Overview of International Sports

We often hear the term ‘sports’ culture’ applied to aspects of modern life that include sports as a recreational activity and team sport; recreational activities like hiking, fishing, sailing and cycling; participation in competitive sports like weightlifting and sprinting; participation in training and competitive games; sporting events; and the visual display of these activities on television and elsewhere. Sport and physical activity are an umbrella phrase for an array of interdisciplinary efforts aimed at promoting physical, mental, social and emotional development and involvement in sport, particularly competitive sports such as running, swimming, tennis and track and field. Sports help us get out of our shells and become more aware of ourselves and others. Sports are great for building strength, stamina and general fitness. Not only do they keep us fit, but they also make us socially active.

There are various professional and inter-disciplinary associations that deal with sport and physical activity and their regulation. Professional sport can encompass participation in athletics, motor sport, golf, rugby, hockey, softball, baseball and football. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the global governing body for sport competitions. The IPC is the governing body for professional and non-professional sport activities. There are many other governing bodies and inter-professional sporting associations locally, regionally and nationally.

The world’s most famous and well-known association is the Olympics, which is the worlds’ oldest and biggest sports event. The Olympic Games takes place across all countries in several different formats, including swimming, gymnastics, ice skating and men’s and women’s disciplines for all these different sports. In the Olympic Games, the four disciplines of swimming, cycling, track and field, and swimming and diving compete for the gold, and the medals are determined by competitive sportsmanship. The IPC and OCBO provide guidelines and operational criteria for the staging of the Olympic Games, and the committee members play an important role in ensuring that the spirit of the games is maintained. The International Olympic Committee has set standards of performance for the Olympic Games to ensure fair competition throughout the sport and to help young athletes achieve their full potential.