Sport, Society & Me

I got my first pair of skis before I even had learned to walk. I have this picture of my father holding me upright with my tiny feet in a pair of ski boots that are way too big. My father super excited, while me not so happy. However, after 20 years of doing this sport, I can honestly say something has changed. For the last five years, skiing has pretty much filled my everyday life, and I am eternally thankful for my fathers excitement, encourage and positivity. If it had not been for him, I would probably not have been a skier today.

When I was 15 years old I moved 5 hours away from home to attend a private sport academy for high school students. Last year I was recruited by the CU Ski Team's coach, and now I am suddenly living on the other side of the planet! Skiing has taken me some many places and given me so much life experience. For not to mention friendships that will last for a lifetime! I am so graceful for the opportunity to be able combine education with what I like the most, and that I also can discover more parts of the world and get to learn new cultures while skiing is a big bonus. I consider myself as very lucky. 

As you understand, sport means a lot to me. But what about the role of sport in the US society? Personally I think sport is very important for the US society. The sport(s) has grown so big: There are so many people and money involved that removing it would have big consequences for today's society. Just take the example about the Super Bowl in 2004 when a television network paid $2.3 million per thirty second for the broadcasting rights! (Eitzen 2). 

Sport is important. Because it often has the same values and attitudes as the society it is unfold in; it somehow reflects the society. For example: In US education is highly valued. The American dream, where you start from zero and up successful is something a lot of people strive for. Achievement, performance, success, progress, good moral, sacrifices, pushing limits and never giving up are all factors a person must fulfill in order to reach the American dream. Sounds familiar? These are the exact same values as those describing a "real athlete" (Hughes and Coakley 309-310)! The sport is in other words a reflection of the society.  

As we find good and bad things in society, we can find negative and positive things regarding sport as well. Since the two are so close they influence each other, both for the good and bad. As Eitzen writes in his book Fair & Foul, sport can unify people, because identity and community are created through team spirit. However, there is also a dark side here: People with disabilities are sometimes excluded from participating or separated from the others, people are divided into different groups after age, gender, skin color and abilities, and supporters and fans who belongs to different teams feel such a strong patriotism to their team that they are willing to fight for. In this case sport actually divide the society, and may even lead to violent behavior (Ch. 1). 

As mentioned frequently, Americans highly value winning. There are no limit, and whatever it takes you will fight until you have reached the finish line. The ability to accomplish this make the athletes valued and respected. They get a high position in the society and are seen as stars. Story lines, keep playing though you are injured and achieve success brings a lot of honor and pride, not only to the athlete him-/herself, but also to the fans and supporters. A big supporter will rather than saying "Broncos won today", say "WE won today!". The athlete's or team's performance can also influence a supporter's mood: After a win he or she will be excited and happy, after a loss on the other hand, a supporter may feel sad and even depressed (Coakley 21)!

We understand that sport means a lot to the society and it is likely to continue that way for a long time. My only concern is just the day when we have reached the maximum limit of what a human body can handle. What will happen then? Will the sport become so extreme that it will be unfair and immoral? Is drugs and genetic modification a part of the sport's future in the strive for higher and better achievements? And lastly: what impact will this have on our society?


- Maja Solbakken

References: 

Coakley, Jay. Sports in Society. 10th Ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009. Print

Hughes, Robert and Jay Coakley. 1991. Positive Deviance Among Athlets: The Implications of Overconformity to the Sport Ethic. Sociology of Sport Journal, 8, 307-325.

Eitzen. Fair & Foul.