Sports are global and cosmopolitan in nature. They have evolved over time, and have been shaped by political, social, and economic forces. Today, there is a global market for sports, and sports are both sources of pleasure and means of achieving status and power. Many countries have state-sponsored programs.
Most forms of sport are governed by a set of rules and customs that ensure fair competition and consistency in adjudication. The rules and customs may also determine how a sports performance is measured, which can be a subjective or objective measure. Traditionally, the word measure has meant a sense of balance, proportion, or balance, but has since become synonymous with numerical measures.
In the Middle Ages, sports were popular among the bourgeoisie. They were played in public, and often involved great fanfare. Archery matches were even accompanied by parades of archery companies. Often, the lower classes were offered a contest during the matches. Grand feasts were also part of the sporting event, and there was a chance to get drunk. In addition, the Pritschenkoenig was supposed to keep order and entertain the crowd with clever verses.
Throughout history, sports have played a major role in shaping the national identity of a nation. These sports are often based on invented traditions and use symbols like anthems and flags to make them more distinctive. Global sports, on the other hand, have introduced people to other cultures and strengthened cosmopolitanism. These global processes can also have unintended consequences.