I often hear people saying that sports don’t matter. They call it a ridiculous, barbaric game that has no point. They call it a waste of time and even go as far to insult the players, coaches, and those who choose to invest in sports. I can’t help but be a little off-put by this, because sports aren’t just the games we see on television or the millionaire athletes. For many, they are a means for unification and connection.

The first time I cheered, I noticed it. I realized that if it hadn’t been for cheering, I never would have talked to the girls I was cheering with. It wasn’t necessarily because I wouldn’t have wanted to, but I honestly wouldn’t have had the chance.

This idea only escalated when I started playing soccer. The summer team was filled with girls who came from different parts of the state just to go to a camp to play. That was a tighter-knit team and we got to know each other even better. Through that one summer, I learned more about different cultures and identities than I’m sure many other kids my age did. I didn’t know it at the time, but that would really help me as I grew up to be able to identify with others and overall be a more empathetic person.

I’m not saying that it isn’t possible to be exposed to these different kinds of people outside of athletics, but there’s something special about being able to bond through sport. Because sports are one of the few things in the world where talent and hard work shine more than our physical attributes or characteristics.

You don’t have to be the prettiest or most outgoing or richest person to play. You can play in a gym or in an alley or at a recreation center. You just have to have that desire to play. And the competitive nature that comes along with sports can be a healthy aid in building relationships. Yes, some people are way too competitive, but for the most part, it’s the love of competition that promotes the “being your best self” vibe in athletics. You learn to push and be pushed by your teammates and opponents to be better and persevere. In today’s world, to put it simply, we need that a lot.

There are few things that can bring people of different races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientation, social class, etc. together the way sports can. I mean, there’s only one event in the world that brings most of the countries in the world together and that’s the Olympics. If sports are just “a game,” then it will be that game that continues to bring the world together when we desperately need it.