Sports are physical activities in which people compete. They are also a way to represent people and communities, as well as to influence identity formation.
A sport is a type of activity, such as swimming, martial arts or gymnastics, that requires skill, memorization, and physical exertion. It is usually performed with teams.
Some sports are based on an aesthetic aspect, such as ballet or golf. Others involve competition, such as boxing. All of these activities are closely linked to national identity.
Many traditional sports, such as soccer and rugby, are closely linked to religion, community, and values. The sport of cricket is seen as a part of England’s cultural identity. Rugby union is closely tied to the Welsh community and the values of the Welsh people.
Modern sports have developed since the late 17th century. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the invention of the bicycle led to a shift in the popularity of sports. This changed the emphasis of sports from individual achievements to quantitative achievement.
In the past, the word measure was synonymous with proportion. In the early 16th century, the use of geometric patterns of movement appealed to the elites. However, the word “measure” came to refer to numerical measurements, despite the fact that there was no measurable difference between two objects.
The emergence of modern sports in the 19th and 20th centuries was due to globalization. People moved in multiple directions, and their identities changed in response to these new spatial and transnational flows.