Sports and games

Articles, Films and practical Guides on sports and games, part of Psyche’s coverage of relationships, work and leisure.
Animated characters posing happily in a red-tiled room, with some applying makeup.
SPORTS AND GAMES

What is Roblox teaching children about capitalism?

The popular game platform offers space to create, socialise, even protest. It’s also a realm of extraction and inequality

by Gabija Tonkunas

Underwater photo of a swimmer diving into a pool creating a splash against a blue background.
THE BODY AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

Body of water

In the pool, my softer, heavier self rediscovered motion and power – proof that this body, too, can swim

by Sarah Boon

Photo of red and grey trainers levitating, showcasing textured soles with orange accents on a light background.
MIND-BODY INTERACTIONS

So what if Nike’s neuro shoes are a placebo?

Nike has released a range of ‘mind-altering’ shoes engineered by neuroscientists. They’re probably an elaborate placebo

by Christian Jarrett

Photo of people roller skating on a wooden rink under neon lights in an indoor facility.
PLEASURES AND PASTIMES

The joyful groove never stops at a legendary Chicago roller rink

Directed by Benjamin Buxton

Illustration of a scoreboard at Barclays Center showing a man with raised arms, surrounded by an arena.
SPORTS AND GAMES

A dancing NBA superfan on the joy of spaces that let us go wild and get weird

Directed by Mickey Duzyj

A child in a yellow shirt and red shorts pushing a tire uphill on a steep, gravelly incline against a clear sky backdrop.
PLAY

A cobalt mine becomes an unlikely playground for children in Congo

A film by Francis Alÿs

A young man with a serious expression wearing a grey hoodie outdoors at dusk, with a blurred landscape and lights in the background.
DEPRESSION
2

Why Darius is testing mind and body to run 100 miles in the cold

Directed by Amar Chebib

Photo of a female athlete smiling while crossing a track finish line with a cheering crowd in the background.
SPORTS AND GAMES

Sport shows how to use performance benchmarks in a positive way

IQ scores and other contextless benchmarks are suffocating and misleading. We should look to sport for a healthier approach

by Leif Weatherby

Close-up of feet in white trainers near four tennis balls on a blue tennis court, with blurred background of a few people.
SPORTS AND GAMES

Passion, agility, invisibility – do you have what it takes to become a ball person?

Directed by Scott Lazer

A lone swimmer in choppy waters near a lighthouse on a rocky outcrop, under an overcast sky.
TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE

A record-breaking distance swimmer finds sublime peace in cold water

Directed by Thomas Beug

Two people wearing white jackets stand on a snowy landscape under an overcast sky, surrounded by snow-covered mounds.
MUSIC
2

Witness the cool musical game played by Inuit women for centuries

Directed by Eva Kaukai and Manon Chamberland

Photo of a footballer lying on a pitch looking distressed with a child nearby holding a ball.
SPORTS AND GAMES
3

How to be a better loser

As a competitor, you can’t avoid the hurt of losing. But you can learn ways to bounce back stronger and more motivated

by Blakely Low-Scott

Two sumo wrestlers and a referee on a sumo ring during a match, with spectators in the background at the 2019 World Sumo Championships.
SPORTS AND GAMES

With a hushed intensity, Tuvsho finds her place in the sumo ring

Directed by George Thomson and Lukas Schrank

Photo of a man jogging on a park path under cherry blossom trees on a sunny day with a bench to the side.
SPORTS AND GAMES
4

How to enjoy running

Going for a jog doesn’t have to be a chore – these mental techniques will make it something you actually look forward to

by Christian Jarrett