Sports are one of the drivers of travel. We go to far-flung places for sporting events, from the Thai kickboxing club to the Rugby World Cup to your daughter’s travel soccer team’s Saturday tournament. These slices of experiences are a filter for interacting with another culture, an excuse to get out of our own bubbles, and, sometimes, a complete surprise (Gaelic football, anyone?). They are also a way to find common ground with people who may come from different backgrounds and experiences. Play on.