Sports have
become increasingly popular not only within the United States but globally as
well. The globalization of sports has created the spread of media coverage
resulting in a vast knowledge of sports. The Olympic Games are a perfect
example of the globalization of sport. The Olympics have taken globally known
sports and configured them to a certain set of rules that every country must
obey. As Bryant stated in the Handbook of
Sports and Media, “Globalization can be seen to involve a flexible network
of multidirectional movements of people, practices, customs, and ideas.” Although
the Olympics encompass many different sporting events, there are still several
sports that countries consider to be their “national Identity”, but they are
not played at the Olympics.
As society
continues to develop, sports are becoming a large part of national identities.
Sports serve to develop and refine the sense that nations have of themselves.
Many nations have a sport that reflects their values as a culture. For example,
the sport of England is cricket because it embodies their national character
through fair play, valor, and graceful conduct. Bull fighting is seen as the
traditional sport of the Spanish Culture while Sumo Wrestling represents the
uniqueness of Japanese Culture. Through sports, each nation has developed a
sense of national character that reflects their cultural values.
In America, our
nation was originally developed around the sport of baseball. However as
society has evolved over the years, baseball is now seen as America’s past time
and football has taken the role of representing our national identity. Both pro
and amateur football exceeds any other sport in terms of attendance and
viewership. With rapid technological advancements, Americans can gain a better
fan experience, connecting them with the game. TV broadcasts allow fans to
watch the game in high definition and interact with the games through things
like Fantasy Football and Twitter. Football represents the American identity both
culturally and socially.
Football represents
what Americans value most because it involves strength, teamwork, and
discipline. As Americans, we like to pride ourselves in being tough individuals
who don’t turn down a challenge. The National Football League is built on
strong players who aren’t afraid to make a hit and prove their skill on the field.
This underdog persona is another mentality that is embodied by the American
culture. Football has also
bonded Americans socially as well by providing them with an event in which
people of all ages come together to cheer on a team. Fans go to the games early
to tailgate and socialize which has transformed football into a social event as
well as an athletic one.
Each country has
its own sport that embodies their national identity; however a number of these
sports have not been a part of globalization. For example, football has not
spread to Europe just like cricket has not spread to the United States. The Olympic
Games are the only venue in which these sports are becoming globalized. Is
there another technique that will globalize these nation specific sports? Will
football ever make it into the Olympics or is it to American? Do you agree or
disagree with the national identity that football gives us as Americans?
