Throughout history, sports have been used to represent national identity. They also contribute to the invention of traditions and identity.
Today, sport has become a global phenomenon. The rise of the transnational cosmopolitan culture and the advent of the global economy in the 20th century, among other things, has contributed to the diffusion of modern sports. These sports have become increasingly commercialized. These processes can have unintended consequences. The hegemonic masculine notions of sports may be challenged by the emergence of Asian and African cultures.
In the 19th century, sports began to emerge as autotelic physical contests for adults. These games replaced traditional pastimes. During this period, ballet and fencing were introduced in France. In addition, gymnastic exercise systems were developed in Sweden and Germany.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, gymnastics was introduced to school systems in Japan, the United States, and Germany. It subsequently flourished in eastern Europe.
Gymnastics festivals became grand occasions for nationalistic fervor. During the Soviet bloc era, reformist efforts in Czechoslovakia and Hungary were suppressed.
These are just a few examples of the ways in which sports are marketed. They are also signs of distinction and power. Some people end up not being athletes because of motivation, age, or lack of skill.
The emotional components of sport are an important part of the experience. They help to define roles, as well as how athletes, fans, and coaches are expected to behave.
Depending on the nature of the sport, feelings can occur during performance or before and after the game. Some of these can be orchestrated, while others are purely spontaneous.