Professional sports, as opposed to
amateur sports, are
sports in which
athletes receive
payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments.
Mass media and increased
leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations or teams can command large incomes. As a result, more
sportspeople can afford to make athleticism their primary career, devoting the training time necessary to increase skills, physical condition, and experience to modern levels of achievement. This proficiency has also helped boost the popularity of sports.