Importance of Sports in Society

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Importance of Sports inSociety


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WINNING in a sporting event is not a matter of life ordeath it is much more important than that.

William James moral equivalent ofwar the search forsomething other than war that would enhance aperson's self-discipline, hardiness and self-sacrifice.

Often seen as a trivial aspect of life by many.

The elitist view sport is of the body and not the mind, andtherefore not intellectual or refined enough to merit such

attention.

Importance of Sports in Society


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The Moral Equivalent ofWar

..need for a way of life that is so exciting that youth nolonger turn to violence and unruly behaviour out ofemptiness and boredom.

Sports may be an answer.



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Politics

Religion

Racism


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Politics

..if only world politics could be as well organized as theWorld Cup (Soccer) Games.

Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General in 2006

UN : 191 members FIFA : 207 members

Degree of openness and transparency.

Difficulty in getting much media attention for issues likeforeign aid.

Migration difficult but soccer teams have players drawnfrom the best across the world.

Similarlylocal soccer teams international supporters.



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Politics

Soccer tip of the sporting iceberg.

Olympics biggest peacetime event in modern history.

UK-based Simon Anholt sees Olympics as one of the best waysto get international attention.

Olympics a highly political activity.

Partly designed that way countries would compete on thesporting field rather than the battlefield.

International Olympics Committee Games are above politics.

IOC moved from Paris to Lausanne, in neutral Switzerland toshow that it was not associated with politics.



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Politics

IOC

does not produce medal tally.

thinks of competitors as individuals in their own right.

But all this above politics talk is just wishful thinking.

Because Olympic Games marketed as being above politics soattractive to politicians.

Games a showcase of a countrys ability1936 BerlinOlympics ..2008 Beijing Olympics.

Games riddled with politics

major recurring political issue is participation

1920 - Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey

banned.



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Politics

1948 - Japan, West and East Germany did not attend.

Soviet Union did not participate until the 1952 Games.

Communist East Germany took part for the first time in

1968.

1952 - Taiwan withdrew from the Games because mainlandChina allowed to participate.

China resigned from the Olympic Movement in 1958 didnot rejoin until 1971.

1960 South Africa banned from the Olympics did notrejoin until 1991, when it had its first African president

(Nelson Mandela).



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Politics

1976 Montreal Games - twenty countries withdrew

1980 - US President Jimmy Carter called on IOC tomove the 1980 Olympics out of Moscow.

- IOC refused

-

US (and about 60 allies) boycotted the Games. 1984 Games - held at Los Angeles, California.

-USSR and thirteen communist alliesboycotted.

-did not want to help President Reagan inre-election campaign.

-also a revenge for the US boycott in 1980.

1988 Games held at Seoul - North Korea and some

communist allies (such as Cuba) boycotted them.



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Politics

Olympics now just so big that they crowd out usual politicalactivities.

Few countries would have election campaign during the Games.Voters would be far more interested in the Games than in the

games of the politicians.

Also means that politicians try to capitalize on the feel goodfactor for their own election campaigns after the event.



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Religion

Play and recreation are as important to the soul as to thebody, and many games have more mysteries baked into themthan most people realize. ... Sports are highly symbolic andusually ritualistic ... It is a short step from the sports stadiumto the church or temple, insofar as sports involve ritual and

contemplation--we watch games with intense absorption.- Former US priest, now best-selling author Thomas Moore

Olympics are religious bring people together acrossnational, ethnic or racial lines.

Global glorification of the diversity and energy of humankind.

Creation of the Modern Games influenced by religion.



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Religion

In a broader sense, the Games have become a secular religion.

The Games contain passion, grandeur and excitement.

Cannot get them in religious institutions.

The Games are also religious in their format.

highly organized opening and closing ceremonies

oaths

colourful processions

rites and songs.



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Racism

One of the major changes in the last few decades determinedeffort to end racism.

In the early 20th century, Afro-Americans had only two waysout of their poverty

entertainment

sport

People running these industries and audiences usually whites.

Tensions were inevitable.



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Racism

After World War II, US began to do more to end racism insport.

Sports administrators in the US and elsewhere recognizing thatblack people had talent.

A black who did well in sport had to be exceptional - had toovercome more obstacles than the average white.

Sports administrators and promoters missing out on a valuable

resource.

Therefore the opportunities gradually opened up to them.



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UNICEF recognizes role of sport and play in childrens lives.

At the most fundamental level, sport and play are a childsright.

As detailed in article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the

Child:


States shall recognize the right of the child

to rest and leisure, to engage in play and

recreational activities appropriate to the age

of the child and to participate freely in

cultural life and the arts.


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Professional Sports

Winning is not everything, it is the only thing.

Failure in sport is not an option.

The dream of success rags to riches / zero to hero!

100% commitment needed even when injured win at allcosts

hotbed of chaos, violence, and mean-spiritedness.


f


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Power & Performance SportsVersus

Pleasure & Participation Sports

Pleasure/Participation

1. Emphasis on connectionsbetween people

2. Ethic of expression,enjoyment, health

3. Body = source of pleasure

4. Inclusion & accom-modation of differences

5. Democratic structures

6. Compete with others

Power/Performance

1. Use power to push limitsin pursuit of victories

2. Excellence provedthrough winning

3. Body = tool and weapon

4. Competence-basedinclusion/exclusion

5. Hierarchical structures

6. Opponents = enemies


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Business

Sport can be a multi-million Rupee industry, committed toentertainment market and motivated by profit.

Generates business that contributes towards the nationseconomy.

Means of livelihood for people.

Improvement of infrastructure.



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. To Yossarian, the idea of pennants as

prizes was absurd. Like Olympic medals and

tennis trophies, all they signified was that the

owner had done something of no benefit to

anyone, more capably than everyone else.

Extract from the novel Catch22


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Character building

Sport not just an end in itself, but an effective tool to help

improve the lives of children, families and communities.

Sport, recreation and play fun way to learn values andlessons that will last a life time.

Promotes

friendship fair play justice

Teaches

team work

discipline respect coping skills

Instills

self-reliance

confidence



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Prepares young people to

to meet the challenges they will face, learning that

mistakes are part of acquiring mastery; and to take leadership roles within their communities.

Brings in virtues of

honesty

integrity

loyalty

patriotism

Encouragement inspires effort high standards instillrespect and responsibility

Encourages kids to be fierce and friendly (no demonizing)on the field



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Conclusion

When countries compete internationally they want to

succeed.

International sporting success gives status to a country inthe eyes of the rest of the world.

Sport success can unify citizens and

create national pride,

at a blanket level it can increase the nations health, and

Help in character building and personality developmentof people.

A HEALTHY MIND NEEDS A HEALTHY BODY AS MUCH AS

A HEALTHY BODY NEEDS A HEALTHY MIND


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THE END

Importance of Sports in Society

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