Author: LSU Online
Sporting events have played pivotal roles in communities around the world throughout history. Today, contests pushing physical limits are more popular than ever before. As interest in health and longevity continues to rise, and governments and businesses continue to see sporting events as sound investments, sports will play a vital role in society for the foreseeable future.
Sports As a Way of Life
At no other time in history have sports played such a dominant role in daily life. Thanks to the prevalence of the internet and television, adults and children alike consume sports at an astonishing rate. When we are not physically involved in sports, we play them via video games or in fantasy leagues, and we watch them on TV. The celebrity status of top athletes speaks to the importance we attach to sporting events.
Athletic endeavors, both amateur and professional, have a tremendous economic, political and cultural influence on our society. Watching and playing sports provide ways to escape the stress of our daily lives and come together as a community. Hosting sporting events can boost tourism and revenue for a city. Sports in society can even influence our understanding of gender roles and socio-economic issues, and they can help frame city-, state- and national identity.
Sports’ immense effect on culture is especially evident among those who may not enjoy playing or watching sports–these people often still know the names of key players, and they may still take national pride in Olympic medals. No matter your individual involvement, sports generally provide everyone in a society with some form of a shared story and a shared goal.
In fact, sports in society are so vital that the United Nations (UN) has declared them a human right: “Sport and play are human rights that must be respected and enforced worldwide; sport has been increasingly recognized and used as a low-cost and high-impact tool in humanitarian, development and peace-building efforts.”
While the UN recognizes that sports can also, at times, negatively influence society with corruption, scandal and the incitement of violence, their positive influence far outweighs their negative aspects: “Sport has a unique power to attract, mobilize and inspire. By its very nature, sport is about participation. It is about inclusion and citizenship. It stands for human values such as respect for the opponent, acceptance of binding rules, teamwork and fairness, all of which are principles which are also contained in the Charter of the United Nations.”
Physical activities like sports, whether for recreational, professional or educational purposes, are not merely about fitness or victory; above all, they are an essential building block of a prosperous and healthy society. Much like a country’s educational system, media or political and social movements, sporting events bring disparate people together by strengthening ties and celebrating the common ideals of fairness, sacrifice and hope. Sports in society remind us that following prescribed rules does not have to be boring and that we must always carve out a place for fun in our lives.
A Career in Sports
The importance of sports in society extends to those who make a career in sports in other ways than playing on a professional team. To follow this path, many professionals earn a master’s degree in sports management. The program is ideal for individuals who enjoy exploring the cultural, economic or sociological sides of sports. For example, in its online Master of Science in kinesiology with a specialization in sport management degree program, Louisiana State University offers a course titled “Social Issues in Sports,” which provides an in-depth examination of the role of sports in society and highlights key issues in professional sports.
A master’s degree in sports management could be a good choice for those who enjoy exercising their minds as much as their bodies.
Learn about the LSU online MS in Kinesiology with a Specialization in Sport Management program.
Sources:
USADA: What Sport Means in America: A Study of Sport’s Role in Society
United Nations: Office on Sport for Development and Peace: Overview
Psychology Today: Why Are Sports Important?
DMU Timestamp: February 08, 2018 18:47
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Sep 3
Cesar E
(Sep 03 2021 12:24PM) : sports can provide entertainment for others and the players can also have fun competing with other player from across the world
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Sep 24
Jose V
(Sep 24 2021 11:49AM) : The pole if sports is football and it take a all of time just to make it to there and it have provide entertainment for others in the other player in it also fun competing the games and across the world
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Sep 3
sports contain alot of competitive emotions
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Sep 3
yes sports can get really competitive while in a game playing.
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Sep 17
Adriell H
(Sep 17 2021 11:38AM) : I agree since they can ccontain many emotions when winning or losing or winning the game doing good or really anything that hapens in the game.
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Sep 17
I agree because you can get happy while playing, mad, sad, ect
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Sep 3
Cesar P
(Sep 03 2021 1:47PM) : sports can provide entertainment for others and the players can also have fun more
sports can provide entertainment for others and the players can also have fun
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Sep 3
Daniel A
(Sep 03 2021 5:02PM) : Sports can bring people together or tear them apart but really it's just enjoyable to watch and it's a great way to pass time
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Sep 17
sports also show people how to do things in a team
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Sep 9
Sports in society can even influence our understanding of gender roles and socio-economic issues, and they can help frame city-, state- and national identity.
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Sep 9
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Sep 10
Anyssa L
(Sep 10 2021 1:06PM) : I agree because sports became a world wide entertainment. This also brings societies together to and brings peace amongst each other.
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Sep 9
Sixto S
(Sep 09 2021 3:26PM) : the celebrity status of top athletes speaks to the importance we attach to sporting events
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Sep 24
you can get poupler when playing sports
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Sep 10
Iliana M
(Sep 10 2021 11:52AM) : Sports in society can even influence our understanding of gender roles and also, entertaining and/or inspiring people or children around the world
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Sep 10
sports need alot of effort and attention
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Sep 10
Sports is fun to play and it can provide fun for may people or even competitive playing and it can bring exercise
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Sep 10
Brianna B
(Sep 10 2021 1:18PM) : I think sports have become something really important in most of our lives, but I think it became more important for people who actually play a sport I think it makes it more fun.
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Sep 10
Sports entertain people because it is something that looks fun and cool which people play spots because they interest them
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Sep 10
sports can bring entertainment for others and for people to have fun while playing and being competitive too
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Sep 10
Isaac M
(Sep 10 2021 2:29PM) : sports is all around the world and mostly everyone knows how to play any kind of sport more
sports is to really have fun
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Sep 10
Evan V
(Sep 10 2021 4:54PM) : how sports are important more
sports are important because its relives stress our of our life and come together
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Sep 11
Well sports really helps entertain people while they are at home. and during this pandemic people have been watching old clips.
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Sep 17
Enaya C
(Sep 17 2021 11:51AM) : sports are for everyone around the world bu they take alot of time and effort.
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Sep 17
Abel B
(Sep 17 2021 12:29PM) : I love sports because it gets you in shape and its fun.And you learn a lot of things. more
I love sports because it gets you in shape and its fun.And you learn a lot of things.
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Sep 17
You could learn a lot of things and its fun.
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Sep 17
Rayvion J
(Sep 17 2021 12:44PM) : sports are not only a hobbies or a talent but it is also a way of entertaining people around the world in a fun way
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Sep 17
Zarayeh M
(Sep 17 2021 1:08PM) : Sports can be fun but competitive when players are going up against each other. Sports also can be dangerous if you mess up.
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Sep 17
Jeffry C
(Sep 17 2021 1:41PM) : Sports is a entertaining for others such as football players and athelets. [Edited] more
sports is a way to life becuse its a way to have fun its a way to get outside and play
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Sep 17
Even though sports may have many emotions like a win or lose or something tragic happened, they are still entertainment to us “fans”. Also the players do something have being able to have fun with their friends and get to show off on how great they in the competition.
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Sep 17
Sixto S
(Sep 17 2021 1:46PM) : the importance of sports in society extends to those who amke a career in sports in other ways than playing on a prefessional team.
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Sep 17
Sport are very entertainment to watch or play, but in sports there a lot of competition when playing. People can get hurt while they play, other then that sports is very fun to do/play.
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Sep 17
sports could make kids have time to learn something new and have fun.They could be learning a goal instead of being in there phones all day.
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Sep 17
its helpfull because its competetive but with spots you can probably and can be help full in health.
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Sep 17
doing sports can help you with a lot of things, like Better Sleep, Strong Heart, Reduces Stress,
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Sep 17
Sports provide entertainment for both the players and viewers.Sports allow both players and viewers to feel strong emotions towards sports.
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Sep 17
entertainment
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Sep 23
Lluvia Natalya B
(Sep 23 2021 5:57PM) : in fact sports in society are so vital that the united nations (un) has declared them a human rights
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Sep 23
Lluvia Natalya B
(Sep 23 2021 6:05PM) : At no other time in history have sports played such a dominant role in daily life
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Sep 24
sports contains emotions when losing or winning. but you learn from either of those two. you get better in your own way if you decide to work for those goals
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Sep 24
Destiny C
(Sep 24 2021 1:02PM) : sports is entertainment for people and you can meet other people from all around the world and can bring people together.
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Sep 24
Erick Andres C
(Sep 24 2021 1:30PM) : acer deporte puede ayudarte con muchas cosas, como dormir mejor, tener un corazón fuerte, reducir el estrés,
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Sep 24
Sports use to be something for fun a long time ago now it is used as a career people make millons from playing sports and other people enjoy watching them it gives people something to look forward to. Sports arnt essential for life they do make it easier.
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Sep 24
Albert C
(Sep 24 2021 2:28PM) : Sports make kids do something that they love and make them want to go pro. Athletes inspire kids go play a sport they love. It is exercise that can help kids. It makes them be competitive. I thinks that why sports play a big role in the whole entire world
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Sep 24
the role of sports are that you have to play for your team and you need to do your best
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Sep 24
Jeanece C
(Sep 24 2021 3:15PM) : When we are not physically involved in sports, we play them via video games or in fantasy leagues, and we watch them on TV.
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Sep 24
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Sep 24
if you are playing and concentrating you will see that the game is serious and competitive the game is
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Sep 25
Marcos G
(Sep 25 2021 12:45PM) : sports can help you stay in contain. it can entertain people around the world, you can get poupler . more
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Sep 28
sports may require hard training to improve little by little but what counts is having fun.
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Oct 7
The sports society is a really popular thing
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Oct 29
Jaqueline P
(Oct 29 2021 1:50AM) : sports can contain many diffrent rules. one of the rules that many peopel dont get is that its just a game. sports have a lot of emotions in them witch can cause problems w both of the teams
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Sep 3
Nathan Q
(Sep 03 2021 12:17PM) : it can bring states together as 2 different states can compete
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Sep 3
its amazing how competitive sports can be especially if there rivals
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Sep 10
Andrew G
(Sep 10 2021 11:57AM) : sport is getting more like in the world. also the businesses like putting ads in sports [Edited]
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Sep 10
sports gets alot of money for the actul game and cuz of the sponsers they use and from the tikit people buy
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Sep 17
sports re good for your health becasue you do other things then go look at the tv
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Sep 3
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Sep 3
sports can keep us distracted and focused
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Sep 3
Watching and playing sports can relieve the stress we have in our daily lives and can bring people together as a community. Sports is an easy distraction and entertainment wether you watch it or play it. You can also find sports being in a video game and is an easy distraction for boredom.
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Sep 9
People love sports that’s why there are athletes and things like that. Its an everyday thing in life that people do and when they cant physically they play video games. Sports has become such a big thing in life so many people earn things from it but you can also have risks that come along with that.
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Aug 24
Sports play a crucial part in our daily life. It makes us both mentally and physically fit. Now Sports also give us a chance to earn money by joining contest on Real11 app.
https://real11.com/
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Aug 31
yes sports is a dominant role because sports are very competetive and you gotta beat youre aponant with a time limit.
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Sep 1
sports are very competitive
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Sep 2
Abel B
(Sep 02 2021 11:51AM) : I love sports because it keeps me away of being bored.Also because its a work out. more
I love sports because it keeps me away of being bored.Also because its a work out.
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Sep 8
it keeps you out of drama and it gets you in condition.
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Sep 3
Sports make kids do something that they love and make them want to go pro. Athletes inspire kids go play a sport they love. It is exercise that can help kids. It makes them be competitive. I thinks that why sports play a big role in the whole entire world.
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Sep 3
Sports are really a way of life.They help us with so much and are very dominate in our lives. They have a pretty good impact on our community.
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Sep 3
sports are very competitive and dangerous depending on the sport
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Sep 3
Sports allow children, teens, and young adults to have an interest and it can teach them important values. It can provide a sense of fairness, respect, and teamwork. Being apart of a team can be really helpful for a person.
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Sep 3
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Sep 3
Andreas M
(Sep 03 2021 1:37PM) : sports are dominant because we do things that invole sports in our every day life
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Sep 9
sports are really a way of life
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Sep 3
Erick Andres C
(Sep 03 2021 1:50PM) : For me, sports are very different for games and their wide range of things that you can do in sports
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Sep 3
Mabel E
(Sep 03 2021 3:37PM) : That the sports have a very big place in my culture. That a lot of people can enjoy sports. more
Sports a more than something you like its a part of you. Its difine you. But i hope that people would stop saying that woman can’t play because its just for man. Everyone can play sports regarless of you gender.
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Sep 24
Yes sports do lots of things and they really do play lots of roles in your life because everything running or walking is a sport. if you really do A sport you can get a career out of it due to scholarships
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Oct 7
Sports make kids do something that they love and make them want to go pro. Athletes inspire kids go play a sport they love.
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