Sports can help children learn to interact with other people, improve their self-esteem and get a good workout. They also teach kids about teamwork and fair play.
Sports were introduced in western Europe in the late 17th century. During the Industrial Revolution, scientific advances enabled athletes to train systematically to reach their physical peak.
In the United States, sports have long been popular. In the early 1900s, American presidents stressed the need for regular physical activity. Athletes are often rewarded for their efforts.
Today, athletes can earn a living playing competitive sports. The sport of basketball, for example, was created in 1891 by James Naismith to fill the void of indoor games during the harsh New England winters.
Many sports leagues award a “championship” to the winner of the regular season or a playoff. Some sports have multiple winners, but all have the same objective, which is to win the game.
There is a great variety of sporting events and categories. These include athletics, multisport events, tetrathlon, and pentathlon. It is also possible to participate in several different sports, such as tennis, golf, and equestrian.
Depending on the sport, an individual sport score is measured by a number of objective or subjective factors. Several examples are swimming, track and field, ice events, and gymnastics. Ultimately, the winner of any event is determined by the judge.
Despite the emphasis on quantified achievement, there is an aesthetic element to many sports. Some are even played indoors.