The Globalization of Sports

Sports

The world of sports is a diverse one, encompassing everything from amateur competitions to professional competitions. However, some cultures are more interested in sports than others. In the late 20th century, elite sports and the mass media became economically intertwined. Without billion-dollar broadcast rights and saturation coverage in sports pages, professional sports would be impossible. No other form of culture can attract billions of viewers. Here are some reasons why. Read on to learn more.

As a result, it is possible to imagine the development of sports as a component of a wider process of globalization. The globalization of sports, as well as other aspects of the global economy, has led to the emergence of a worldwide network of interdependencies. The development of the global economy, transnational cosmopolitan culture, and global social movements were all pioneered during the 20th century. With the advancement of modern technology, images, money, and people can move more rapidly. The globalization of sports has resulted in a diverse set of identities and body cultures.

Although core countries remain dominant on the field of play for most sports, noncore nations often aspire to become the dominant force in a particular sport. In middle-distance races, for example, East African runners dominate the field. However, the control of ideological resources tends to be in the West, with the IOC and the headquarters of most international sports federations based in Europe. Consequently, noncore countries have made use of regularly held sports festivals to build national identities and gain international recognition.