The presenter on why live sport on TV is crucial for bringing people together

There’s so much to choose from on TV these days and so many ways to watch all the different programmes. That’s great but it means there aren’t many shared TV experiences that get families sitting down together. There’s Blue Planet II, Bake Off, and my favourite – live sport, which is one of the only TV events that if you don’t watch as it’s happening, the drama and jeopardy of that moment is gone. It’s actually playing out in front of you and there’s nothing like it; it’s a buzz and creates a feeling of togetherness. Seeing our British sporting heroes or teams achieving their dreams is an experience absolutely nothing can replicate.

Who can forget how proud we all were of our athletes in 2012? Live televised sport is really important. Not only is it exciting and unpredictable, but from the nation’s standpoint it’s also good to come together for sporting events. To cheer on Andy Murray at Wimbledon, or be one of the millions who watched Team GB’s women’s hockey team win gold in Rio or bang the drum for England in the World Cup in Russia next summer.

Live TV sport and big events also create national talking points. The Winter Olympics start in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February and all of us will suddenly become very knowledgable about little-known sports such as luge and skeleton, and share the joy of athletes flinging themselves down icy tracks at 100mph, thinking: ‘Could I do that?’ If you’re into social media, you’ll know the debate that rages during a sporting event – viewers take to Twitter to give their views on what’s unfolding on screen.

Growing up, my sporting hero was Steffi Graf – I loved watching her play tennis against Gabriela Sabatini. They were elegant and powerful women. In some ways, watching them helped to inspire my own career in gymnastics and, later, in television. I’m sure other youngsters get inspired too watching top sports men and women.

I feel really proud to be in a profession that brings big names and events into the nation’s living rooms. More than nine million viewers watched Usain Bolt and Mo Farah on the first Saturday of the World Championships this summer. I understand live sport can sometimes dominate TV schedules and squeeze out regular favourites, but it’s a weak argument now many viewers can use catch-up services. Or those who aren’t into sport can always pick up the remote and turn over – but I’d rather they felt the fantastic joy that comes from watching live sport.

Gabby Logan co-presents BBC Sports Personality Of The Year on Sunday 17 December, BBC1.