Sport in Society - Assignment Example

Sport is a part of human and social development and contributes to social cohesion. It not helps to integrate the society but also is an effective channel for physical and socio-economic development (WEC, n.d.). Sport also has an educative and an entertainment role. Because of its universal acceptance sport is a very powerful medium of social and economic change and development. It helps to bridge cultural gaps, resolve conflict and educate people. Daly (2003) however feels that sports is losing direction and is in the hands of the people who have the money and the commercial power. Nevertheless, the role of sport in society is debatable. Physical activity is an expression of emotion and competitive sport can have beneficial impact when performed in favourable conditions (Cockerill, 1995). Sport participation generates transferable life skills and acquisition of motor skills can lead to enhanced self-esteem and self-efficacy. Fitness training has a beneficial effect on mood, performance at work, cognitive function and self-concept. It helps to ameliorate conditions like obesity and develop and maintain optimal fitness (Gilson, Cooke & Mahoney, 2005). Sport is an important factor in the development of the society which is why UNESCO has supported the demand to include physical education and sport in the Human Development Index (Schwery, 2003). Sport contributes to self-confidence and organizational skills. Physical movement and sport influence the health and well-being of an individual. It increases life expectancy, minimizes the incidence of heart diseases, maintains high-blood pressure, weight and contributes to the healthy development of muscles and bones (Schwery, 2003). Sport also enhances enhance motor, physical, and psychological skills. People also learn how to deal with their emotions. At the same time it has also been found that personal self-perception and competence motivation influences the intensity with which an individual would indulge in sport (Gilson, Cooke & Mahoney, 2005). Not all individuals find sport and exercise enjoyable. Moods can change several times during an exercise session and this can alter the outcome of the game (Cockerill, 1995). Excessive exercise has been found to be detrimental and some become addicts and do not limit their training. Apart from physical injury the participant can also develop symptoms like workaholism and hence just before a competition the participant should not engage in intensive training. Sport like Ruby helped to create an identity. It evoked keenness among people and it seemed like a passion replacing religion or politics (Harris, 2007). It became an important social function as it brought together people of the community. Thus sport serves as a binding factor in holding people together. It fosters brotherhood and brings people together but being a male dominated game women are singled out. However, Rugby and cricket have also reinforced social divisions and ethnic segregation (Schwery, 2003). Sport has also been used as ideological vehicles to promote the views of the powerful elites. Sport demands more than individual excellence. It requires teamwork, the ability to move beyond personal ego, to put the needs of the team before personal gains and a desire to win (Burdett, 1997). Planning and discipline are very essential during sport training. Decision making in sport organizations become difficult because of the diverse interests of the stakeholders. Sport has been receiving increased attention in media which has highlighted the conflicts within the sport organizations. This has given rise to the emergence of national sport governing bodies in most countries to establish code of ethics and specific policies (Sherry, Shilbury & Wood, 2007). Extreme sports or lifestyle sports are an antidote to our safety-first, shrink-wrapped world (Appleton, 2005). They help one to carve his/her own path. New style sports like snowboarding and paintballing have developed at the expense of traditional sport. Such sport carries the high adrenaline image and has created enthusiasm among the youth and those seeking adventure. It offers thrill and excitement. Sport promotes international understanding as the rules of the game transcend differences and inequality; it helps redefine success and performance (WEC). People even identify their role models through sport. Modern sport is now an industry that produces and sells products and services. It provides entertainment and is used as a platform for commercial advertising and in each case the motive is profit (Daly, 2003). Most athletes are involved in improving and maintaining their talents and they require the services of an agent who look for endorsement oppurtunities with prospective firms. Today professional athletes like Tiger Woods and David Beckham have become global celebrities whose names reach beyond that of their respective sports (Mason & Duquette, 2005). Thus today sports has become so commercialized that sponsorships and commercial deals have become common place not just with the administrators and managers but also with referees, coaches and athletes. There is increased competition among cities to enhance the sports facilities so that are competitive enough to host Games like the Olympics. Globally there is a strong link between the media and sport. Media, sponsorships by multinationals and global sports appeal have contributed towards globalization of sports. Kerry Packer repackaged cricket to suit television audiences in the 1970s (Daly, 2003). Rupert Murdock took over the development of the Rugby League and formed the Super League. Modern media and information technology are responsible for the reality of mass sport. National and regional sports all use the local media for marketing of sport. Globalization of sports has touched every society and it has given sport an economic dimension. Sports organizations employ staff with professional qualifications as chief executives and managers (Daly, 2003). The production of sporting goods has been relocated to the developing countries and given rise to human rights issues like child labour (WEC). Sport is an essential element in the growth and development of the society. Its benefits are immense for the physical and mental well being of an individual but much depends on the self-perception of an individual. the motivation and mood determine the outcome of participating in sport. Sport also fosters brotherhood and beings people together. However, globalization of sport is happening at a very fast pace. Globalization is inevitable and consumerism has given different dimensions to sport. It has led to heightened international understanding and cooperation; it has transcended national borders. Media has exploited the popularity of sport and the sports people as the athletes are used for celebrity endorsements by marketers. The cities are trying to augment their facilities so as to be able to bid to host the sport events. Manufacturing of sporting goods has led to labour exploitation but along with growth and expansion in any sector a certain amount of abuses and drawbacks become a part of the growth. Due to increased consumerism and sponsorships, more people have become interested in taking up sport as a career. Sport will continue to thrive in the society and efforts are needed to keep the ill effects to the minimum. References Appleton, J 2005, Whats so extreme about extreme sports?, retrieved online April 13, 2009, http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/0000000CAD26.htm Burdett, J 1997, Going for the gold, Management Decision, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 119–124 Cockerill, IM 1995, Self-esteem development through participation in physical activity, Employee Counselling Today, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 14–17 Daly, J 2003, RETHINKING THE ETHICS OF SPORT BUSINESS PRACTICES, retrieved online April 12, 2009, from http://fulltext.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2003/ascpub/osf/osfdaly.pdf Gilson, ND Cooke, CB & Mahoney, CA 2005, Adolescent physical self-perceptions, sport/exercise and lifestyle physical activity, Health Education, vol. 105, no. 6, pp. 437-450 Harris, J 2007, Cool Cymru, rugby union and an imagined community, International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 27, no. 3/4, pp. 151-162 Mason, DS & Duquette, GH 2005, Globalisation and the evolving player-agent relationship in professional sport, Int. J. Sport Management and Marketing, vol. 1, nos. 1/2, 2005 Schwery, R 2003, The potential of sport for development and peace, retrieved online April 12, 2009, from http://www.sport2005bildung.ch/deutsch/files/MA_Ds_PotentialOfSport.pdf Sherry, E Shilbury, D & Wood, G 2007, Wrestling with ‘‘conflict of interest’’ in sport management, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 267-277. WEC, n.d., Role of Sports in Society, Summit on Global Agenda, retrieved online April 12, 2009, from http://www.weforum.org/pdf/GAC/issue_descriptions/RoleofSportsinSociety.pdf Read More