History of Sports: Evolution and Impact on Marginalized Communities

This paper discusses the evolution of sports and its impact on marginalized communities. It includes an interview with a Red-Indian sportsman Gustavo Gomez and his experience with discrimination and stigma. The role of sports in providing recreation and escape from harsh realities is also discussed.

Running head: HISTORY OF SPORTS
History of Sports
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1HISTORY OF SPORTS
The various kinds of sports can be broadly categorized into the genre of the
recreational activities which has contributed much to not only improve the lives of the
individuals from the different parts of the world but also helped them to indulge in more
creative activities (Baker, 2012). Many experts are of the viewpoint that the improvement of
the transport as well as the communication systems has greatly furthered the prospects of the
various business enterprises (McLeod et al., 2013). However, it is seen that the improvements
of these processes has significantly impacted the various kinds of sports as well. For example,
the improvement of the communication as well as the transport system in the nation of the
USA helped the people from the various states of the nation to indulge in various kinds of
friendly games and tournament which provided a source of entertainment in their otherwise
mundane lives (Wheeler, 2012). Furthermore, the majority of the people in the early part of
the 19th as well as the 20th century in the nation of USA who turned to sports and other kinds
of recreational activities were the people belonging to the black community as well as the
indigenous ones (Wheeler, 2012). These people lead a very hard life and had to work for long
durations on the various plantations of the nation for very long durations. Therefore, it would
be apt to say that the various activities associated with the genre of sports provided them a
window through which they could escape from the mundane realties of their lives for a short
while (Kidd, 2013). Thus, it can be said that the various kinds of sports not only emerged as
the binding forces which united the different people of the nation but at the same time
provided the down trodden people of the society with the much needed source of recreation
and entertainment. This paper will try to discuss about the way the various kinds of sports
have evolved in the recent times with the help of an interview of a Red-Indian sportsman
Gustavo Gomez.
Gustavo Gomez is a native Red-Indian of the nation of America who is an eminent
sports person of the region and is known not only for helping the regional football for a

2HISTORY OF SPORTS
number of matches but also at the same time also for providing effective training and
guidance to the young emerging players. Mr. Gomez is in his mid 50s and thus it can be said
that he is a generation older than the interviewer. The interviewer came to know about during
the various games as well as the sporting activities in which he had taken part in the recent
times. His ethical background was much of a challenge for him and on the basis of this
particular factor he had to face much discrimination as well as stigmatization not only in the
field of sports but in other walks of life as well. Therefore, an interview with him is not only
likely to throw significant amount of light on the life as well as the time of this eminent sports
person but at the same time throw significant amount of light on the cultural transformation
which the society of the nation has undergone in the recent times. Furthermore, the
interviewer will at the same time try to find out the way the various diverse kinds of sports
and its related activities played a significant role in the lives of the people who have been
marginalized and forced to live on the outskirts of the society. Moreover, the interviewer will
also focus on the way the sports and its related activities were utilized by Mr. Gomez to
overcome the stigma as well as discrimination which he and his family members have been
getting from the contemporary society since the early years.
The Red-Indian are originally the native indigenous people of the nation who had
been residing in the nation long before the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus
and other explorers (Galaz, 2014). However, after these colonizers came to the nation these
indigenous people were pushed to the fringes of the society and as a result had to face much
discrimination (Galaz, 2014). The economic as well as other kinds of opportunities which
these people get are very limited. Therefore, it can be said that the options available for
people like Mr. Gomez are very limited. However, when asked by the interviewer about the
way his family members reacted when they found out his inclination about the various kinds
of sports he calmly says that,

3HISTORY OF SPORTS
“Initially my family members were very hesitant to allow me to play on a professional
basis. In this particular context I would like to add that I was the oldest of their children and
there were five more children thus my parents were finding it very hard to make both ends
meet. Therefore, at a very early age I had to drop out of school and help my parents with their
work. Thus, when they found out my passion for football they were not only worried but at
the same very anxious as they were not sure how I was to fulfill my responsibilities towards
the family.”
The various kinds of sports activities acted as a source of recreation for these people
and offered them an opportunity to pass their leisure in a fruitful manner (Alexander, 2014).
Thus, it is generally seen that the various indigenous children resort to various kinds of sports
as a means to spend their leisure time. Thus, when asked about how he developed his passion
for the various kinds of sports he says that,
“From an early age I used to accompany my parents to the various places where they
used to work and help them in the kinds of way in which I could. However, there wasn’t
much of work for me to do out there and most of the time I had to spend in an ideal manner.
However, I soon found out that there were other kids as well out there and soon we started
playing various kinds of games. These small kid’s games soon turned into friendly matches
among us and it was by this particular means that I developed my love for the various kinds
of sports.”
Another significant aspect about the various kinds of sports activities in which the
diverse indigenous individuals usually indulge in provides a means to escape from the
mundane as well as harsh realities of their daily lives. The indigenous people usually lead a
very harsh life and most of them had to work in the agricultural sector and other industries as
manual laborers and thus there is a much need for recreation for them (Wang & Huang,

4HISTORY OF SPORTS
2012). Thus, when the interviewer asked Mr. Gomez about the role which sports and its
related activities played in his life and the lives of the similar kinds of people he says that
“The various kinds of sports provided me with a window through which I could
escape into the other worlds where the gulf between the expectation and reality was not this
harsh. Moreover, when I used to play with my friends and later on regional level I used to
forget about all the troubles of my life. Thus, I would like to say in this particular context that
the various kinds of sports and sporting activities were a kind of escape route for me from the
harsh mundane realities of my life”.
The educational opportunities which the nation of the USA provides to the students
are very impressive and it is generally seen that students from the various parts of the world
migrate to the USA for the completion of their studies because of the numerous benefits and
scholarships which the nation provides to the students (Wang & Huang, 2012). However, the
opportunities available to the indigenous people are very limited. Thus, when asked why he
did not follow a traditional career to help the cause of his family Mr. Gomez says that,
“I belonged to a very poor and my parents could not afford to raise five children and
at the same time educate them. Furthermore, we have very limited number of scholarship
programs and others for the indigenous students. Thus, I think that the best option which was
available to me at that point of time was to follow the thing which I thought that I passionate
about.”
The genre of sports has undergone much transformation in the recent times. This can
be seen as a reflection of the improvement of the communication system and the
transportation system. Therefore, when the interviewer asked Mr. Gomez about the factors
which has changed the condition of sports he concurs on this particular point and says that

5HISTORY OF SPORTS
“I believe that the improvement of the communication process and the transportation
facilities had significantly changed the scenario. Earlier there was a time when we used to
play only in our neighborhood and the adjoining areas and not far away from that. I still
remember that we had to resort to walking when we had some matches far away or
hitchhike.”
The factor of culture also plays a significant role for the development of the various
kinds of sports and the various kinds of sports were used as uniting factors by the society.
Thus, it is generally seen that at a particular sports event people from the various diverse
cultural as well as social backgrounds flock together to enjoy the game (Tremblay et al.,
2012). Therefore, it can be said that the various kinds of sports can be utilized to overcome
the cultural differences between the individuals. Thus, when asked by the interviewer about
the way culture impacts the various kinds of sports Mr. Gomez says that,
“The factor of culture indeed plays a significant role in the various kinds of sports.
However, at the same time I am also of the opinion that the various kinds of sports can be
used to overcome the cultural differences. Therefore, in the day-to-day life I had to face
various kinds of discriminations however when I was playing on the field people used to
support me and also cheer for me. This was something which I really enjoyed and as a matter
of fact it motivated me to perform in a much better manner.”
Many experts are of the viewpoint that in order to pursue a sports career the
individuals require a regular training and other kinds of facilities (Tremblay et al., 2012).
Training is one of the most important aspects of the process of following sports as a
profession. However, it is seen that the majority of the talented individuals fail to get these
facilities. This becomes pertinent from the reply of Mr. Gomez

6HISTORY OF SPORTS
“I never received any professional training for the sports which I used to play. I tried
to join the gym once however the kind of discrimination which I received at the gym deterred
me from going there the next day.”
In the present times it is seen that the number of choices which are available to the
people has increased significantly however in the earlier instances this was not the case.
Thus, when asked why he chose the game of football he says that.
“I did not select football as my favorite sports rather football chose me. I still
remember that as a child I used to kick around coconut shells and sometimes one of my
friends used to get a football with which we used to play. It was here that my love for the
game of football grew.”
About the personal questions which the interviewer asked him Mr. Gomez relied in
the following manner.
When asked about the things which he wants to do at the current age he replies with
the words that,
“Right now I am no longer of the age when I can play and therefore I try to give
training to the kids to come to me.”
When asked that does he think that the nature of the sports world has changed in the
recent he says that,
“Yes I would say that the nature of the sports world has changed significantly in the
recent times and the kind of opportunity which the players are getting at the current moment
is drastically advanced from the ones which were provided at his time.”

7HISTORY OF SPORTS
When asked what he would have liked to become apart from a professional football
player he says that
“I would like to have become a musician if I hadn’t become a football player as music
is another thing which has formed an important part of my life.”
To the question of the interviewer about the fact that why he did not sought to play at
the international level since he was one of the best players of the region,
“The condition of family and my ethnicity were the major factors which acted as
impediments to me. I personally believe that I would have been able to achieve more success
if the conditions of my life were different.”
Mr. Gomez replies in a confident manner about the future of the various kinds of
sports with the words that,
“I personally believe that the sports industry has a very promising future and the
people having passion for the various kinds of sports should go into this particular industry.”
Mr. Gomez furthermore replies to the question whether drugs should be used for the
enhancement of the performance level of the players with the words that,
“No I personally think that the use of drugs is an unethical thing and under no
condition the players should be allowed to use drugs for the enhancement of their
performance.”
To conclude, the changes in the present society have greatly changed the various
kinds of sports. Furthermore, the improvement of the communication system and the
transport system also has contributed much towards the development of various kinds of
sports. However, it is seen that the cultural as well as ethnic factors also play a significant

8HISTORY OF SPORTS
role within the particular context of the sports industry. Thus, the kind of opportunities which
the players are getting in the present times is better than the ones which the players in the
earlier times used to get. The interview with Mr. Gomez confirms this particular fact.

9HISTORY OF SPORTS
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