People around the world participate in a wide variety of sporting activities, from
traditional ones like cricket and tennis to more modern and extreme activities such
as snowboarding and mixed martial arts. While all sports carry some risk of injury,
these extreme sports can have serious, even fatal, consequences when things go
wrong. Nevertheless, they are growing in popularity for several reasons and,
thankfully, there are measures that can be taken to mitigate the risks.
The main reason why people enjoy taking part in dangerous sports is the emotional
high they can bring about. When a person flies through the air on their skis or
summits a mountain without ropes, they experience a surge of dopamine, the feelgood chemical which, in many cases, can become addictive. For some extreme
sports enthusiasts, their appetite for this feeling increases over time as they
conquer more and more goals. In other words, they are motivated to keep climbing,
boxing or rafting in order to chase the high.
Another motivating factor for some is the sense of accomplishment they feel. This
sensation is common to all sports but is heightened when the sport itself is highrisk. Surfers, for instance, may dream of riding a huge pipeline, and when they do it,
it means they have not just survived an extremely dangerous situation but also that
they have attained a level of skill that few other people in the world have.
It is important, however, that steps are taken to minimise the risks involved in these
sport. First and foremost, participants need to educate themselves, be it on how to
monitor waves and wind for surfers, or how to fall from a horse in the most careful
way. In some cases, this extends to using suitable equipment and safety gear. In
addition to the individual’s responsibility, there are also guidelines that should be put
in place by authorities. When it comes to Olympic sports, for example, there are
strict rules in sports like wrestling and boxing that reduce the risk of head and spinal
injuries.
In conclusion, driven by dopamine and the idea of success, people will always
pursue extreme sports. If complying with regulations and acting responsibly,
participants should be able to enjoy these activities without putting themselves in
grave danger.
People
around the world participate in a wide variety of sporting activities, from
traditional ones like cricket and tennis to more modern and extreme activities such
as snowboarding and mixed martial arts. While all
sports
carry
some
risk
of injury,
these extreme
sports
can have serious, even fatal, consequences when things go
wrong
.
Nevertheless
, they are growing in popularity for several reasons and,
thankfully
, there are measures that can
be taken
to mitigate the
risks
.
The main reason why
people
enjoy taking part in
dangerous
sports
is the emotional
high they can bring about. When a person flies through the air on their skis or
summits a mountain without ropes, they experience a surge of dopamine, the feelgood chemical which, in
many
cases, can become addictive. For
some
extreme
sports enthusiasts, their appetite for this feeling increases over time as they
conquer more and more goals.
In other words
, they
are motivated
to
keep
climbing,
boxing or rafting in order to chase the high.
Another motivating factor for
some
is the sense of accomplishment they feel. This
sensation is common to all
sports
but
is heightened
when the
sport
itself is
highrisk
. Surfers,
for instance
, may dream of riding a huge pipeline, and when they do it,
it means they have not
just
survived an
extremely
dangerous
situation
but
also
that
they have attained a level of
skill
that few other
people
in the world have.
It is
important
,
however
, that steps
are taken
to
minimise
the
risks
involved in these
sport.
First
and foremost, participants need to educate themselves, be it on how to
monitor waves and wind for surfers, or how to fall from a horse in the most careful
way. In
some
cases, this extends to using suitable equipment and safety gear. In
addition to the individual’s responsibility, there are
also
guidelines that should
be put
in place by authorities. When it
comes
to Olympic
sports
,
for example
, there are
strict
rules
in
sports
like wrestling and boxing that
reduce
the
risk
of head and spinal
injuries.
In conclusion
, driven by dopamine and the
idea
of success,
people
will always
pursue extreme
sports
. If complying with regulations and acting
responsibly
,
participants should be able to enjoy these activities without putting themselves in
grave
danger
.