Opinion essay

Arguments against Professional/competitive sport
Sport has become a business
Professional sport encourages people to compete for money Many sports stars are only concerned about money and fame Some athletes take drugs in order to win at any cost
Competitors are often selfish and rude
They are not good role models for children All sports should be amateur
Sports should be leisure activities rather than jobs
People should do sporting activities for enjoyment and health reasons Taking part is more important than winning


Arguments for Professional sport
Professional sports are the same as any other business Many people are employed in the sports industry
People should be able to use their talents to earn a salary Sports stars entertain millions of people
Money is necessary to improve facilities and train athletes
The level of professional sport is much higher than that of amateur sport


Arguments for Competitive sport
Competition is a natural instinct in humans
In daily life we compete to get jobs or the highest grades Sports are a safe form of competition
Competition is healthy because it pushes us to give our best Competitors and fans can release energy and aggression
Supporters of teams feel a sense of belonging to a community


Opinion: professional sport salaries are too high
Sports professionals earn too much money They do not provide a vital service
Football players, for example, earn enormous salaries by simply kicking a ball We could all live happily without professional football
Life would be difficult without doctors, engineers and other vital professionals. Society does not seem to value these professions as highly as professional sport Sports salaries should be compatible with the wages most people earn