20th century sport

Question 1

What were the social factors which influenced sport in the 20th century?

Answer 1

Social factors influencing sport in the 20th century:

1. Social class
2. Gender
3. Law and order
4. Education
5. Availability of time, money and space
6. Transport
7. Media

Question 2

How did social class influence sport in the 20th century?

Answer 2

1. Working class men would go to pubs as the centre of sporting activity
2. In horse racing and boxing, the upper and middle classes would put up the money and the lower classes would participate.
3. In team sports such as cricket, working and middle class men would compete side by side
4. Working classes had less free time for sport than upper and middle classes so could not participate in fox hunting
5. Crowds for football and rugby were mostly working class
6. Unemployed people and unskilled workers could not afford to spectate.

Question 3

How did gender influence sport in the 20th century?

Answer 3

1. The participation of women in sport had fallen in 1900 particularly among working classes
2. Crowds at professional football and rugby league games became mostly male
3. Women were excluded from professional sport due to limited access of time and money.

Question 4

How did law and order influence sport in the 20th century?

Answer 4

1. Fields of play were enclosed, there were written codes of conduct
2. Footballers wore numbered kits to assist spectators and there was a fixed number of players per side in most sports
3. Professional teams formed in football, rugby and cricket
4. Sports events were held on Saturdays rather than on festivals
5. Growing crowds demanded purpose-built grounds and stadia
6. Gambling was still an essential part of sport.

Question 5

How did education influence sport in the 20th century?

Answer 5

1. The Education Act 1944 states that an individual’s needs are not just academic, physical development is required
2. Part of all schools curricula was now physical education, which often included elements of sport
3. Grammar schools emulated public school sport and ran competitive sports teams
4. Secondary modern schools ran a range of sports teams
5. Sport was promoted through extra-curricula activities in all schools.

Question 6

How did availability of transport influence sport in the 20th century?

Answer 6

1. Public and private transport was much more available to everyone, so more people could travel to participate and spectate sport
2. In the late 1940s, radio coverage increased the spectacle of football, rugby and cricket, attracting large crowds
3. Large crowds were at the 1948 London Olympics, rejuvenating tourism and the economy
4. International competitions, accessible by international travel, served as the ‘shop window’ for sport.

Question 7

How did availability of time and money influence sport in the 20th century?

Answer 7

1. With the increase in leisure time and money, men could play sport as well as watch it
2. There was more space available to participate in towns
   E.g. water polo in public baths
3. Space was still a premium, the land that was available was heavily used
4. Availability of money was a key factor, allowed games such as darts to flourish.

Question 8

How did the media influence sport in the 20th century?

Answer 8

1. Sport coverage on TV was limited to big events such as the world cup final.
2. In the 60s coverage of the Olympics and world cup turned these events into global celebrations.
3. Sport was used commercially by TV companies through sponsorship, the golden triangle.
4. TV had a big impact of sport, cricket introduced a one day Sunday league.