The Origin of Sports
The history of sports is a long one, with a number of important figures including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Baron Pierre de Coubertin putting forth the case for the importance of physical activity. Sports are important because they impart moral, ethical, and social values. Early Americans stressed the importance of exercise and played sports like running and swimming. Even presidents of the United States promoted physical activity. However, the origin of sports isn’t fully understood.
The idea behind the term “sport” is based on a system of comparable measures. The winner and loser of a given competition is determined by comparing the performance of all those involved in the sport. As a result, participating in a sport improves a person’s ability to perform in similar activities. But is sport truly an objective, fair, and healthy activity? There’s no clear cut answer, though the concept of fair play is fundamental to many sports, and it varies by discipline and geography.
Despite the importance of competition and fair play, some participants in sports may cheat to increase their chances of winning or to obtain financial gain. Many sports offer betting opportunities for spectators, which often gives rise to the motivation for “match fixing,” in which the outcome of a sporting event is manipulated. In addition to match-fixing, the competitive nature of sports often encourages participants to take performance-enhancing drugs or artificial means to increase their blood volume.
In addition to the technical and tactical aspects of sport, aesthetics and the value of the sport itself are also important. The proper appreciation of a sport is essential, and allegiance to a particular team threatens to compromise that. Therefore, it’s important to avoid the temptation of being overly emotional or sentimental in a sport. However, this is often a dangerous trap to fall into. While a sport may be an important element of the culture of a country, it can still be an artistic expression if it is performed well.
The term sport entails intense physical activity. The participants move the body through an environment in an attempt to win. This type of activity can also lead to sweating or physical exhaustion. Ultimately, sport develops the body part used to play it. And unlike other types of physical activity, sports are an excellent source of entertainment for non-participants. Even people who dislike sports should recognize their value. The term itself is subjective and depends on the individual.
While the moral impermissibility of cheating in sport has been challenged in several directions, Lance Armstrong and other athletes have been at the center of the debate. A significant proportion of competitors, or participants, participate in cheating, then the competition is morally wrong. In addition, if the entire sport involves the use of cheating tactics, then the duty to compete ceases. If the sport is about the use of human resources, then it is wrong to cheat in a competition.