Sports are activities where two or more people play against each other in competitions. This type of activity may include wrestling, ping pong, tennis, and other forms of physical exercise. These activities often have rules and a formalized system to help determine the winner. There is also a connection between sports and national identity.
The mass media has a profound influence on sports. They help create large consumer cohorts for sporting events. Its coverage also influences the products and services sold by the sports industry. It is not possible for elite sports to exist without mass media coverage. It has a huge influence on the way sports events are marketed and organized.
The modern sports world evolved during the twentieth century and is a part of a larger globalization process. It is characterized by the creation of national sports organizations, standardization of rules, and global acceptance of sports. During this time, international sports have become increasingly commercialized. Many Western nations have cultivated sports scientists from countries in the former Soviet bloc and recruited talented athletes and sportsmen from South America and Africa.
Some critics argue that sports should be monitored more than they are today. This is important to ensure the long-term commercial value of sports. Governments, elite sports bodies, and fan organizations have become involved in the monitoring of the sport.