Sports are competitive physical activities in which participants use their physical skills to achieve a specific goal. In addition to providing entertainment for participants and spectators, sports can also promote good physical health. There are hundreds of different types of sports, some involving only one contestant, while others may involve hundreds or even thousands of participants at a time.
Most sports involve rules and customs that govern the competition. These guidelines help to ensure fair play and the consistent adjudication of winners. Some sports use subjective measures to determine who wins, while others use objective ones. For instance, in gymnastics, the results are determined by a panel of judges. In boxing, however, subjective and objective measures are used to determine who wins.
Emotional processes are also important aspects of the sports experience. These emotions are a reflection of how the athlete sees himself or herself, as well as the way others perceive him or her. Some of these feelings may be triggered prior to performance, while others may emerge during the event itself. Many athletes adopt rules of behavior to control their emotional responses. This includes appropriate behaviour during the national anthem and during post-game victory celebrations.
Modern sports are a part of a larger globalization process, which has created worldwide networks of interdependencies. As a result, the twentieth century saw the development of a global economy, a transnational cosmopolitan culture, and a range of international social movements. The development of modern technology also accelerated the travel of people, money, and images. These interwoven patterns of globalization affected the development of modern sports.