Introduction to Games and Sports

Study Notes

Games are rooted in universal human experiences and have evolved into traditional activities involving motor skills, rivalry, and contest.
The essence of games lies in their active participation, leading to a conclusion, either through achieving a result or the expiration of time.
Sports encompass organized, competitive, and skillful activities that require commitment, strategy, and fair play, typically governed by rules.

The term "sport" originates from the Old French desport, meaning leisure.
American English commonly uses "sports" in plural, while other dialects refer to the singular "sport."
The Persian meaning of sport is tied to bord, indicating winning, while the Chinese term tiyu translates to physical training.

Wikipedia defines sport as an organized activity that is competitive and entertaining, with a winner determined by objective criteria.
Yahoo Reference Dictionary highlights that sports involve physical exertion, skill, and adherence to established rules, often in a competitive context.
The earliest English definition (1300) describes sport as anything amusing or entertaining.
Roget (1995) categorizes sport as an activity for relaxation, synonymous with diversion and recreation.

Lumpkin (1998) describes sports as physical activities with formal or informal rules, engaged in for fun, recreation, or rewards.
For some individuals, sports become a lifetime activity integral to leisure and recreation.
The intensity of sports can vary from vigorous, competitive formats to milder recreational versions.

Activities requiring skill, such as air performance, board games, and water races, can be classified as sports if recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Non-competitive activities like jogging, casual throwing, leisure dancing, and arts are categorized as recreation, defined as enjoyable and meaningful leisure activities undertaken at one's discretion.