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.