A Brief Look At Sport And Recreation

We all know kids are athletes, that they are always being told that they should be encouraged to pursue sports and recreation as a career because it allows them to keep their bodies fit and in shape. We also know that most of these kids will end up playing sports longer than the people who did not pursue sports as a career or who chose other careers. What then is sport and why is it so important for our children? What exactly is ‘sport’?

In the early 20th century there were a number of major tournaments that swept the country, including the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games was first hosted by Germany in 1900 and since then there have been many contests around the world. Each event usually lasts for a duration of about four weeks and sportsmen from all over the world participate. The games themselves are very physically demanding, with a wide range of disciplines including swimming, gymnastics, fencing, baseball, softball, rowing, sailing, track and field and sailing. The reason for these intense sports competitions is to see which countries can achieve the greatest physical perfection – both in terms of the physiological and emotional state of their athletes. Competitions are widely known as ‘man competitions’ or even ‘girl competitions’ and are held regularly all over the world.

There are two schools of thought within the subject of sports and recreation. On the one hand there are those who believe that modern sports are too physical and competitive, and that games such as the football or rugby game are merely ‘bragging rights’ or ‘show games’. On the other hand there are those who believe that sports, through their dedication and hard work, are beneficial to young people through fostering social interaction and improving confidence. Modern sports also teach people skills such as endurance, teamwork, agility and good sportsmanship. Finally, sports may be played socially as well as on an individual level.