Sport: A Very Short Introduction

Description

Sport is one of the largest industries in the world and the global reach of major sporting events is enormous. In this Very Short Introduction, Mike Cronin explores the historical development of sport. Exploring a variety of activities from rugby and cricket to tennis, athletics, and skiing, he considers the central role it plays in modern society.

• Charts the origins of sport from ancient times
• Looks at how sport has evolved through history into the forms we see today
• Examines the development of sport in relation to class, gender, commerce, and ethics
• Looks at both traditional and modern forms of sport from around the world
• Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - over six million copies sold worldwide

About the Author(s)

Mike Cronin, Academic Director of Boston College in Ireland

Professor Mike Cronin has worked for Boston College since 2005, and he is the Academic Director of BC in Ireland. Professor Cronin is one of the world's leading scholars on the history of sport and the context within which sport functions in the twenty-first century. Prior to working for Boston College, Professor Cronin spent eight years working with the world governing body of soccer, FIFA, in delivering their International Masters course. He has also worked closely with a number of sports organizations. He has written extensively on various aspects of sport history, and has been the recipient of both the UK's Lord Abedare prize and the US NASSH prize for sports history book of the year. He appears regularly on television and radio in Ireland and across the world, discussing sport and its relevance to society.

Table of Contents

1:Origins
2:Modern sport
3: Amateurs and professionals
4:The sports business
5:International sport
6:Sport and society
Index

Reviews

"he has packed a lot of thought-provoking stuff into a small space, laced with telling facts" - Independent on Sunday