MF

Sept 17 - History of Sport

Importance of History in Sports

  • Understanding sport's function and transformation.

  • Sport reflects social, political, and economic issues in Canada and globally.

  • Today's focus: Historical transformations of sports.

Critical Thinking in Historical Context

  • Historical sensitivity: Consider past events that shape current sports.

  • Ask critical questions regarding news or events to understand underlying causes.

Development of Organized Sport in Canada

  • Sport has various societal purposes over 150 years.

  • Organized sport used politically to control and exclude certain groups.

Modernization of Sport

  • Pre-industrial era: Sport was unorganized.

  • Modernization: Shift to standardized rules and competitive individualism.

  • Associated with capital accumulation, revealing class and power disparities.

  • Gender, race, and ethnic struggles influenced the sport's development.

Industrialization's Impact

  • Mid-1800s changes in transportation, communication, and technology.

  • Easier access to events and better equipment:

    • 30,000 km of railway connected Canada by 1900.

    • Communication revolutionized by the telegraph, increasing fan interest.

Focus on Hockey in Canada

  • Hockey: Canada’s national winter sport, rooted in the 1870s.

  • Male dominance: Predominantly celebrated and recognized.

  • NHL: Integral to Canadian identity despite being mostly US-owned.

Historical Context of NHL

  • Early 1900s: Challenges in establishing stability.

  • By 1932: NHL controlled professional hockey in North America.

Development of Minor Hockey

  • 1947: Young players committed to NHL-affiliated leagues.

  • Hockey's youth development reflects increased commercialization.

Women in Sports

  • Early 20th century: Limited recognition and opportunities for female athletes.

  • 1980s and 1990s: Improved access to organized sports for girls.

Women’s Ski Jumping Case Study

  • 2014 Olympics: Women allowed to compete in ski jumping.

  • Historical misconceptions regarding women’s physicality influenced decisions.

  • Ongoing gender discrimination in international competitions.

Sociological Imagination in Sports

  • Historical legacy of discrimination impacts women's sports development.

  • Gender inequity persists in Olympic events.

  • IOC's policy decisions reflect long-term institutional biases.These factors contribute to ongoing challenges in achieving equal representation and opportunities for female athletes.