Human Society and Competitive Sports

Human participation in sports is probably as old as humanity itself. Hence, the development of sports can teach sociologists a great deal about the nature of social change, human development, and the nature of sports itself. Participation in sports is about developing physical skills and mastering challenges for its own sake. Therefore, examining sports from a social and historical context can give academics a clearer picture of the changes in social practices. Sports are competitive physical activities that require mutual commitment, strategy, and fair play among participants. Winners and losers are often settled by implementing objective rules. Moreover, sports focus on physical athleticism, which distinguishes it from ‘mind sports’ such as chess, which focus on intellectual prowess. Non-competitive activities such as jogging may also be loosely called sports, though they are often classified as forms of recreation. Recently unearthed artifacts and structures suggest that the ancient Chinese engaged in sporting activities as early as the second millennium B.C. Activities such as archery, wrestling, and gymnastics appear to have been well developed among the ancient Chinese. In addition, surviving monuments and papyri from ancient Egypt suggest that swimming and javelin-throwing were well-developed sports in the Nile region. In many ancient societies, sports were often linked to religion. Sports were played to honor deities and nature spirits. Among the ancient Minoans of Crete, religious bull-leaping and bullfighting were observed to honor their gods. Competitive sports reached its zenith among the ancient Greeks, who instituted the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.

The ancient Greek city-states had gymnasia where athletes trained, much like any modern sports club Glendale has to offer. The ancient Olympic Games were finally suppressed during the Byzantine era by the Emperor Theodosius in 393 A.D. However, competitive sports did not die out completely in the western world. The common people fought rough and sometimes violent ballgames. The aristocracy favored more refined games; created the early precursor of the sports club Glendale athletes are so fond of; and competed in games like jousting and horse racing. Modern sporting events such as the Super Bowl, World Cup and NBA playoffs captivate millions of viewers each year; earn billions in profits and endorsements; and have elevated athletes such as Michael Jordan and David Beckham to modern-day icons. Moreover, it is now considered indispensable for a developed community to have a sports club Glendale residents typically use all year round.

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