Question

Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Model Answer

Participation in extreme sports such as skydiving and bungee jumping has increased considerably in recent years. As a result, there has been a corresponding rise in the number of fatal accidents. Some people now believe that these activities should be prohibited by law. Personally, I feel that increased regulation would be more effective than an outright ban.

One argument made by opponents of extreme sports is that participants are unaware of the dangers they face. Take, for example, the case of bungee jumping. Unless you have expert knowledge, you will be unable to assess whether the platform you are jumping from is of the correct height. You are completely reliant upon the organisers of the event, who may place their own financial interests above any safety concerns. Additionally, if an accident were to happen, it would not only affect you and your family but also the first responders attending the scene.

However, supporters of extreme sports are quick to point out that there is an element of risk to everything we do. It would be difficult to decide which activities are sufficiently dangerous to warrant being banned. In any case, banning a sport would push it underground and make it more difficult to regulate. This would likely lead to laxer safety controls and more accidents and fatalities. If extreme sports are legal, they can be monitored and strict rules and regulations put in place.

In conclusion, while I have some sympathy with the idea of banning extreme sports, I believe that this would be counterproductive. Tightening existing regulations would be a better way to address the concerns outlined above.

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