Interesting points about the space race and inspiration. Space race can also have health and safety benefits: in rugby, action on concussion has come from the professional game rather than amateurs or kids. On inspiration, the negative side of "gold medals" is indeed that most people think they are in some inevitable spiral of physical decline when in fact the upside potential is enormous for almost everyone unless you're Usain Bolt or Mo Farah.
Interesting points about the space race and inspiration. Space race can also have health and safety benefits: in rugby, action on concussion has come from the professional game rather than amateurs or kids. On inspiration, the negative side of "gold medals" is indeed that most people think they are in some inevitable spiral of physical decline when in fact the upside potential is enormous for almost everyone unless you're Usain Bolt or Mo Farah.