Throughout history, sports have been a part of culture. They’ve played an important role in political struggles between nation states. They’re also seen as symbols of power and prestige.
The origins of sport can’t be fully explained, but they’re generally associated with physical exertion. There are a number of other factors that go into making a sport. It has to be organized, require repetition, and involve a certain amount of skill and learning.
In the early modern period, physical education was viewed as a means to improve health. It was also thought to be an entertaining pastime. During the Industrial Revolution, sports like fencing were thought to be art forms.
The development of modern sports owes its origins to the formation of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1787. Its leaders devised a new concept of rationalized competition. It also created the concept of the sports record.
During the 20th century, the world stage was dominated by Western nations. These nations recruited athletes from Africa, Asia, and South America. They also developed state-sponsored programs. The former Soviet bloc was out-competing them for a while. The emergence of transnational cosmopolitan cultures in the late twentieth century also played a role.
While the development of modern sports isn’t always a simple matter of coincidence, it’s worth noting that the process is influenced by interwoven globalization patterns.
For example, in the 19th century, gymnastic clubs were in the forefront of struggles for independence from Russia. In 1956, the Soviet Union suppressed reformist efforts in Hungary.