Sports are a major part of the world’s economy and culture. They are also a good way to get involved with society, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and train for competition.
They are also a great way to socialize young people and develop self-discipline, respect for opponents, killer instinct, and a never give up attitude. However, the socialization process may lead to a destructive desire for victory at all costs, which can lead to poor behavior and attitudes in life.
Aspects of Sporting Culture
The rapid expansion of modern sports has been bound up with complex networks and interdependency chains that are marked by unequal power relations. These structures have shaped the development of sport in the United States and Europe and may have helped to amplify the influence of Western elites.
International competition between countries is the central feature of many sporting events. In the Cold War era, this rivalry was a key expression of nationalist and globalist ideologies.
Sports have played a significant role in the struggle for national liberation throughout history. For example, 19th-century Slavic gymnastic clubs in what is now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland were at the forefront of nationalist struggles against Austrian and Russian rule.
During the 20th century, sports underwent a number of social and spatial changes that have broadened the range of participants in them. For example, African Americans, Australian Aboriginal people, “Cape Coloureds” (in South Africa), and women have all gained the right to compete in sports that had been regarded quintessentially masculine.