5  Week One - Sport and Society

5.1 Introduction

In this first week of the module we’ll:

  • Explore the evolution of sport, from ancient civilisations to the modern day.
  • Learn that sport has been integral to human societies, acting as a mirror reflecting wider cultural, social, economic, and technological changes.
  • Examine some sociological, psychological, philosophical, and cultural aspects of sport.

This multidimensional approach will enable us to begin to appreciate the importance of sport and its significance in human history.

Takeaway

Sport is always influenced by, and an influence on, the wider world that surrounds it.

Key Questions

By the end of this week’s lecture, you should be able to answer the following questions:

  • What was the role of sport in ancient societies?
  • What’s the importance of the modern Olympic movement?
  • What’s the relationship between sport, money, and the media?
  • What does the landscape of sport look like today?

Themes

This week’s lecture is organised around four themes:

  1. Sport as Ritualistic Practice
  2. The Modern Olympics Movement
  3. Sport, Money, and the Media
  4. The Changing Landscape of Sport

Concepts

Within these four themes, we’ll encounter three concepts:

Theories

We’ll also learn about the following theories:

5.2 Discussion Questions

In small groups, select one of the following questions and use it as a starting point for a discussion of today’s material. There are some suggestions for things you might talk about.

Question 1

How have historical contexts and social structures influenced the evolution of modern sport from ancient times?

For example, you might consider:

  • What are some key differences in the sociocultural significance of sport in ancient times compared to the modern era?
  • Are there contemporary examples that demonstrate the influence of social structures and historical contexts on the development of a sport?

Question 2

How do modern sports serve as a platform for constructing and showcasing national identities, and how are these events connected with political, economic, and cultural facets of societies?

For example, you might consider:

  • How have the Olympic Games and other international sports events like the FIFA World Cup contributed to the construction of national identities?
  • Can you provide examples where sporting events were clearly entwined with the political, economic, or cultural aspects of a country?
  • How might international sporting events reflect the changing global dynamics, if at all?

5.3 Reading

All reading for the module can be accessed via the module reading list on myplace.

Preparatory reading

You should read the following paper before this week’s lecture:

  • Frey, J. H., & Eitzen, D. S. (1991). Sport and Society. Annual Review of Sociology, 17(1), 503-522.

Further Reading

You should read the following paper after this week’s lecture:

  • Borge, S. (2021). What Is Sport? Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 15(3), 308-330.

5.4 Lecture Outline

Today’s lecture is structured as follows:

Topc 1: Sport as ritualistic practice

a. The ancient Olympic Games

  • Their origins and evolution
  • Their cultural and religious significance

b. Sport and religion

  • Sport in ancient societies
  • An example: Mayan ‘Pitz’
  • An exampe: Roman gladiatorial contests

c. ‘Arete’

  • Greek philosophy and how they viewed physical fitness
  • Plato’s “Republic” and the importance of physical fitness

d. Agoge

  • Spartan training - sport as a preparation for war
  • Historical significance of this idea

Topic 2: The modern Olympic movement

a. Olympic revivalism

  • Revival of the Olympic Games in the 19th Century
  • Coubertin’s vision - what was the point?
  • Global impact of the revived games on modern sport

b. Sports nationalism

  • What is ‘sports nationalism’?
  • That is the international impact of sport?
  • Societal dynamics and sport

c. Gender equity

  • Historical context of gender and sport
  • Advocacy and equity within sport
  • Societal influence on equity within sport (and vice versa)

d. Inclusivity in sport

  • Paralympic origins - early days
  • Changing perceptions of ‘ability’
  • Societal impact of inclusion on sport

Topic 3: Sport, money, and the media

a. Professionalisation

  • Evolution of professionalism in sport
  • Structural changes as a result
  • Challenges and complexities of increased professionalism

b. Commercialisation

  • Broadcasting transformation - the impact of the media on sport
  • Revenue streams and commodification within sport
  • Fan engagement and commercial pressures within sport

c. Social cohesion & identity

  • Emotional & social integration within sport
  • Challenges & complexities in a changing world

Topic Four: The changing landscape of sport

a. The role of technology

  • Evolution of technology within sport

b. Globalisation & cultural exchange

  • Sport as ‘cultural globalisation’

c. eSports and the digital revolution

  • Redefining ‘sport’? What is a ‘sport’?