It wasn't to promote physical fitness.
2006-08-15 17:33:57 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Other - Sports
ok, now that there are 8 clueless answers posted, here's some more info. this is available by simple google search, which evidently no one bothers to do before they answer.
From the rise of the British Empire, until about 1950, the British government, which is only ONE example, had a documented program of promoting sport in conquered countries in order to discourage revolt.
2006-08-15 17:46:30 · update #1
Because it keeps the people looking at the sports while the govt. has their hands in you pockets... and possible while they bleep you.
2006-08-15 17:42:13 · answer #1 · answered by Sweet Gran 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Greeks started athletic competition as a military training tool. Gov'ts have never stopped promoting sports. The Olympic's modern pentathlon is a competition of martial ability. Gen. Patton finished fifth in the 1928 Olympics (believe date is correct). An Air Force officer started the Ironman competition which fueled the current triathlon trend. Sports are a source of national pride. Isn't understandable that a nation of 300 million that dominates international sports is more powerful than India with their one billion people and very few gold medalists?
2006-08-16 00:45:37 · answer #2 · answered by Richard B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was part of the process of industrialization and urbanization. Prior to the cash economy only a few people had the leisure time for sports. Instead of spending Sunday afternoon drinking governments figured factory workers should play soccer etc.
2006-08-16 00:43:57 · answer #3 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Originally it was designed to prepare students for the military. I remember the fitness program from when I was in elementary school, and the exercises and courses they made us run look suspiciously like basic training lite.
2006-08-16 00:39:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it keeps people into something healthy, rather than concentrating on rolling blunts or eating all day.
By the way... if you could've googled it just as easily, then why did you ask? Your question was so vague that it could've been taken in plenty of directions, which it was.
2006-08-16 00:36:49 · answer #5 · answered by Leah Rachelle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't you think it is from the Olympics? Those games were started in the Illiad or ? Anyway, physical prowess is pretty inportant to politics.
2006-08-16 00:38:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bread and circuses. Worked in Ancient Rome.
2006-08-16 00:38:19 · answer #7 · answered by iansand 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obesity!
2006-08-16 00:37:39 · answer #8 · answered by d12.emin3m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Money that concern.
2006-08-16 00:37:56 · answer #9 · answered by seb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
health and wealth
2006-08-16 00:37:36 · answer #10 · answered by pradeep 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋