve on the practice squad for more than three year.  Rookies are on standby for each game in case a starter player is hurt.

We know that starter player receive a nice salary for being in the professional league, the practice square receive wages as well! The average pay is $5000 per week. This is given in a 17 week increment which can total up to approximately $88,000 for the season. If they are kept past the 17 week period for the off season, then the salary will vary, which could result to a small increase. During the season if the NFL doesn’t have a salary cap in a particular year, the practice squad and earn up to an additional $500.

Again, these numbers are nowhere near what the pros make, but it’s a start. Depending on the team that they play for, the salary numbers can also vary according to guidelines.

Growing up in a state that doesn’t have a professional sports team raises a question: Who do you root for?

Easy for people who move to the state, they just bring their loyalties with them. For those born and raised there, they could choose any team in the country, but it’ll likely tick off someone else, probably someone in the family.

Take New Mexico, for example. Every state that touches its borders has at least one professional team: hockey, baseball, football and basketball. (Mexico has soccer, but we’re talking about big U.S. sports here.) The best New Mexico can do is a farm team for baseball.

Residents could turn to college sports, but, well, let’s just say they do try hard. An occasional second-tier bowl game or first-round play at the NCAA basketball championships are the best that can be hoped for.

One way to choose a team to follow is to throw darts at a map. Another is to decide which is the easier road trip, north or west. OK, east, but New Mexicans tend to have a prickly relationship with Texas.

Perhaps the best way is to pick the players and follow them. This might be better than picking a team because some players show less loyalty to a state or city and more to opportunity.

And exposure, which explain New Mexico’s spot. In land area, New Mexico is the country’s fourth largest, but it’s also the sixth least-populated state, so there’s not much to work with for a fan base. The largest TV audience is the Albuquerque-Santa Fe corridor. Albuquerque is the home of that farm team, the Isotopes. They have a good following, but they’d never fill Dodger Stadium.

Or, one could always pack up and move to South Dakota. Oh, wait, they don’t have a professional team, either.

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A good still photograph captures that one instant when motion and effort go beyond the sport itself.

Sports photographers are in a race against time. Life flashes by fast enough, but when the subject is running, leaping, diving, sliding, falling, rolling or flying, that perfect moment is gone in an instant.

Advances in photo technology have helped, certainly. In the late 19th century when photography was in its infancy, even taking a portrait of a person sitting down required such long exposures that the sitter’s head had to be braced. Soon, though, film, lenses and camera shutters got up to speed.

Today, film is generally out of the picture, but technology isn’t the essential component of sports photography anyway. The important factor is the photographer. The eye that sees the moment coming, the mind that anticipates the peak instant, the finger that trips the shutter at just the right moment are products of long practice and concentration. Especially if the photographer gets just one shot. (The fairness of using motor drives will not be debated here.)

The still photo freezes the best moments for the rest of us to marvel at. The swimmer slicing into the water, seen half above and half below the surface. The impossible pass completion despite the defender’s arm. The batter sliding into home, the ball inches away from the catcher’s mitt. The pole vaulter barely clearing the cross-bar. The look of utter concentration on a face in middle of supreme effort whatever the outcome.

Yes, video shows us the game in motion, the gymnast’s entire routine, the collision at home plate, and, yes we can slow it all down to see each second of action. Video has it merits, but that exquisite moment captured in the still image is where art and sports truly meet.

Common sense tells us watching a game should be better at the stadium instead of on television. The roar of the crowd, the smell of the roasted peanuts, the view of the entire field – much more real than sitting at home.

Maybe not. Technology is bringing a better picture into the living room, and there are no traffic jams, fees beyond the tickets and bad weather to contend with. It all depends of what the fans think is the better experience.

Stadiums (technically, stadia, plural, but we’re not talking Latin here) themselves have been evolving. The old open-air baseball park was replaced by multi-tiered fields with giant scoreboards. In football, enclosed stadiums rose to exclude the nasty winter weather. Some stadiums even combined the two sports, but sometimes grafting different things together just doesn’t work.

Baseball’s new stadiums are designed to evoke memories of past afternoons spent watching the favorite team. Football’s move to a sheltered game has its drawbacks, as seen when the Metrodome roof collapsed in 2010.

For the fan, attending the game live used to be part of the experience. New stadiums cost a lot of money, though, which is often reflected in ticket prices. Team owners also try to raise revenue by offering premium seats, boxes and suites, but prices are often out of reach for the average worker.

High-definition television and surround sound audio systems have brought the game practically into the living room. Because of close-up shots and instant replays, the fans can get a much better seat than they’ll ever get in the stadium. And with new consumer electronics, they can see the game anywhere they want.

In the future, fans might watch from elsewhere while the game is played in a silent stadium.

What do football, soccer, car racing, and the Olympic Games all have in common? These are all sports that you can bet on using an online sportsbook. A sportsbook is a website or business where people can place bets on the sport of their choice. A bet is also known as a book and the person with whom you place the book is known as a bookie.

If the team that you bet on wins, the business or sportsbook will take a vig. Vig is short for vigorish and is also known as juice. A vig is just a percentage of the bets placed. This is how the sportsbook makes money. Whether you are betting on the Super Bowl or a game of darts, it is important to place your bets with a reputable bookie or sportsbook.

How do you find that reputable sportsbook? The following considerations will help you narrow your search and find a sportsbook that will help you maximize your betting potential.

One of the most important ways is to spend time online reading sportsbook reviews. People will share their experiences that they have had with different places. When you read the reviews, you will learn a lot about the different sites. If there are a lot of bad reviews about a certain sportsbook, steer clear of it and do not place a bet with them. The sites that are paid to review a sportsbook will of course give a glowing review. If you stumble across a paid review, do not pay any attention to it.

In addition to reading sportsbook reviews, check out the financial stability of the sportsbook. See what its betting options are. How do they handle their financial transactions? Do they offer bonuses? (If the bonuses are outlandishly extravagant, avoid these sportsbooks. Huge bonuses are generally a sign that a sportsbook is desperate for business.)

Baseball is an odd game. You just stand there and wait for someone to throw a ball at you.

Yes, you have a bat to ward it off, but bats are slim the ball ain’t all that big itself. And you only think the pitcher isn’t aiming for your head …

Many of us get our first taste of this in Little League, or perhaps on a school team. We’re taught the fundamentals – catching, throwing, running, sliding, the proper chatter – but hitting is the end-all in this game. So we stand at the plate and wait. And that pitcher just might be the bully from two streets over …

“Keep your eye on the ball,” the coach tells us. It’s good advice because then you can tell exactly when to toss the bat and hug the ground.

Eventually, though, the coach manages to convince us that the pitcher isn’t really aiming for us. Emboldened, we take our place in the batter’s box with the proper hold on the bat, correct stance and our eyes glued onto that ol’ ball – even before the pitcher begins the windup. Here it comes and anything can happen – the ball might go over our (and the catcher’s and the umpire’s) head, it might bounce on the ground, it might head for the dugout, it might hit you. Or it might travel that perfect arc and meet your bat at the perfect moment during your mighty swing. An experience of a lifetime.

After that, our admiration can only grow for the pro who faces 80, 90-plus mph balls. How calmly he bends backward when it’s a bit high and inside. And how glorious the sound of bat on ball when that mighty swing sends it out of the park.

Talk about lifetime experiences.

It was only a matter of time before it happened. Thanks to the Internet, gambling has gone global on a cyberspace front unlike anything ever seen. The age range has increased; you no longer see the older gentlemen or even the avid slot-playing senior citizen monopolizing the gambling scene. Teenagers and young adults are now the norm. Amazingly, the Internet hasn’t stopped there: online gambling has acquired a new neighbor, and that is sports betting!

It’s no surprise that online casino games have brought sports betting onto the scene. The Internet brings convenience, ease of use, and a general comfort in your own home. For the widely banned activity of sports betting, the Internet has become the best medium. From the high school level to the Super Bowl, from sweet little leagues to the world series, sports betting is just about everywhere. Don’t be surprised if it increases even more thanks to the World Wide Web.

This is how sports betting works: you have an ‘oddsmaker,’ who actually draws the ‘line’ between two teams, and sets the odds and handicaps to make the betting more competitive. You also have the ‘bookie,’ who takes the bets and then makes a profit percentage–also known as the “juice”–off of the whole ‘handle’ (the total amount of wagers for any given game). And then there’s you, the bettor. Sound confusing? It generally is.

Don’t be afraid, though. Sports betting, while mostly illegal in the United States, has a system that’s worth understanding and learning. Typically, it’s a lot of fun placing bets on certain games. And thanks to the Internet, you can “bet” on the activity of sports betting increasing all over. The arena of sports betting will get more popular; and if you’re skilled enough, you can make a lot of money!

The bane of every kid who played Little League is the outfield. Or, as it sounded to his ears when spoken by the coach, “outcast.”

Way out where the weeds grew, where the snakes slithered through the tall stalks, where one year a left fielder for the Sharks disappeared and was never seen again. And binoculars were needed to see home plate.

Time has hazed this memory of course; Little League fields today are mini versions of professional parks where grass grows all the way to the fence. In a not-so-distance past, a Little League field could be an open lot where an occasional rock served as a base. (Something to keep that in mind when sliding.)

The good players, of course,would be playing the bases or shortstop, the ones who could be depended on usually to catch a ball, then throw it with enough power to reach its intended target. Show-offs, in other words.

Still, it took some strength of character to stand out in a field where the sun beat down on you and when the rain started, you’d be soaked long before you got to shelter. You could commune with nature, although that usually meant shaking ants off crawling up your leg. You also could contemplate the faults of your fellow outfielders and privately sneer at them.

And then, patience rewarded, a fly ball headed in your direction. Panic strikes, you’ve got to catch this ball otherwise outfield exile will be justified. Success had its rewards, like an extra scoop of ice cream at Swenson’s.

And even way out here, sometimes a once-in-a-lifetime event: A ball hit just so, an absolute perfect arc. You don’t even have to take a step, not one. Just raise your glove and … whack!

Life doesn’t get any better than that.

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Running barefoot through the grass can spark childhood memories or just be something pleasant to do. Surprising how sensual our feet can be.

Running without shoes is bit more complicated when running marathons. The surfaces your bare tootsies are meeting aren’t exactly foot-friendly, not to mention the occasional shards of glass, pebbles, spilled soda and more unseemly deposits.

Still, operators of the New York Marathon say more runners are showing up sans footwear. Running barefoot has been in the news lately, but it’s not all that new. Before shoes, it was the only way to go. And in modern times, barefoot runners have made giant strides.

Zola Budd trained barefoot and won the IAAF European Games Cross-Country Championships in 1985. Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia won the marathon in the 1960 Rome Olympics. (Four years later, though, he set a new record at the Tokyo Olympic wearing shoes. Go figure.) Bruce Tolloh won gold in the 5,000 meters in the 1962 European Games.

So it is possible to run fast and far in your bare feet. But is it safe? The dynamics are not the same: Barefoot runners bring the front of the foot down first, as opposed to heel-first with shoes. Because of that, the stresses on the arch are different. With shoes, the biggest stress is on the knees.

Does this mean more or less injuries than running with shoes? The American Podiatric Medical Association says not enough research has been done to make a definitive decision. With the increasing popularity, though – the Barefoot Runners Society reports membership increased from 600 members in 2009 to 1,345 as of November, 2010 – such research is urgent.

So if a you to want to hit the pavement without your shoes, take it easy and keep an eye on the medical reports.

The Superbowl is being called by some the most popular event in America. Maybe that’s a function of rampant marketing, but it does show where the athlete stands in America today.

Making lots of money, for one thing. And they can make more with endorsements because corporations believe attaching themselves to popular athletes helps sell their products.

The United States isn’t alone in holding up its hero-athletes. Ancient Greece started the Olympics as a way to bring the best of the best together from the various city-states. Wars between those governments halted every four years while the games were played and the victors were accorded special recognition and awards. Rome had its gladiators, who lived high and hard. For them, of course, the stakes were much higher: defeat usually meant death.

The stakes in modern Olympics aren’t that harsh, but for the victorious the rewards are still sweet. In the modern games, politics and nationalism manage to push their way in. Victorious athletes take a winning lap waving their country’s flag because the citizens of that country glory in the victory as much as as the individual.

A city’s and nation’s prestige are on the line, too. South Korea experienced a national uplift after the 1988 Olympics; Athens, Greece was up against the wall to be ready for 2004; and Beijing, China, was hard-pressed to clear its skies and get itself all scrubbed up for 2008. Rio de Janeiro is now under the gun for 2016, the first time the games will be held in South America.

And all for what? For a chance to host a bunch of people to play games, to run around tracks, to perform on the parallel bars, to sail a course, to swim a few laps. It’s a mark of how much importance humans put on athleticism, the grace and beauty of a well-trained, well-disciplined body in motion.