The Link Between Sports and National Identity

Sports

Sports are group games and individual activities involving physical activity and skills. These activities help people develop their physical skills, get exercise, make friends, have fun, learn to play as a member of a team, learn to play fair and improve self-esteem.

The societally accepted definition of “sport” is that it is a cultural field in which people voluntarily enter into a relationship with other people to compare their respective abilities and skills in the art of movement – according to their own or adopted rules, as well as on the basis of socially acceptable ethical values. This kind of comparison is often very dramatic and arouses strong emotions.

Historically, sports were perceived to contribute significantly to national identity. They serve as a vehicle for the invention of traditions, flags, and anthems, while also providing a means for citizens to express their feelings about their country and its history.

However, the link between sports and national identity is often ambiguous. In some instances, for example, Uruguay and England, sports are viewed as inseparable from national identity.

In other cases, such as Japan, where traditional sports still rival modern ones in popularity, this link is less pronounced. The sport of judo, invented in 1882 by Kano Jigoro in an effort to combine Western and Asian traditions, attracted European adherents early in the 20th century.

In the context of globalization, however, the role of sports has shifted. As a result, they can serve as a source of national identity while simultaneously strengthening cosmopolitanism.