The British passion for sports: Its particularities and its limits

Résumé du document

The former British athlete Sebastian Coe declared on the 12th November that "he wanted to tap into United Kingdom's passion for sports" by presenting the London Olympic bid.

It is indeed undeniable that sports have a significant place in British society. There are at least 36 million people, much more than half of the British population, who workout once a month. On an international scale, Great Britain owns about fifty sport world titles. Great Britain has surely been the place where the passion for sports has been the most popular over the last few decades in Europe. Football and Rugby for instance have deep roots in the British society.

But one may wonder how come this fabulous British passion for sport is undying. In order to answer to this question, it is necessary to examine the framework where this passion for sport grows and spreads out easily in Great Britain.

We can say that Great Britain is the birthplace of many sports in Europe and all over the world. For instance, the English football Association was created in 1863, a few years after the creation of the sport, the Rugby football Union was created in 1871 along with many other associations that were created during the two last centuries in Great Britain. These are symbols of the strong link between the country and its passion for sport.

Extraits

[...] Sport can not be the remedy to the whole disease of the British society also because it is becoming a real ideology which may be a tool to manipulate the mass population. So, sport can be dangerous on that point and a too big place accorded to sport in the society is not acceptable because of the danger it represents. Finally, sports have been put on a pedestal to the detriment of other fields of activities, mainly cultural fields of activities. [...]

[...] British bowls whether it be lawn or indoor bowls is very popular in international championships. The rules of boxing were established by the marquise of Queensberry in 1865 and it has become both an amatory and professional sport. Cricket is a British institution and is part of English boys' curriculum but it is also played at girls schools, in colleges and universities according to Blair's home rules laid down by the Marylebone cricket club which was founded in 1787. In the 18th century, cricket was played by aristocrats. [...]

[...] In fact, sport in Great Britain has become so important thanks to their unconditional support. Then, upper middle class and aristocracy are most interested and represented in Tennis ( we must keep in mind that the tournament Wimbledon is one of the most famous tennis competition in the world), Golf ( there are lots of very famous golf fields in Great Britain and especially in Scotland like St Andrews and Carnoustie field Hockey or Horse Riding (Epsom derby for example). [...]

[...] II] When the passion for sports turns to Fanaticism: The British exclusivity and its limits. Be fan in Great Britain The necessary devotion to sports As we have previously said, the passion the British develop toward sport is so important that it is now “impossible” not to adhere to a certain spirit which makes you dream. This can be explained because people in general and especially the working class have lives which are often very sad because of their family situation, their work or because of delinquency. [...]

[...] That's why to emphasize sports in schools and particularly in universities is now considered as a priority by the government. That also explains why the government have voted the laws we have already spoken about since 1957. The consequence is that there are nowadays many sport facilities in schools and universities thanks to a mixture of Public and Private Finances to develop sports in those places. With all these reforms, the education universe is now close to the professional universe. [...]