Sports are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. They not only help a person stay fit, but also prevent many diseases. They also strengthen the lungs and improve the quality of bones in old age.
A person who regularly participates in sports does not have to worry about obesity problems. It is easy to maintain an appropriate body weight because of the activities involved in playing sports.
Besides being beneficial to a person’s health, sports are an integral part of a country’s culture and identity. They can be seen as a form of patriotism, based on the values of fair play, valour, graceful conduct, and steadfastness in the face of adversity.
As a result, many nations have invested in sporting programs to develop their national identities. For example, the Soviet Union used sports to counter neo-fascist movements in Hungary and Czechoslovakia during the Cold War; it also used sports to promote “socialism with a human face” throughout Eastern Europe.
Global flows of people, technology, finance, images, and ideas are reshaping sports. The Western world’s dominant conceptions of sport are increasingly being challenged by Asian and African cultures.