A comparative study on function of sport in modern society

A COMPARATIVE STUDYON FUNCTION OF SPORTIN MODERN SOCIETY(M.S. Thesis)Metin ASLIMGAZI UNIVERSITYGRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCESFebruary 2007ABSTRACTSport mirrors modern society. In this thesis, we will study how modernsocieties influence sport and how sport in turn alters society. Long overlookedby sociologists, sport, play games and recreation are increasingly recognized asimportant windows into culture.Sport can be approached from a number of directions -interpreted as a ritual;viewed as a spectacle of ethnic, regional and national identity; seen as ametaphor for life; understood as a major industry in modern societies. Thisthesis will consider work and other approaches to sport, encouragingsociologists, athletes, sportsmen and sportswomen to bring their own sportinvolvements in sport to reflect not only upon sport itself but also upon how suchreflection can illuminate cultural, sociological and political dimensions of sociallife. Why for example, do we take sport and other forms of recreation soseriously? Why do many of us apparently invest more passion in such pursuitsthan life?s allegedly more serious activities? How is sport integrated intopeople?s identities? In this thesis is a study prepared to understand ?the SportInstitutes? formation and the space based covers of this formation, the existenceof the sport and the sport in the formation by the example of People?s Republicof China, England (United Kingdom-Grand Britain, Cuba and the others togetherwith a look at the comprehension about the sport and the sport space in Republicof Turkey.