Looking up the word “sport” in any dictionary, we will soon find that it assumes two different meanings: it may either refer to some sport activities such as playing basketball and soccer, or some leisure activities such as taking a walk. Though this means that sport can be a leisure activity, I do believe it has a much more important role to play in our society.

It is indeed true that doing sport can give us a break from the day’s heavy work. Anyone who has ever played tennis or golf after a long, exhausting business negotiation will understand how relaxing and enjoyable the sport time is. While they engage in sport of any sort, even simple as jogging, people will be able to find a way to get out of the normal rhythm of their life, and feel a change taking place in them. And this is exactly what “leisure” is supposed to mean.

Yet socially sport is far more significant than just being a leisure activity. Besides making people stronger physically, sport can actually make people healthier spiritually and emotionally. Just as an individual who does regular physical exercise may be better at dealing with the problems in his life, a community (or a country) may also be more harmonious if its people love sport. More importantly, doing sport can help foster the sense of fair play, which is extremely important for the maintenance and development of any society.

In my view, sport is a leisure activity, but it is true only at the individual level, because socially it is far more than that. That is exactly why all governments across the world would encourage their people to engage in sport by building sport facilities for them or training the top athletes to compete in international sport games.      

Looking up the word “sport” in any dictionary, we will soon find that itassumes two different meanings: it may either refer to some sport activities such as playing basketball and soccer, or some leisure activities such as taking a walk. Though this means that sport can be a leisure activity, I do believe it has a much more important role to play in our society.

查阅任何字典中的“运动”一词，我们很快就会发现它有两个不同的含义：它可能指的是一些体育活动，如打篮球和足球，或者一些休闲活动，如散步。虽然这意味着运动可以是一种休闲活动，但我相信它在我们的社会中扮演着更重要的角色。

It is indeed true that doing sport can give us a break from the day’s heavy work. Anyone who has ever played tennis or golf after a long, exhaustingbusiness negotiation will understand how relaxing and enjoyable the sport time is. While they engage in sport of any sort, even simple as jogging, people will be able to find a way to get out of the normal rhythm of their life, and feel a change taking place in them. And this is exactly what “leisure” is supposed to mean.

的确，做运动可以让我们从一天繁重的工作中解脱出来。任何在漫长而疲惫的商务谈判后打过网球或高尔夫的人都会明白运动时间是多么放松愉快。当他们从事任何类型的运动，即使是简单的慢跑，人们将能够找到一种方法，摆脱正常的生活节奏，并感觉到一种变化在身上发生，而这正是“休闲”的意思。

Yet socially sport is far more significant than just being a leisure activity. Besides making people stronger physically, sport can actually make people healthier spiritually and emotionally. Just as an individual who doesregular physical exercise may be better at dealing with the problems in his life, a community (or a country) may also be more harmonious if its people love sport. More importantly, doing sport can help foster the sense of fair play, which is extremely important for the maintenance and development of any society.

然而，从社会角度看，运动远比休闲活动更重要。除了使人身体更强壮外，运动实际上还能使人在精神和情感上更健康。就像一个经常进行体育锻炼的人可能更善于处理生活中的问题，如果一个社区（或一个国家）的人民热爱运动，也可能更和谐。更重要的是，做运动可以帮助培养公平竞争意识，这对于任何社会的维护和发展都是极其重要的。

In my view, sport is a leisure activity, but it is true only at the individual level, because socially it is far more than that. That is exactly why all governments across the world would encourage their people to engage in sport by building sport facilities for them or training the top athletes to compete in international sport games.       

在我看来，运动是一种休闲活动，但只有在个人层面才是如此，因为在社会上，它远远不止于此。这就是为什么世界各国政府建造体育设施或训练运动员参加国际体育比赛来鼓励其人民从事体育运动。