Socio-economic situations of sports-oriented individuals in the context of urban life: A sociological research in sports centers in Antalya

Sports; which has many aspects worth investigating, is one of the most important social phenomenon. How it is perceived of sports by the individuals and purposes of doing sports, is gaining importance in sociological analysis of sports. Actors can play an effective roles in structure of sports. Sports activities which can be handled one of the most important leisure activities in the urban life; while can be activities being done, because of concerns such as health, body,beauty, aesthetic; this activities, at the same time, prepares a ground for sports to take account as a consumer object. Gyms are urban spaces serves to everyone. Individuals, who spend time in this centers (gyms), vary about their perceptions. Individual's socio-economic situation effects formation of this perception. But, socio-economic situation is not only dominant factor on individual's sports perception. With the factors like family, gender, social environment (spouse, friends), rising of health discourses and also increasing the importance of physical beauty effects the indvidiual's perception of sports. In this study, with the data obtained from individuals going to the gyms in urban life; also considering sports is not a phenomenon independent from the society; was aimed to analyze the sociological aspect of sports. Keywords: Sports, Urban Life, Consumption, Health, Beauty, Leisure Time