Sports help adolescents build social skills, and are a great way to meet new people. Teens make friends from all different backgrounds through sports, and the bonds they form on the field tend to remain even when the players are not playing. Parents are also an important part of sports because their support and encouragement helps teens feel good about themselves and improves their relationships with their peers.
In competitive events, participants are graded on “weight” or “result”. Although this is subjective, the results can be corrected by handicaps and penalties. In contrast, objective measures such as the time taken to complete a course or the distance covered are objective. In gymnastics, results are determined by a panel of judges. In boxing, a no-loss result is still a win.
There are many forms of sport, and the definition of a sport varies from country to country. The Council of Europe’s definition includes all forms of physical exercise that are competitive, including those conducted for fun. Usain Bolt is an example of a high-profile athlete. However, other bodies are advocating for a more inclusive definition. It includes all sports in which two or more people compete at the same time. It also includes motorized sports such as bicycling.
In the twentieth century, sports became more diverse, with the inclusion of African Americans and the Aboriginal people of Australia. It also allowed women to participate in certain sports.