Very few things connect people to one another and to their surrounding community better than sport.
Whether it's soccer, hockey, athletics, baseball or basketball, there's no shortage of opportunities among the 50 different sporting organizations in Richmond to meet new friends on the field or fellow parents on the sidelines.
Wearing a badge that says "Richmond Soccer," "Richmond Blues" or "Richmond Chuckers," also rapidly breeds a sense of belonging to the city you're living in.
The concept of community sport bringing people together and lending them a sense of worth is not lost on the city's sports council chair, Jim Lamond.
This is especially so, given that many people would struggle to pick their next-door neighbours out of a crowd.
"You can go down to the soccer park on any weekend and you will see hundreds of parents," said Lamond, who's been involved in Richmond's sporting community for more than 40 years.
"They're watching their children play, of course. But they're also talking to other adults, meeting people, some they know, some they've never met.
"People will forge friendships and connections that will build up and usually last a lifetime."
"I don't think they would make half the connections they would make if it wasn't for community sport."
And when you're wearing the badge of your community to compete against other cities, the emotional investment and belonging to something is multiplied.
"We've produced some wonderful athletes over the years," said Lamond.
"And I think people here are very proud of that and, when they play, there's a real sense of being part of something special in this city.
"It certainly helps to draw you into the community you live in when you're part of a team in Richmond."
Those connections and relation-ships also help foster the volunteering spirit that has people happily giving up much of their free time for their chosen sport.
"I see people giving so much back to their community sport, because they've received so much pleasure as a child," added Lamond.
"And I think if they feel they've invested that time, then it only makes the connection to the community even stronger."
