Chapter 5

The development of competitive sport

Learning outcomes:• understand the role of festivals in the history of sport• understand the emergence of rational sport as a result of

the industrial revolution• understand the characteristics of sport in the twentieth

and twenty-first century • understand the concept of deviance in sport

History of sport timeline

Ancient Festival Popular Public Oxbridge Rational

Origins Games Recreations Schools Sport

1st 10–12th 14–18th Early 19th Mid–19th End of 19th

Millennium Century Century Century Century Century

The Olympic Games • Origins in Ancient Greece, where they were held every

four years as part of a religious ceremony to the god Zeus.

• Baron Pierre de Coubertin introduced the modern Olympic Games in 1896.

• The aim of the Games was to prevent war and develop more international friendship.

• The Games for most of the twentieth century were amateur, with performers competing purely for enjoyment.

Development of sport

Remember • Sport in pre-industrial Britain was linked to a need for

war preparation.• Early sports were divided by social class and

background.• The church and local gentry were important in the

organisation of festival games. • The Modern Olympic Games are a combination of

ancient and modern festivals.

Industrialisation changed the way people lived, worked and played • Urbanisation – large populations moved into the cities

and towns where there was a lack of space for recreation.

• Industrialisation – life was based around the factory system and machine time.

• Working conditions – initially were very poor for the lower classes, with long shifts and little free time. The twentieth century saw a gradual increase in free time; legislation brought in the Saturday half day, the Ten Hour Act and early closing for shop workers.

• Economics – the systems of capitalism and industrial patronage led to the formation of work and church teams, which often developed into professional clubs.

The role of Oxbridge in the development of sport

Remember • The universities of Cambridge and Oxford played an

important role in the development of sport.• They were the first place where compromise rules were

developed.• They also developed regular fixtures – Varsity matches.• Blues became important role models and teachers.

The development of sport in the twentieth century

Remember • The rise of spectatorism and its influence on sport in the

twentieth century. • The continued development of commercialisation and

Americanisation in sport in the UK.• The influence the 1984 Olympics had on subsequent

global games.