Throughout human history, sports have been a source of cultural identity. They have served as markers of national identity for outsider groups as well as for established groups. They have also played a role in political struggles for liberal nationalist agendas.
Sport is a form of recreation that is part of every culture. It requires learning, repetition, and energy. It also provides an opportunity to meet people of different backgrounds, build friendships, and practice teamwork. It can help teens stay in shape and establish relationships with their peers.
Sports have become increasingly globalized as part of the larger globalization process. The sports world is divided into core, semiperipheral, and peripheral blocs. These blocs can be defined by politics, culture, economy, and geographic location.
The core sports world includes countries like Russia, the United States, and Australia. It also includes sports popular in Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Sports have also been marketed as symbols of prestige, power, and distinction.
Throughout the 20th century, sports evolved into a transnational cosmopolitan culture. The advent of the global economy and the transnational movements of people and ideas influenced the development of modern sports. Some of the major Western sporting nations began creating state-sponsored programs to support athletics. In the latter half of the century, the Soviet Union and East Germany applied scientific methods to sports. These societies dominated the Olympic Games. They were able to overcome rivals in Western countries such as the United States and Japan.
