Social Impact of Sport

Social Impact of Sport

• There is a widespread belief that sport has the
power to make ‘society’ more equal, socially
cohesive and peaceful.

• The potential of sport is a tool for

development and peace
• HEALTH
• SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACT
• ECONOMIC
 Health
• which prevent or reduce physical and mental health problems
and save on health care costs.

• Playing sports helps reduce body fat or controls your body

weight.  

• Sports allow you will gain the satisfaction of developing your

fitness and skills.  

• Sports can help you fight depression and anxiety.  

• Sports allows you to challenge yourself and set goals.  

• Playing sports helps strengthen bones.  

• Sports help aid coordination, balance and

flexibility.  

• Many sports can help improves stamina and

concentration.  

• Sports allow you to experience the highs and

lows of both winning and losing!  
• Through sports you will meet people with a
similar interest to yourself and are likely to
gain many new friends.

• Sports are a great way for families to get

exercise together.  

• If you are sporty then you are more likely to

have a healthy lifestyle.
 Social Benefits of Sport Participation
• Sports participation improves pro-social behaviour
and reduces crime and anti-social behaviour,
particularly for young men.

• This includes evidence of lower levels, for sports

participants compared with non-participants, of drunk
driving, use of illegal drugs, crime and suspensions at
school, property crime, shoplifting and juvenile crime.
• National Unity : Sports provide a platform for
people to come together and support their country.

• sport is a type of 'social glue', i.e. contributing

'bonding' capital by increasing social connectedness
and a sense of belonging.

• Positive outcomes in studies include reduced social

and ethnic tensions, and more collective action and
community involvement through sport, particularly
volunteering.
 Influence in Education
• There is considerable evidence of the positive impact
of sport and exercise on educational outcomes,
although much of this evidence is from the USA.

• Through psychological benefits such as enhanced

self-esteem and self-confidence, and cognitive
benefits such as concentration and thinking skills,
sport has positive effects on a number of final
outcomes, including educational behaviour and
attainment.
 ECONOMIC IMPACT
• Sport can help increase economic prosperity
• provide employment opportunities .

• contribute towards raising aspirations and increasing skill

levels.

• Major sporting events have their main economic impact

via the direct expenditure of tourists associated with the
event.

• Economic Development through tourism

• In 2010, sport and sport-related activity
contributed £20.3 billion to the English
economy – 1.9% of the England total.

• 27 EU Member States focussing on sport as an

economic activity

(Study on the Contribution of Sport to Economic

Growth and Employment by European
Commission, Directorate-General Education
and Culture )
• According to Economic Modeling Specialists
Intl., as of 2013, the sports industry in America
produced 456,000 jobs (average salary
$39,000).
 Negative effects of sports

1.  Physical
• risk of injury
• Untrained coaches 
• Inconsistent safety precautions
• Lack of sports science influencing policy and practices.

2. Psychological
• Increase stress to be an elite player
• Too competitive
• Inappropriate expectations to achieving
scholarships/professional career
• Sports can produce an unhealthy level of stress in a child, particularly
a child who is pushed to excel and who feels a failure with every loss.

• Sports can produce irrational, boorish behavior among parents and

athletes.

• Sports can produce many athletes who are negative role models.

• Sports can produce many coaches who are negative role models.

• Sports can produce many parents who are negative role models,
especially those who overvalue athletic achievement.

• Sports, even team sports, can promote selfish behavior.

3. Social
• Expense
• Inequality across groups (socioeconomic,
ethnic, geographic, gender)