The modern sport began in the late 17th century in England, as the Puritans condemned traditional pastimes and drove them underground. The Puritans helped develop the first organized games, such as cricket, and they gave the word “record” its cultural context. Founded in 1787, the Marylebone Cricket Club led the way to the modern game of cricket, as well as the concept of a sporting record. The club’s members encouraged rational competition and the development of organized games.
Whether a sport is organised or informal, it is a form of physical activity that improves physical fitness and promotes social relationships. It also provides competitive results at all levels. Usain Bolt is a famous sprinter and the current 100 metre world record holder. Other bodies like the Council of Europe, however, advocate a broad definition of what constitutes a sport. The Council of Europe, for example, defines sport as all forms of physical exercise, including those that are performed for enjoyment.
Transnational corporations have successfully marketed sports to a global market. During the twentieth century, the development of the transnational economy, cosmopolitan culture, and a wide range of international social movements accelerated the spread of sport. People, money, and images can now travel much faster than ever. The globalization of sports, therefore, has a profound impact on the social and political fabric of modern societies. In particular, it has had a profound effect on the way athletes behave, as they are constantly subject to exploitation.
