The history of sports goes far back, at least as far as the Renaissance. Athletes’ emotional responses are guided by a variety of rules, which reflect how they assess their own and others’ performance. Many feelings are experienced before, during, and after the performance. Athletes are also expected to behave appropriately during the national anthem and postgame victory celebrations.
In the modern world, sports are increasingly commercialized. The mass media devotes significant space to profiling athletes and examining sports issues. Some of these profiles appear in collections such as “The Best American Sports Writing” and “The Sporting Life.” Books on sports include autobiographies and biographies of prominent athletes, reflections on sports fandom, and various coaching manuals.
Sports development has also been affected by the increasing globalization of society. The globalization of sports is part of a larger globalization process that has seen the rise of an international economy, transnational cosmopolitan culture, and numerous international social movements. The development of modern technology has made people, ideas, and images move faster across borders.
Sports began as a way for children to engage in physical play. In the late seventeenth century, the concept of a sports record emerged. The Puritans had repressed traditional pastimes, but the development of organized games took root. The Marylebone Cricket Club, which was founded in 1787, spearheaded the development of cricket and rationalized competition.