With the Games of the XXXI Olympiad opening in Rio, we owe our sport some time to pay attention. – By Hal Higdon

Despite the large number of people running these days – millions of us – we often are guilty of not caring about our sport. Our focus often is obsessively inward.

With the 2016 Olympic Games underway in Rio de Janeiro, there are many strong reasons why we need to care. Let me offer five to get you excited for the weeks ahead.

Spectacle:

Having attended several Olympics, I can tell you that there is no sporting activity more spectacular than the opening ceremonies. It’s more spectacular than anything I’ve ever seen.

Just seeing your country march into the stadium – laughing, waving, taking selfies in whichever interesting uniform your country has chosen – is enough to warm the coldest fan’s heart.

Knowledge:

Can the average jogger learn something from the elite runners winning gold medals and setting world records? As a coach, I believe you can. Study the form of these greats.

Check out how they carry their arms, hold their heads, focus their eyes. It takes intense concentration to maximise training and talent in events from the 100 metres to the marathon. You may never run as fast as Usain Bolt, but there are things you can learn from each runner.

Partisanship:

Okay, Bolt comes from Jamaica and you come from all over the place, but there are plenty of athletes to cheer for and against. One nice aspect of sports station coverage is that you can follow your favourites all the way from qualifying races through the semifinals and into the finals, where one race will determine who gets the gold medal.

By that time, you almost feel you get to know these runners, their stories, their goals, and their sacrifices. Yes, I’m going to be cheering for Bolt, but I’ll be cheering even louder for other runners too.

Other sports:

When else would you be tempted to turn on the television and watch fencing or badminton? Year in and out, the networks ignore many, if not most, of the sports on the Olympic calendar. But the Games raise the water level in the tub for all sports. Even if it’s only every fourth year, sit back and enjoy one offbeat sport after another. (By the way, the ball that badminton players hit is called a shuttlecock, or a birdie.)

Conversation:

Watch the Games and it opens numerous conversational paths. Need a strike-it-up bar conversation for that guy or gal sitting next to you? Go ahead: start talking. For example, a half dozen years ago with countries bidding for the 2016 Games, Chicagoans were stunned to hear our city had failed to make it out of the first round. Huh? Chicago could have put on a spectacular Games. Given worries about Zika, the International Olympic Committee may now wish Chicago had prevailed.

But you cannot have or state that opinion unless you care enough about the Games to at least watch on TV. I am going to be cheering for Rio de Janeiro to prove how good a job Brazilians can do in staging these great events.

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