Sports are organized competitive physical activities and exercises. These satisfy the human need for competition, physical exercise and play. All sports are competitive; the object of the game is to “win” by using the greatest combination of tactics, skill and physical energy. This is the main difference between recreation, leisure or sports, and war.
In recreation, people generally engage in outdoor sports such as hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, swimming, tennis, football, soccer etc. Some of these sports may even require equipment or protective gear; whereas some are more intense and dangerous than others. This is basically the opposite of sports. The object of sports is to engage in exciting physical activity.
War has been the major source of sports competition since ancient times. War games involved throwing stars at each other or using spiked boots. Ancient Rome, Egypt, Greece, ancient China, Persia and Ancient Greece were engaged in competitive sports. They usually began by boxing and then moved on to wrestling, running and shooting before getting to tackle each other with their weapons. Ancient Rome was known for its military games and gladiatorial fights.
In modern times, most sports that we now associate with organized sports are contact sports. This means that players engaged in actual combat. Ice hockey, American football, baseball, basketball, hockey, rugby, lacrosse, football, soccer, motor racing, motor cycling, horse racing, etc. have been very popular as contact sports.
Sport refers to any physical activity involving sports that require a great deal of running, jumping, throwing and hitting. The object of the game is to “win” and be the winner. This can be done by making sure that the other team does not get “away” or by sustaining the least amount of damage. The game is usually a friendly, competitive and noisy affair. As such, it is extremely common in American and European cultures.
Today the game of sports has been extended to the point where it can be viewed on television. It is often shown on weekend nights, when family and friends gather to watch sports and often play a few games themselves. Today, Americans and Europeans spend billions of dollars every year watching sporting events and playing sports. Sports recreation is also a very important part of our economy, since most of us spend a good deal of money on sports equipment and activities. It is no wonder then, that sports teams are very profitable.