ABSTRACT
People all over the world have been engaging in various kinds of sports since prehistoric times to keep fit, for the sake of competition, for fun or for utilitarian reasons like hunting, fishing or moving fast from one place to another — by running, horse riding or cross-country skiing. Using animal bladders and other materials, various types of ball games have been played for centuries in all the continents, with the first organized games of golf emerging in 15th-century Scotland and with the rules for modern football established in English colleges at the start of the 19th century. The modern media gave a formidable boost to sports participation. Even before the end of World War II, newspapers and the radio stimulated people to compete in popular sports like football or cycling by recounting the exploits of the champions.
