The Tour de France dominated the news over the last couple of days, as sports enthusiasts followed to see who would win this year’s competition. The event saw around 200 cyclists participating and attracted almost 5.7 million people viewing Sunday night’s conclusion of the Tour de France. Despite seeming that they from two different spectrums, it is interesting to highlight the relationship between sports and the economy. 

The most obvious reason for why sports benefits us is that it keeps us in shape, healthy and helps us destress. An active lifestyle will result in a healthier and stronger body, and research has shown that sport activities lead to having better sleep and improves your heart’s performance. Moreover, having sports as one of your regular daily activities would also help maintain healthy lungs. Additionally, a Public Health Agency illustrated how sports helps our mental health; puts us in a better mood, lowers anxiety levels and keeps us away from feeling depressed feelings.  

Sports also helps benefit the economy in various ways such as improving the economic growth, creating more job opportunities and pushes people to learn new skills. When investing in sports, people are learning more skills and knowledge that will later be applied in communities and cities in which people live in, work and invest. Sporting events, such as the Tour de France, attracts tourists and sport lovers to travel to the hosting country and witness the event in person – thus boosts the country’s tourism industry. Sports is also a kind of education and will therefore instil values in individuals that will lead tomorrow’s society.