Sports – A Blend of Entertainment and Health
Sports are one of the many activities loved by people of all ages and groups. Sports can be physical and mental activities, including regular physical exercises and team sports like golf or swimming. Sport is widely defined as a physical activity which involves some level of competition, including basketball or netball. Many forms of physical recreation and some outdoor sports are also known as sports.
A professional in any sport is generally known as an athlete. Being an athlete requires you to wear a uniform which shows your association with a particular team or league, and which has its own flag and emblem. Every sport has official rules which govern competitions, and these rules are known as regulation sports. Other sports are referred to as non-regulation sports, and their rules are less official in nature. A number of non-regulation sports have developed over the years to fill the needs of amateur and professional athletes alike, ensuring fair competition among competitors.
The first modern sports were played between organized teams during the 20th century. Such sports competitions became what we know today as football and soccer. Another important game played during the early part of the 20th century was fishing. In the United States, the first organized baseball teams were formed out of teams at colleges and universities. These early baseball competitions helped develop the game into what it is today.
Cricket and horse racing are two of the other important sports in the world. Cricket is a game played between competing teams where the objective is to win a match by taking more hits than the other team. The other game known as horse racing is a competition between horses in competitive races. Both cricket and horse racing are played globally, with a number of nations holding major sports competitions every year.
Today, modern sports are not just for the rich or the privileged. Anyone can play sports for fun and recreation. This has caused an increase in sports-related tourism, which has resulted in many major sporting events being held in countries across the world. During the Renaissance period in Europe, games such as chess and tennis became physical education which were regularly played both in private and public schools.
Sports also became a way for social interaction and increased social status during the early part of the 20th century. For example, polo clubs, which are now known as tennis courts, began as a way for lower class males to show their superiority to the more affluent male members of the club. This served to strengthen the bonds between the members of the club and increase camaraderie. The same concept took place in the world of politics during the early part of the 20th century. Popular sports such as football became a way of unifying and building the middle class. The development of modern sports has become one of the biggest factors behind social progress and development.