Sport, Culture & Society Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is society in sport
In sport, society refers to the broader group of people, communities, cultures, and social structures that influence and/or are influenced by sport. It includes how sport interacts with social norms, values, institutions, and issues
Issues that sports interact with
- Identity and belonging (e.g., national pride in a football team)
- Social class and access (e.g., who can afford to participate)
- Gender and equality (e.g., coverage of women’s sport vs men’s)
- Race and inclusion (e.g., campaigns against racism / promoting disabilities in sport)
- Politics and power (e.g., sport used for political statements or diplomacy)
What is society
A group of people who share a common culture/interest, institutions, and way of life.
In sport, society shapes how sport is organised, who has access to it, and what values are promoted through participation
What is socialisation
The lifelong process of learning the norms, values, behaviour, and culture of your society.
In sport, this includes learning teamwork, fair play, and respect through participation.
What is social control
The ways in which behaviour is regulated within society, often through laws, norms, or expectations.
In sport, rules, referees, and governing bodies help enforce acceptable behaviour and discourage deviance.
What is culture
The shared beliefs, customs, values, and behaviours of a group of people. Sport reflects and contributes to culture
(e.g., national traditions like football/cricket in England or rugby in Wales).
What is social institutions
Structured and organised systems within society that influence behaviour and contribute to social order —
such as family, education, religion, government, and sport itself
What is sport in contemporary British culture, what does sport offer to the society we live in today?
-increased economic growth
-the quality of our society (wellbeing and health)
-promotes unity and shared experiences
-escape from society and life
-offers a national identity
-used to shape values and models
-use to breakdown social barriers, stereotypes and prejudice
Sport and it’s role in different areas of society
“The different avenues of society that sport transcends”
- Health
- Leisure
- Business
- Entertainment
Sports role in health
Sport contributes to physical, mental, and emotional health by encouraging active lifestyles.
Benefits:
• Reduces risk of lifestyle diseases (e.g.,
obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease).
• Improves mental well-being and reduces stress and anxiety.
• Enhances self-esteem and social inclusion.
Examples:
• NHS and government campaigns like
“Change4Life” promote sport for healthier living.
• Initiatives such as Parkrun encourage free, accessible physical activity
Sports and physical activity can therefore :
Enhance quality of life
Reduce medical costs
Increase productivity
Sports role in leisure
Sport is a major leisure activity
for both participants and spectators.
Benefits:
• Provides enjoyment and escapism from daily life.
• Creates opportunities for informal and formal participation (e.g., casual 5-a-side, gym sessions,amateur leagues).
Examples:
• Community sports clubs and leisure centres offering football, swimming, yoga, etc.
• Spectating at live matches, watching sports on TV, or engaging through apps and games (e.g., Fantasy Premier League)
Sports role in business
Sport is a growing global industry that generates revenue and creates employment.
Key Features:
• Sponsorship, advertising, ticket sales,
broadcasting rights, and merchandise.
• Employment in coaching, sport science, physiotherapy, event management,journalism, and sports marketing.
Examples:
• Premier League clubs generating
millions through sponsorship deals (e.g., kit sponsors, stadium naming rights).
• Major companies (Nike, Adidas) using
athletes for product marketing and
branding.
Sports role in entertainment
Sport is one of the world’s leading forms of entertainment, accessible across many platforms.
Key Features:
• Offers drama, excitement, and emotion.
• Celebrated through live events, highlights, documentaries,
films, and video games.
Examples:
• The Olympics or FIFA World Cup broadcast to global audiences.
• Streaming platforms (e.g., Netflix’s The Last Dance, Amazon’s All or Nothing series) blending sport and
storytelling.
What is social mobility
The movement of individuals or groups within a societys social or economic hierarchy
What is commodity
Something that is bought, sold or traded - usually for profit
In sport this refers to commercialisation
With physical education on the national curriculum and is a statutory
requirement, the society can foster what values of physical education and sport?
• Respect
• Competitiveness
• Teamwork
• Tolerance
• Cooperation
• Personal effectiveness
• Problem solving
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Fair play and sportsmanship
• Respect for authority
• Following rules
• Importance of competition
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Diversity and inclusion
How do Governments use sport?
why might they choose to host Olympic games and invest in elite sport?
Benefits:
• Promote their political ideologies (use for “soft power”, political messaging or diplomacy)
• Shop-window effect – use major sporting events to showcase a country in the best possible light
• Sports-washing – present a country to distract from political issues
• Health promotion (investment in sport to reduce obesity and
improve mental health) → reduces strain on NHS
• Infrastructure benefits
• Economic Benefits
• Including boosting tourism, local business & economic regeneration
• Social Integration (Bread and circuses’ effect)
• Social control - Reduction in crime levels and antisocial behaviour
• Political benefits - Propaganda
• National Pride (“Feel good factor”)
• Military preparedness/defence
• Sport-specific benefits - can lead to increased participation
• Creation of role models & “cult-heroes”
• Increased success at elite level → increased participation → larger
talent pool. Benefit?
“Increased success at elite level leads to
increased participation which then leads to larger
talent pool.” – what can this lead to?
Greater the talent pool, greater the chance of finding new talent
More elite athletes
More medals/success
More role models
More inspiration
Increase participation
What is bread and circuses
A Roman political strategies
- give the people food and entertainment, and you can count on their contentment and support
(In other words, it would distract the
population from existing political and social issues)
