The Relationship Between Sport and Health

“Sport” is an umbrella word for any kind of competitive activity. “Sport” as a term was first used in English in this way in 1887 and so it has come a long way since then. “Sport” in today’s language can mean almost anything, although most commonly it is used to describe recreational activities. Sport can also refer to a particular type of competition such as a sport held at the amateur or competitive level. Professional sport involves organized competitions between teams or individual athletes.

“Esport” also refers to activities that require physical exertion. These could include games of strategy, motor skill, skating, gymnastics and other similar activities. Sport may involve physical skill, but it also requires social skill, and so is sometimes called “sport culture” rather than “physical skill”. For example, a game of sport that required teamwork, such as team sport such as basketball, would be called “sport” rather than “game”.

A sport can have various effects on the participant and its relationship with mental health and physical fitness, and so the definition of a sport can change over time. Some common characteristics of sports include skill competition, physical contact, and a reward or element of achievement. Sport can also have social, economic, and psychological impacts. Some research has found that playing sport can increase self-esteem and some studies have found that playing sport may even help people cope with stress. More research is needed to examine the full range of possible outcomes and impacts of playing sport.