Growing up right across our city’s sports complex, it was no surprise that my childhood was spent covered in dust and sweat. From my early fascination with football to trying out taekwondo and biking, I sampled almost every sport within my reach. But with everything that I’ve tried, the one sport that truly struck me was tennis.
Since second grade, the tennis court in front of our house had been my second home. Weekend lessons turned into annual summer training, eventually leading to me becoming a student-athlete back in elementary school. Entering a competitive high school, however, made it much more difficult to continue the sport as I needed to focus on my academics and other responsibilities. By the time I was in ninth grade, I had completely abandoned tennis.
But now that I’m slowly rekindling my interest in the game, I’ve come to realize how exclusive the athletic scene is and how it favors those born with a silver spoon.
While there are exceptions to the narrative, like Efren “Bata” Reyes and Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, it is undeniable that a certain level of privilege is needed to start and sustain an athletic career. Much like other spheres in society, sports are not free from the vagaries of money; wealth can influence participation in most games, particularly those requiring significant financial investment.
When starting a sport, you need to have the right equipment, athletic wear, and venue. Additionally, you need to take lessons from a well-seasoned coach to know the basics of the sport.
While these may seem like a no-brainer when starting a new hobby, they become gateways to further spending as your desire to improve your game will also push you to invest in the latest equipment, schedule training more regularly, and participate in more tournaments. Much like our basic goods, all of these also have their fair share of price hikes and increases.
Every step toward your goal to become one of the best comes with a price tag. As you further progress in the sport, the need for financial stability becomes apparent by the season. Additional equipment, such as those used for gym and exercise, is needed for you to maintain your physique and health. Funds allocated for travel and registration fees would also increase, as engaging in far-flung tournaments is quintessential for you to get accustomed to different playing styles and opponents. On top of that, sponsors and key industry players rarely keep tabs on athletes who have no connections in the first place. Keeping yourself afloat in the sport you love is just as financially straining as when you started it.
In a research published last August, it was found that high school and college sports are “profoundly shaped by one’s socioeconomic status and other factors unrelated to talent.” Parents with higher socioeconomic statuses can afford better resources, such as specialized training and sports clubs, and have access to state-of-the-art facilities. Given their financial stability, they can also provide a better support system, as well as more opportunities to their young players.
With the odds stacked against underprivileged young athletes who want to make a stable career out of the sport they love, arenas and fields seem to be made for the rich. But not all hope should be lost for our budding athletes as long as efforts to make sports accessible come from both public and private sectors.
National sports agencies must work together with local government units to ensure that grassroots programs are retrofitted to their communities, focusing on sports that garnered attention from their residents. Initiatives like “Batang Pinoy” and local athletic meets must be given adequate support for them to actually be an avenue for students to showcase their skills. In addition, local gymnasiums and fields should also be made available to the public, ensuring that everyone can access these facilities.
On the other hand, the private sector can do its part by lowering the prices for gear and venue rentals and providing scholarships and sponsorships to promising players who do not have the means to pursue their athletic careers. Such measures can significantly lower the cost of participating in sports, making the activity all the more inclusive and accessible.
Through these definitive actions, the notion that only the privileged can enjoy sports can slowly be dismantled. Sports shouldn’t be locked up behind financial barriers–they should be made available to everyone regardless of background, ability, or financial status. As we work on bulldozing the ivory towers that withhold their accessibility, may those who have abandoned their racquets and gear slowly find their way back to the courts and fields they once loved.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s January 2026 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSJan2026.
