While the aesthetic element is still present in some sports, the emphasis on quantitative achievement is the norm today. A similar shift can be observed in the concept of “measure,” which used to connote a sense of proportion or balance, but has now come to mean numerical measurements. These changes, influenced by the socio-cultural context of a sport, have shaped the way emotions are expressed by participants. In addition, emotions play a crucial role in forging the bonds of nationalism between players, coaches, and fans.
The word “sport” implies intense physical activity. It is characterized by intense movements of the body in a controlled environment. Usually, it involves burning calories and exhaustion. It also involves skill development in the body part used to perform the activity. Sports are widely popular in countries all over the world. Whether amateur or professional, sport is an activity that enhances human beings. Here are some of the best-known sports:
Ancient civilizations used the concept of “sports” to describe activities that were more complex than today’s. For example, ancient Chinese and Aztecs played ball games. Some of these games were not contests but rituals. They also included lifting grain sacks. Ancient peasants participated in games, such as folk football. These games pitted married men against bachelors and villages against each other. Some of these games continued to be played until the 19th century in Britain, although the violence associated with them led Renaissance humanists to condemn such practices.
