Tripp 1

Sydney Tripp

Professor Morris

English 2830

4 March 2020

The Impact of Sports on Society

Sports get the attention of many people all around the world. They have been a prominent

force in pop-culture and entertainment for many years (A-State Online). However, the impact of

sports reaches far beyond the entertainment industry. The power of sports has been recognized in

recent years with major organizations, such as the United Nations (UN), using sports as a tool for

development and peace (UN News). With the rise of media, sports are becoming more

influential. While many consumers are no longer actively participating in sports, sports are still a

big part of their lives. Sports are a powerful tool that can bring communities together, help

develop countries, improve national and local economies, and more.

Sports can affect society in many ways. One of the most prominent ways sports

influences society is the effect on the social development of underdeveloped countries. Sports

have had such a big impact on the social development of countries that the UN and International

Olympic Committee (IOC) created the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

(IDSDP), which has been celebrated every year on April 6 since 2014 (IOC). According to the

UN, the IDSDP was created as “an annual celebration of the power of sport to drive social

change, community development and to foster peace and understanding” (UN News 2).The UN

General Assembly’s decision to formally recognize sports’ role in promoting development and

peace was to a call to action for governments, sports organizations, and communities worldwide

to use the power of sports to achieve crucial goals.

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The date April 6 was chosen as the date for the IDSDP because it was a historical

connection to the first modern Olympic Games, which were held on April 6, 1896. Using sports

to promote peace and development has been the main focus of the IOC’s mission since1894, the

year it was founded (IOC). The founder of the IOC, Pierre de Coubertin, was candid in wanting

to use the Olympic Games as a way to promote peace and equality among individuals. He wrote,

“Wars break out because nations misunderstand each other, we shall have no peace until the

prejudices which now separate the different races shall have been outlived. To attain this end,

what better means than to bring the youth of all countries periodically together for amicable trials

of muscular strength and agility” (IOC).

The country of Rwanda has been a so-called” poster child” for using sports to promote

sustainable development and peace among communities. Rwanda is an underdeveloped nation in

central Africa that was in a civil war from 1990-1994. After the assassination of then-president

Juvénal Habyarimana in April 1994, genocidal killings began the following day when soldiers,

police, militia, and Hutu (ethnic group) executed Tutsi (ethnic group) military and political

leaders across the country. This sparked a mass genocide against the Tutsi people, killing

800,000 Rwandans. Many of the victims were killed in their own villages or towns by their

neighbors and villagers. Hutu gangs searched out victims hiding in churches and school

buildings and would kill them on sight. Episode one of the six-part documentary series This is

Football on Amazon Prime showcases how the power of sports has brought the country together

in the years following the horrific genocide.

After the civil war and genocide, many villages where left war torn and abandoned.

Soccer quickly became a way for the country’s citizens to escape and forget the country’s bloody

past and became the country’s favorite pastime. Citizens of all ethnic groups were able to come
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together without violence for the first time in almost a decade. The government quickly took

notice of the sport’s ability to unite its people and made a heavy investment in soccer to help

cover up memories of the past. With the Government's support, the Rwandan Football Federation

(the governing body for all soccer rules and regulations in the country) has helped the country

build one of the strongest and well-organized soccer governing bodies in the region. Sports, and

soccer in particular, have helped to unify the people of Rwanda, who no longer talk about the

past Hutu and Tutsi groupings.

Other countries in the region suffering from similar problems, like Kenya, Uganda, and

Tanzania, who failed to dedicate funds to promote sport. Following the civil war, Rwanda’s

government used a portion of their remaining money to construct an office building for its

football federation in the nation’s capital city of Kigali. The Rwandan Football Federation also

invested a large amount of money into youth development programs to help in maintain their

national teams (Redemption). However, the appropriate development of Rwanda's national

image, especially on the international stage, was not recognized by the world until 1997 when

the country was admitted to the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations

(CECAFA). The following year the country was represented for the first time at the CECAFA

Club championship by Rayon Sports Club. Despite being newcomers to the competition, the club

defied all odds to become the first Rwandan club to win the regional title, and their magical run

was able to unite an entire country in the process. Since then the country has been represented

every year at both the club and national level. With the success on the field, soccer has also

helped contribute to the peace of Rwanda off of the field (Redemption).

In America, sports are an important and prominent aspect of society. Sports have a

myriad of impacts on the public, including their influence on economics and the mass media.
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Many political organizations use sports to reinforce community values as they attempt to lay

down the foundation of common morals and ethics recognized not just by athletes, but also

society as a whole (Macri). Fans of spectator sports across the country find affirmation of

societal values through sports. Fans find meaning for life by joining or supporting a common

organization. “By becoming fans, spectators engage in certain kinds of pleasures, fulfilling their

own desires through fetishism, voyeurism, and narcissism" (Macri). The “Americanization” of

sports is something that people, as both fans and consumers, rely on to provide them with not

only a means of entertainment, but also a method to develop hidden values fixed in competition

(Fuller). Understanding of the “Americanization” of sports is crucial to understanding the unseen

cultural significance many athletes possess. “The norms and standards of society go tainted by

many athletes throughout the country, who believe that American spectator sports act as a

platform for the expression of individual principles onto humanity” (Marci 3). Society places

value on competition; therefore, value is placed on the participants and spectators of sports.

At no other time in history have sports played such a dominant role in daily life (Allison).

Thanks to the prevalence of the internet and television, adults and children around the world

observe sports at an astonishing rate. When one is not physically involved in sports, they play

them in video games and fantasy leagues, watch them on TV, or follow their social media. The

celebrity status of top athletes helps show the importance fans attach to sporting events

(Crossman). Sports’ effect on culture can even be seen in those who may not enjoy playing or

watching sports; these people still often know the names of important players, and they might

even still take national pride in Olympic medals. Take Kobe Bryant for example, not everybody

may have watched him as a player, yet a whole generation of kids yell his name when they throw

something into a garbage can. No matter how involved in sports one may be, sports generally
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provide society with some form of a shared story, goal, or idea. Sporting events have played

pivotal roles in communities around the world throughout history.

Today, sports that push the physical limits of the human body are more popular than ever

(Nikpour). As interest in health and fitness continues to rise, governments and businesses

continue to see sports as a smart investment, recognizing that sports will play a pivotal role in

society for generations to come (Farrey). With the rise in social media and technology, the faces

and highlights of famous athletes are seen almost everywhere. Many people see these athletes on

TV and other forms of media pushing their bodies to the limit. With obesity rates on the rise

around the world, sports are being used as a tool to help combat the epidemic (Aspen Institute).

These athletes and their stories can be used as a tool to help inspire kids and adults alike to live a

positive, healthy lifestyle. Viewing these athletes at their peak performance helps promote a

healthy and active lifestyle by showing the” gold standard” of human performance and by

showing that with hard work and dedication that anything is possible.

Sports are often at the forefront of cultural and civil change because sports help uphold

core societal values. For instance, in America, baseball has long been considered “America’s

pastime.” Dating back to the Civil War, soldiers played baseball as a way to raise morale. During

the civil rights movement, Jackie Robinson made history by becoming the first African

American player to get a major league contract in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. This took

place seven years before the Supreme Court considered “separate but equal” unconstitutional

(Allison). With the ability to bring communities together, sports are celebrated, and teams invoke

dedicated fan bases. One only has to walk around a public area on any local game day to see a

variety of shirts and banners in the home team’s colors. In a way, sports can unite otherwise

unalike groups or cultures across the world.

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Men and women have not always had equal opportunity when it comes to playing sports.

For example, in the 1800s, women’s participation in sports was discouraged or banned. It was

not until 1850 that physical education was made available for women and colleges and

universities. In the 1930s, basketball, track and field, and softball were seen as masculine sports,

and women were often discouraged to compete in such events. Even as late as the 1980s, women

were banned from running the marathon in the Olympics (Crossman). However in 1972, things

began to change with the passage of Title IX in the United States, a federal law that states: "No

person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied

the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity

receiving federal financial assistance” (Title IX 1972). The objective of Title IX was to make it

possible for females attending colleges or universities to receive federal funding and scholarships

to compete in the sport or sports of their choice. This was big a big step in gender equality,

because competition at the college level is often times an essential gateway to start a career in

professional athletics. The resulting emergence of high-profile female athletes across the world

can help inspire a generation of young women to pursue their dreams.

It goes without saying that a team’s ticket and apparel sales increase when a team does

well, but other businesses may see improvement as well. Restaurants, hotels, and event planning

services often see increases in business on and around game days. This increase extends beyond

professional and college sports to also include other amateur events, high school competitions,

and eve children and youth competitive leagues. In other words, sports culture and society help

drive industries and create work for a wide number of people around the world (Depta). After all,

there needs to be someone to manage and market teams, plan schedules, sell tickets, or prepare

stadiums for game day.

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Sports are a powerful tool that can bring communities together, help develop

countries, improve national and local economies, and more. Sports affect many different aspects

of society. While many people see sport as a form of entertainment, their impact is far more

important than many people realize. Sports affect the economy, government, and the ideals of

social norms. Sports have been a focal point of many developing nations throughout history and

their effects have not gone unnoticed. With the ability to bring communities together the power

of sports is much stronger than many realize.

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Works Cited
IOC. “United Nations' Resolution Recognizes the Importance of Sport for Sustainable
Development - Olympic News.” International Olympic Committee, IOC, 6 Feb. 2019,
www.olympic.org/news/united-nations-resolution-recognises-the-importance-of-sport-for-
sustainable-development.

This source is from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and it contains information on
how the IOC teamed up with the UN to recognize the power of sport during the development of a
country. In their 2030 agenda for sustainable development, developed in 2015, the UN
specifically stressed the importance of the role of sport in achieving sustainable development.
The resolution explains the “invaluable contribution of the Olympic and Paralympic movements
in establishing sport as a unique means for the promotion of peace and development, in particular
through the ideal of the Olympic Truce, acknowledging the opportunities provided by past
Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

Allison, Paul. “What Is the Role of Sports in Society?” NowComment.com, 18 Feb. 2018,
nowcomment.com/documents/97820.

This source talks about sports as a way of life. It expands on the cultural impact of sport and how
because of television and the internet, the public consumes sports at an overwhelming rate. In the
first half of the article, the author expands on the entertainment aspect of sports by pointing out
that even when the public is not physically participating in sports we are still so consumed by
sport that we watch them on TV, play them in video games, play in fantasy leagues and in some
cases gamble on the teams playing. The second half of the article touched on the humanitarian
effects of the sport by explaining why the UN declared sport a human right. Though the author
acknowledges the negative impacts of sports, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Depta, Laura. “12 Ways Sports Make a Positive Impact.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 3
Oct. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/2347988-12-ways-sports-make-a-positiveimpact.

This source is the broadest and basic of them all. The author breaks down 12 different reasons
that sports have an impact on society. Due to only having a couple of sentences for each of the
12 reasons, the article is an easy read and a great place to start research. After reading however I
was able to divide each of the 12 reasons into 4 subcategories: Economic Benefit, Pride,
Community Relations, and Emotion. The reasons stated for economic benefits were basic pretty
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basic stating that, as of 2013, the sports industry in America produced 456,000 jobs. Pride and
emotion somewhat fall together. Sports provide a platform for people to come together and
support their country, city, or favorite team. Sports are emotional, and they can incite great
passion, anytime something can bring out that raw emotion in people, it is an amazing thing.

Fuller, David, and Robert Boland. “Measuring What Counts: The Impact of Sport on Society.”
Sports Business Daily, 27 Feb. 2017,
www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/02/27/Opinion/FullerBoland.aspx.

This source really expands on the economic impact of sports on society. It explains how much
sport has come since the very first Superbowl and highlights the benefits of cities that host major
sporting events like the Superbowl or Olympics. By explaining how a well-planned event can be
a great return on investment, the authors focus on the business aspects of sports. The fans are
ultimately the driving source of income for sports. Fans want to be the proud host of these
events, but they also want evidence of return on investment from positive social change, health
and wellness improvements, and more money going back into the economy through jobs.

Macri, Kenneth J. “Not Just a Game: Sport and Society in the United States.” Inquiries Journal,
Inquiries Journal, 1 Aug. 2012, www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1664/not-just-a-game-
sport-and-society-in-the-united-states.

This article talks more about sports impact on America specifically and how the sports industry
has been “Americanized”. The “Americanization” of sports is something that fans rely on to
provide them with not just a means of entertainment, but a way that we can express the beliefs
shown by teams through the athletes. Understanding the “Americanization” of sports is crucial to
understanding the cultural significance of many athletes. Fans find the approval of certain shared
beliefs through sports, as they connect them to their own lives. The author writes “By becoming
fans, spectators engage in certain kinds of pleasures, fulfilling their own desires through
fetishism, voyeurism, and narcissism.”

Nikpour, Noelle. “Impact of Sports Is Huge in Society.” Sun, 9 Oct. 2018, www.sun-
sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2011-10-02-fl-nncol-sports-oped1002-20111002-story.html.

This article explains the true level of influence that athletes have on the fans. Fans see their
favorite athletes who give them hope and motivation to conquer all the challenges life throws at
them. The author also talks about how not only athletes help motivate people through the
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challenges of life, but as well promote healthy lifestyles and motivate exercise. The World
Health Organization estimates that, worldwide, physical inactivity is responsible for near 2
million deaths per year. The most effective way to improve health is for communities to find
unique ways to increase physical activity. Sports is a perfect way to do just that, with star
athletes being the high standard, young athletes around the world have role models to look up to
and motivate them. Sports are a powerful tool to bring people together and to provide hope.

“UN Recognizes Role of Sport in Achieving Sustainable Development.” UN News, United

Nations, 4 Dec. 2018, news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1027531.

This article was quite broad compared to the others. The article explains why the UN chose to
recognize the role of sport in achieving sustainable development. The UN encourages its member
states to emphasize the importance of the use of sports as a platform to “foster sustainable
development…and respect and facilitate social inclusion, conflict prevention and peacebuilding.”
Sport has been seen by the UN as an important contributor to its development and peace goals
for a long time. The way sport promotes tolerance and respect, the contributions to health,
education and social inclusion for everybody are all of the reasons the UN recognizes sport as a
powerful tool for development.

“What Is the Role of Sport in Society? A-State Online.” Arkansas State University, 18 Jan. 2016,
degree.astate.edu/articles/sport-administration/what-is-the-role-of-sport-in-society.aspx.

This source briefly explains the effect sports have on America. Sports have often been on the
front lines of social changes, especially here in America. With the ability to bring people and
communities together, Sports are admired for this and the teams have very dedicated fan bases. It
is not any surprise that when a team does better, ticket and apparel sales grow. The team is not
the only business benefiting from a good season, restaurants, hotels, and other local businesses
around the area are also going to benefit from the influx of new fans and away fans during game
days. The culture of sport within society helps drive the industry and create new jobs within
communities around the world.

Amazon Studios. “Redemption.” This Is Football, season 1, episode 1.

This source is an hour-long episode in a six-part documentary series on amazon prime about how
soccer, or football, affects the world. I specifically chose this episode because the story is told by
three Liverpool fans, who are survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Each of the three narrators has
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their own story to tell about the horrors the witnessed in the genocide. After the genocide,
Rwanda was left with nothing and people were too scared to do anything. The three narrators
begin to explain how the sport of soccer helped reform and rebuild communities all around the
country. This reform was noticed by the UN who then acknowledged the power of sport in
developing countries by centering its 2030 agenda for sustainable development around sport,
because of the success of Rwanda has had by doing so.

Erskine, James, director. One Night in Turin. New Black Films, 2010.

This documentary takes a look at the England soccer team during the 1990 World Cup. It looks
at the social and political context of the 1990 World Cup as well as how people's perception of
the England soccer team changed. Before the 1990 World Cup, the reputation soccer in England
was a disgrace, the fans were seen as reckless and rowdy, and soccer games in England and
‘hooliganism’ went hand in hand. Margret Thatcher, the current prime minister at the time, had
backed a proposal to prevent the national team from traveling to Italy that summer to play in the
world cup in fear of hooligans tarnishing the countries reputation. The team was eventually
granted access to go, but the team and its fans were under close watch by the Italian police. The
team saw this as a shot for redemption. They went on a magical run, making it to the semi-finals
where they eventually lost to West Germany on penalties. The team captured the hearts of fans
all over England and seemed to unite the country. This transformed the sport from hooliganism
to a source of national pride.

Crossman, Ashley. “What's the Relationship Between Sports and Society?” ThoughtCo, 2 July
2019, www.thoughtco.com/sports-sociology-3026288.

This article talks about the sociology of sports, which is the relationship between sports and
society. It explores how sports influence culture and values in society, and the relationship
between sports the media, politics, economics, religion, race, gender, and youth. Two major
topics this article focuses on are gender inequality and gender identity. One of the biggest areas
of study within sports sociology is gender. This article highlights key events that helped gender
equality for women. One of the most important of these events was the introduction of Title IX.
Title IX was passed in 1972 and says, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex,
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." This essentially
made it possible for female athletes that are attending schools to receive scholarships to compete
in the sport or sports of their choice.

Editorial Team. “HOW DO SPORTS INFLUENCE SOCIETY?” Modern Life Blogs, 1 Mar.
2014, www.modernlifeblogs.com/2014/03/sports-influence-society/.
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This source gives many examples of how much sports are a part of our daily lives. The article
starts with the sentence “imagine a world without World Cup Soccer or without the Superbowl
or imagine a world without national or international championships of any kind.” They go on to
say that on a deep psychological level that the humans crave the thrill of sudden victories,
unexpected comebacks, and champions rising to the occasion. Though this is an exaggeration
they go on to explain why this is true in a sense. First of all, sports inspire us as nothing else can.
When we watch people do incredible things that we may not have the ability to do it gives us a
sense of awe, which in itself has the ability to change lives. The second reason stated is that
sports give us a sense of camaraderie that nothing else can. As a fan, you represent a team that
gives a sense of unity and brings us closer to others around us. The final reason stated is that
participation in sports drives people to be better and push themselves to do more. Sports have
effects of spectators and participants alike, they help give people meaning, purpose, and
direction.

Farrey, Tom. “The Critical Role of Sports in Society.” The Aspen Institute, 10 Nov. 2016,
www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/critical-role-sports-society/.

This article speaks about the problems of obesity in America, and how sports is the number one
tool we can use to combat this. It explains how sports are no longer just a hobby or game. Today
sports reflect and shape our culture. It then explains some of the areas that sports are lacking.
The main one being that we need to get more girls to fall in love with the sport at a young age.
The United States is already head and shoulders above most countries when it comes to youth
development through sport, but more can still be done. The ability to include anyone and
everyone in sport and physical activity from a young age can do numbers for the obesity rate.

Houlihan, Barrie, and Dominic Malcolm. Sport and Society: A Student Introduction. 3rd ed.,
SAGE, 2016.

This is the ultimate source. This is a textbook that contains any and all information on why and
how sports affect society. A bulk of the information is on how much sports influence the
economy. Professional athletes are always seen in advertisements trying to influence us as
consumers to invest in the good or service they are advertising for. Sports is the ultimate
marketing tool. You can never go to a professional sports match without seeing advertisements
everywhere you look. An example of how sports influence consumers are how Coors Light, the
official beer of the Philadelphia Flyers, projects a picture of their iconic logo and mountain range
on the ice during intermissions between periods. The Zamboni will start at one end of the ice and
as it drives over the mountains, they will turn blue, signaling to Flyers fans around the arena it’s
time for a new ice-cold Coors Light. Since implementing this marketing technique Coors Light
has seen a noticeable increase in beer sales at Flyers games.
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“Role of Sport in Modern Society Cultural Studies Essay.” UKEssays.com, 12 May 2016,
www.ukessays.com/essays/cultural-studies/role-of-sport-in-modern-society-cultural-
studies-essay.php.

This essay looks at ‘the social role of sport in the development of society.’ Sport has an effect on
large key aspects of social life. Sport affects national relations, business life, social status,
fashion forms, ethical values, people’s lifestyle. Politicians have considered the national sports
team as a form of enjoyment, that is able to unite communities based on a shared idea, people’s
desire to succeed and win. Sports in America have become somewhat of a ‘second religion’ to
some, playing an important part in lives and in the media to help overcome a “psychological
barrier” in the public’s mindset toward physical activity.