Globalisation of Sport

One of the main influences of the British public schools/universities was to spread sports across Britain and the globe.

Stage 3: (Athleticism) of the development of school sports, saw the boys from the public schools attended universities such as Oxford and Cambridge taking their school games with them. Again, the regional variations of games created a ‘melting pot’ and hybrid versions were developed. Sets of rules were established for these games and ‘rational sport’ began to emerge.

As these students graduated, they took these sports with them and filled positions in society such as in industry, churches, the army and some became school masters. These new enthusiastic teachers, who had ‘been through the system’, introduced their sports to the pupils and became involved in coaching; some schools introduced professional coaches, improved facilities such as games fields and courts which were paid for by additional contributions from the schools ‘old boys’. Headmasters supported the sport by making games compulsory and changed the patterns of the school day to include afternoon games, allowing for inter-house and inter-school fixtures. Games playing soon became an obsession and special festivals such as sports day were organised.

'Oxbridge'

Oxford and Cambridge University were key in the development of modern sport and alumni of these universities where known as “Blues” because of the colour of the university varsity matches sports kits.

As previously mentioned these universities were a “Melting Pot” for sports which became rationalised with standardised rules for example the Cambridge rules of football (1848)

The graduates took up powerful positions upon leaving which can be remembered with the mnemonic A Cacti Cup

Past paper question:

"Explain what is meant by the phrase exporting the games ethic"

Breaking the question down - the games ethic.

This refers to athleticism developed in public schools, the concepts of fair play, honesty, communication, integrity, loyalty, leadership, following rules and sportsmanship.

Exporting

This refers to the initial role of the "Blues" taking the sport to the wider British society as detailed in A CACTI CUP and diffusing the ethics into society.

Expanding to the role of the British Empire. Colonies taking the sports up and the associated ethics. The notion of sportsmanship and "shaking hands" is a British custom that has been successfully transported across the globe.

In South Africa an Englishman became Headmaster of a Religious school in Cape Town in 1861 and introduced rugby, which he had learned at his school. By 1883 rugby had been adopted all over South Africa.

In Canada rugby can be tracked back to British settlers in the 1820s. In 1864 there was the first recorded game in Canada, between army sections.

Taken from: http://www.britishempire.me.uk/sportandempire.html

"Sport became not just a means of developing character and fitness but was always a source of entertainment and leisure for colonialist and soldiers alike. It was also a means of developing social cohesion among the social classes and providing opportunities of communication between classes and indeed between colonialists and native populations. Class was as important in the colonies as it was in Britain although the empire did provide opportunities for social mobility."

"Throughout the colonies sport was a necessity in that it maintained moral and provided a sense of shared roots and a sense of Britishness. For the colonial community living in harsh conditions far away from home, cricket matches provided opportunities for communities to come together and play out what it meant to be British. Cricket matches also provided opportunities for different parts or classes of colonial society to come together and demonstrate their commitment to the colonial enterprise."

At the same time as the rationalisation and globalisation of sport, National Governing Bodies of sports began to emerge in Britain.

Reasons for the development of NGBs include:

• need for compromise over rules and transport developments meant need for national rules
• role of education and the boys leaving schools taking up positions of administration
• need for national competitions, leagues and fixtures
• decline of popular recreation society frowned on violent sports, with the rise of urban sports it was an era of rational recreation
• perpetuation of middle class control, in positions of authority. Middle classes maintained control of working class professionals
• no government control so autonomous governing bodies set up
• role of the blues in taking up influential positions in sports clubs and governing bodies / led to formation of NGB’s e.g. FA
• sport was being exported across Europe resulting in a rise of international fixtures
• development of professionalism

NGBs were established to formally write the rules by which a sport should be played and unify a set of codes. NGBs took control of the leagues, regular competitions and fixtures as well as discipline, providing referees and support in the form of punishments to players who were unruly. Although clubs have autonomy, NGBs have developed a system of affiliation by insisting that first clubs and then players become registered with them for which they provide insurance, magazines, discounts for conference attendances etc. NGBs (e.g. the Football Association; FA) are also responsible for selecting international managers and the representation of that given sport on the international stage.

NGBs have a role to play in helping to achieve sporting equality by setting equity policies, establishing inner-city schemes, and creating affordable facilities (e.g. through schemes such as the ‘Football Foundation’). They also aim to increase awareness of the sport via Sport Development Officers and the PESSYP programme etc. Finally, they can employ and utilise positive role models such as Dame Tanni-Grey Thompson, Kelly Holmes, Rebecca Adlington, Denise Lewis, Sir Steven Redgrave to act as patrons and spokespeople.

International Governing Bodies (IGBs)

Tend to oversee international competitions such as World Championships/Cup. They make decisions over venues and where to host these events. IGBs regulate rules and dictate rules to national governing bodies which results in them takeing a lead in discipline matters.

IGBs set their drug policies and are responsible for doping control (in conjunction with WADA). Finally IGBs make commercial and media deals in the interest of their sport.

The benefits of Governing Bodies of sports:

• The development of sport to national & international commodities.
• The facilitation of national & global competition
• The rise in status of the sport and the sports star
• The increased national importance of sporting success as viewed by governments
• The importance of sport for financial revenue at local, regional and national level.
• The use of media sources to both promote and generate income and facilities
• Many NGBs have been able to evolve in light of societal changes