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PRE-HISTORY Some discoveries sources date from over 30,000 years ago, as established by Carbon Dating . These modern discoveries are from France , Africa , and Australia in the form of prehistoric Cave Art which provide evidence of Ritual ceremonial behaviour (an example is Lascaux ). Stone-age drawings were discovered in the Libya n desert depicting among other activities, swimming and archery. {Link without Title} The art itself is an example of interest in skills unrelated to the functional tasks of staying alive, and is itself evidence of there being leisure time available. It depicts other non-functional activities such as ritual etc. Therefore, although there is scant direct evidence of sport from these sources, it is reasonable to extrapolate that there was some activity at these times resembling sport. Captain Cook , when he first visited the Hawaiian Islands , in 1778 , reported on the native people Surfing . The native American Indians engaged in games and sports before the coming of Europeans, such as Lacrosse type ball games, running, and other athletic activities. The ancient Maya n and Aztec civilizations played serious ballgames. The courts used at that time are still used today. It is reasonable to assume from these and other historical sources that sport has origins which lie in the beginnings of mankind itself. ANCIENT HISTORY Individual sports, such as Wrestling and Archery , have been practiced worldwide since ancient times. Sport has been increasingly organized and regulated from the time of the Ancient Olympics up to the present century. Activities necessary for food and survival became regulated activities done for pleasure or competition on an increasing scale. Ancient China There are artifacts and structures which suggest that Chinese people engaged in activities which meet our definition of sport as early as 4000 Years BCE . The origin and development of China's sports activities seem to have been closely related to the production, work, war and entertainment of the time. Gymnastics appears to have been a popular sport in China's past. It certainly remains so today, as the skill of Chinese Acrobats is internationally recognized. China has a Beijing Museum which is dedicated to the subject of Chinese sport and its history. (See Chinese Sports Museum ) Ancient Egypt Monuments to the Pharaoh s indicate that a range of sports were well developed and regulated several thousands of years ago, including Swimming and Fishing . This is not surprising perhaps given the importance of the Nile in the life of Egypt . Other sports included Javelin Throwing , High Jump and Wrestling . Again, the nature of the sports popular at the time suggests close correspondence with everyday non-sporting activities. Ancient Greece A wide range of sports were already in operation at the time of the Ancient Greeks . Wrestling , Running , Boxing , Javelin and Discus throwing, and Chariot racing were prevalent. This suggests that the military culture of Greece was an influence on the development of its sports. Sporting competitions are described in the Iliad , one of the most important books of ancient greek culture. Various competitions were held in honor of Patroclus's death. The Olympic Games were held every four years in Ancient Greece. In the noble Grecian ideal, victory at the Games was much sought after and was rewarded with an olive branch. Winner of games often received with much honour throughout Greece and, especially in his home town, he was often granted large sums of money. The games were held not simply as a sporting event, but as a celebration of individual excellence, cultural and artistic variety, and a showplace for architectural and sculptural innovation. Fundamentally, it was a time of gratitude and respect for the Gods Of The Greek Religion . The games are named after Mount Olympus , a sacred place where the Gods were said to live. A time of Truce was declared during the Olympic Games, as military actions and public executions were suspended. This was to enable people to congregate peacefully and to compete in a civilized and respectful atmosphere. MODERN HISTORY Some being a notable example. There is also a move towards adventure sports as a form of Escaping or transcending the routines of life, examples being white water rafting, Paragliding , Canyoning , BASE Jumping , Parkour and more genteelly, orienteering. WOMEN'S SPORT HISTORY For many years, few women competed in sports; it was often frowned upon by society. At least in the United States, that changed mainly in the 20th century, although women's participation as fans or athletes is generally less than men's. The change is at least partly related to the drive for more women's rights. But as sports began to get popular amongs women, many women were shunned and told that it was a man's sport. Many women struggled to get noticed for playing sports and this causes the Title IX Act in 1972 to emerge. It prevented gender discrimination and equal opportunity for women to participate in sports at all levels. SEE ALSO |
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