Sports are an organised form of competition in which a person uses physical effort, skill and practice to win prizes. Some examples of organised sports are golf, equestrian, fishing, cheerleading and motorsports.
Sporting culture is a social phenomenon and a large body of research has explored how it changes people. Sports provide a positive way for a person to develop self-confidence and build relationships with others. It also provides a sense of discipline and improves the thinking ability of individuals.
In modern societies, people use sports to construct and maintain particular ideas of national identity. These ideas range from a simple patriotism to a complex interweaving of political, economic, and cultural factors.
How sports are shaped by mass media
The media have profoundly influenced the development of modern sports culture, from the 18th century onward. They have changed the nature of sports coverage, transforming it from the recording of results to expansive, dramatic, and linguistically innovative accounts of sporting events.
The media have also been a key force in the globalization of sports. By sponsoring teams and athletes, commercial mass media have enabled sports to reach an ever-growing audience around the globe, facilitating their growth and development as well as generating income for companies that market goods and services to sports fans.
