ABSTRACT
The State, by which we mean the structures that govern and rule societies,
has always played an important role in the provision of sport experiences to
people. The ancient Olympic Games and other sport festivals were funded
and organized by the various city states that made up ancient Greece and
ruling monarchs in Europe during the Middle Ages organized an array of
tournaments and combat games to hone the skills of their warrior classes
(Mechikoff and Estes, 1993). As the world became industrialized and
modernized, the State expanded its provision of sport activities. In the USA
for example, many government funded schools and colleges established sport
facilities ranging from manicured playing fields and small indoor arenas to
large stadiums seating anywhere from 10 000 to 70 000 spectators.
