The Role of Sports in the Global Society

1147 Words5 Pages
Sports play many roles in society. A few of the roles in which sports play are as a form of entertainment, a form of income and business and a way to better individual health. The essay “why sports matter” by Wilfred Sheed gives a detailed analysis on the importance of sports. Sports can be related to almost every aspect of life. Sheed talks about the history and evolution of how sports were viewed, refined, and used for the benefit of a nation. He also gives the advantages and disadvantages of athletes and how they are perceived by the public. According to sheed sports were considered to be bad and a complete waste of time back before the 19th century. The view on sports began to change at some point during the 19th century. “England, where it all began, was coming into its maturity as an imperial power and the industrial Revolution was turning country boys into city boys overnight, and society’s guardians began to look at all forms of entertainment in light of these developments, but especially at sports”(Sheed 489). Sports began to evolve and change as time passed. They became a much more widely appreciated form of entertainment. Watching a game was another distraction from personal troubles such as work or unemployment or it was watched just for a general love for the game itself. It also instilled in the athletes virtues like self-control, perseverance, courage and respect for teammates, officials and opposing teams. “But perhaps the greatest benefit of all, to judge from the fuss that would be made about it, was that sports not only outlawed cheating but it drilled its devotees to detect and despise it in each other and by extension in them”(Sheed 490). It built character with in each of the athletes and most of condemned the idea of cheating. Sports created an atmosphere that drove its participants to hate and despise cheating in each other and themselves.

More about The Role of Sports in the Global Society

Open Document