Are you a Sports Junky

Sportsmanship, as the name implies is the attitude that strives towards excellence and fair play. It comprises courtesy toward team mates and opponents along with ethical behavior on and off the field. A sportsman is judged by his integrity and the grace he displays in losing. The spirit of sportsmanship expresses an aspiration for the involved activity to be thoroughly enjoyed for its own sake. The sentiment that is encouraged while training and on the field is that it hardly matters whether you win or lose, what matters is how you play the game and your participation.

Sadly, there are times when the pressures of competition or an obsession with the individual achievement works against the element of fair play. The element of fairness is also affected negatively with the recent intrusion of technology in sport. Amateurs often seek recognition and respectability as sportsmen by joining dedicated federations or by creating their own regulatory bodies and in this way sports like cycling, snowboarding, and wrestling have evolved from leisure activities to formal sports!

The further additions to the ever increasing popularity of the different sports led to a number of dedicated sports fan following the exploits of professional athletes. Athletes began to combat for first, second and third positions in a number of sports. The cheering and support group operated via enhanced radio, television, and now - the internet. The endeavor was to use technology to enroll, participate and follow all the exercises and competitions associated with amateur participation and professional sports.

In the new millennium, new sports have been introduced and able participation is now invited from athletes and sportspersons within the physical aspect to the mental or psychological aspect of competing. The wireless technology has made cyber sports organizations very popular and now you also have competitions that you can take part in from the comfort of your living room. All sports activities, where the outcome is determined by judgment that is based on the overall execution of expertise are considered performances.

Research reveals that the Chinese indulged in sports way back in 4000BC! There are artifacts and structures that support the claim and gymnastics was probably the most popular sport in China’s ancient past. The engravings and paintings on the monuments of the Pharaohs highlight a number of sports like swimming and fishing, javelin throwing, high jump, and wrestling. This brings to light that sport was well-developed and regulated even in the rich ancient Egyptian civilization. Ancient Persian sports included martial art, competition in warfare skills, polo and jousting. Greece encouraged a wide range of sports that was greatly influenced by their military culture and the Greeks created the Olympic Games, played every four years in a small village in Peloponnesus.

Industrialization and the subsequently increased leisure time lead to more time for citizens to attend and partake in spectator sports and athletic activities. With the increased accessibility and the advent of mass media and communication, professionalism became prevalent in the world of sport