Full Description
Games People Played is, surprisingly, the first global history of sport. The book shows how sport has been practiced, experienced and made meaningful by players and fans throughout history. It assesses how sports developed and diffused across the globe, as well as many other aspects, from emotion, discrimination and conviviality; politics, nationalism and protest; and how economics has turned sport into a huge consumer industry. It shows how sport is sociable and health-giving, and also contributes to charity, however it also examines its dark side: its impact on the environment, the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and match fixing.
Covering everything from curling to baseball, boxing to motor racing, this book will appeal to anyone who plays, watches and enjoys sport, and wants to know more of its history and global impact.
Contents
Introduction: Pre-match Instructions
PART ONE SPORTS HISTORY: FIRING BOTH BARRELS
1 Know the Score: Understanding Sports History
2 Walk the Walk: Practising Sports History
PART TWO SPORT THROUGH THE AGES
3 Sport before the Industrial Age
4 The Industrial Age (and Slightly Beyond)
5 The Past Century or So
PART THREE SPORTS
6 Fighting Talk: Combat Sports
7 The Killing Fields: Hunting, Shooting and Fishing
8 Horses for Courses: Equestrian Sports
9 Taking Speed: From Foot Power to Wheel Power
10 Out Clubbing: Bat and Ball Sports
11 Moving the Goalposts: The Football Codes
12 . . . Nor Any Drop to Drink: Water Sports
13 Slipping and Sliding: Winter Sports
14 Across the Pond: American Sports
PART FOUR SPORTING LIFE: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS
15 Pushing the Mind and Body: Emotion, Pain and Violence
16 Open and Closed Doors: Discrimination in Sport
17 Playing Together: Sports Clubs and Associativity
PART FIVE MIXING OIL AND WATER: SPORT, POLITICS AND POWER
18 Political Football: Nationalism, Propaganda and Protest
19 Human Rights (and Wrongs)
20 Running or Ruining the Game: Rules and Rule-makers
PART SIX SHOW US THE MONEY: THE BUSINESS OF SPORT
21 Selling the Game: Sports Entrepreneurs and the Products They Marketed
22 Citius, Altius, Fortius et Multo Maiores: Mega Events
23 Playing for Pay: The Professional Athlete
PART SEVEN THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF SPORT
24 Charity Begins at Home . . . and Away
25 How Green Was my Volley: Sport and the Environment
26 Selling Out the Game: Match-fixing and Drug-taking
Stoppage Time
Recommended Reading
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
