Where Did Sports Come From?
Sports Come From
It is impossible to determine when the first games of sport were played, but it is obvious that children have been engaging in such games since the beginning of human history. Prehistoric paintings show hunters chasing their prey with joyful abandon. There is rich iconographic and literary evidence that hunting was a social activity and became a form of sport itself in ancient civilizations. Though evidence for the origin of sports in prehistoric times is dwindling, it may still provide a fascinating insight into the development of human behavior and social structures.
Gymnastics developed around 500 BCE and became popular among ordinary citizens during the Greek Hellenistic period. By 323 AD, gymnastics was included in the Olympic games. After this period, the Roman army adapted the gymnastic exercises for their own training. When the Olympics were banned in 393 AD, interest in gymnastics declined. However, gymnastics flourished in eastern Europe. This period was marked by ethnic conflict and nationalistic fervor.
The Industrial Revolution brought increased leisure time and a reduction in elitism, making sports more accessible. The introduction of mass media also influenced sports and made them more professional. People started to see the benefits of sports and the competition they offer. These changes led to the birth of a whole new culture of sports. Nowadays, there are millions of people who love sports and actively participate in them. You may be wondering, “Where did sports come from?”
Where Did Sports Come From?
Modern forms of sports began in the late seventeenth century. The concept of a sports record first emerged during the Restoration. The Puritans had driven traditional pastimes underground, but their influence had the opposite effect: organized games were born. The first modern game was rowing, which attracted a large following after the Henley Regatta. Athletics started to gain popularity after the creation of the first track-and-field meet in 1787, where the modern day game of tennis was born.
In the early days, athletes began to realize that the use of balls could be an effective means of entertainment. In the early days of the Olympics, athletes competed in athletic contests and noncompetitive ritual performances. By c.1100 BCE, the first football game was invented and played in Ancient Greece. The Iliad describes these games, describing the first Olympiad as a celebration of the life of Patroclus, a god of king. The first Olympic Truce was enacted for the safety of the athletes and laurel leaves were awarded to the winners.
The most famous game today is soccer. In fact, the first recorded game dates back to 2,500 B.C., when people from ancient Egypt played soccer with a ball during a festival of fertility. Later, the game spread from China, where people played the game cuju, which translates to “kick the ball with the foot.” In this game, players were required to kick a leather ball stuffed with feathers through a cloth, and they could use any part of their bodies to do so. Interestingly, soldiers also played cuju as a way to stay fit.