Sport (or physical sport) is any form of usually strenuous physical activity that, through organised or casual competition, aim to utilize, maintain or enhance physical skill and ability while also providing entertainment for participants, and at times, spectators. There are various types of sports; these include gymnastics, motor sports, sailing, track and field events, racing, ice hockey, Australian rules football, cricket, rugby and softball among many others. Sports can be as simple as a game of handball or, on the other hand, involve high levels of physical activity and competing with other competitors. Some forms of sports are more popular than others and the popularity of a sport can either rise or fall over time or change over time.
A sport can be thought of as a form of art. It involves both the ability to do something well and the ability to do it in a way that satisfies some aesthetic standard. This quality of a sport will differ depending on its definition and, therefore, on its participants. However, there are some common characteristics that most sports have in common.
The participants in the games share a common conception of the object of the activity in question. For instance, in sailing there is the necessity to sail swiftly, accurately and confidently in order to arrive at the destination. In track and field events, the participants share a conception of the games’ rules, and they are all working to achieve a certain goal. Finally, in games such as hockey and soccer, players are required to play in an engaging and competitive manner, using their feet and heads as much as their hands and brains.
As part of the sport’s metaphysical structure, there is the spirit of competition, where the participants each attempt to better their opponent in one way or another. There is a basic drive to win, a sense of pride in your performance, an element of humiliation when you lose. This may also be related to the sense of achievement, where victory heightens your sense of accomplishment by making you feel more powerful, successful and attractive. These attributes are also present in street brawls, where there is a constant struggle for supremacy, and there is a desire to dominate the game, to be number one.
Philosophical thinking is very important to participate in sports and in everyday life. This comes from the desire to understand why something is the way it is. Sport, for example, is about the struggle to overcome obstacles and to excel at the same time. The sport is about the interaction of the mind and body. The participants in sports have to learn to think tactically and rationally to succeed. Thinkers and rational beings, then, are very important in sports and other intellectual activities.
The above examples are just a small sample of the philosophical thinking that takes place during sport events. Philosophy of sport is quite widespread, but it is certainly not a science or a formal discipline that can be taught in universities. But it is important to remember that sport and games are inherently political and cultural activities. They are not purely physical activities. Sport reflects attitudes and philosophy, as well as the physical actions.