ENGLISH TEXTS
it is difficult to definitively determine which came first , the chicken or the egg . However , what can be asserted is that what defines a sport is its “ context ,” not the activity itself . That is , “ being a sport is less about engaging in a physical activity than about participating in a sporting moment .” From this perspective , horse racing can be considered a “ first sport ” if not the first sport . However , when we attempt to establish a chronology tracing the evolution of horse racing into modern sports , the task becomes muddled . No one has thoroughly studied the subject . Even though there is a lexical precedence — where turf in France originally aligns with The Sport in Britain — there were simultaneously other forms of competitions and games , such as foot races , soule ( a traditional ball game ), bowling , skittles , or even curling , all of which required physical engagement and provided entertainment for spectators . As a result , historians cannot reduce the sporting matrix solely to horse racing ( and therefore to the elites who initiated it ), even though linguistic conventions suggest that horse racing played a pivotal role in the development of sport . Nevertheless , “ it is not so easy to define the root of sport in the modern sense ,” states Tétart .
The influence of horse racing on modern sports Moving forward in time helps us understand this ambiguity . By the 1920s , turf had not necessarily overshadowed other sporting practices such as steeplechase , which was common in the 18 th century , or point-to-point races — cross-country horse races in rural areas . Other recreational activities , such as badminton , also continued to exist . While this does not definitively prove that turf is the root of sport , it does suggest that its dominance pushed other practices to the sidelines . “ The emergence of sportiveness in the late 19 th century is linked to the social class of the wealthy , and horse racing was part of that milieu ,” explains Tétart . In France , The Sport became a central aspect of sports entertainment partly because one of the earliest sports newspapers , Le Sport , was both elite-oriented and turf-focused . This publication also gave visibility to sports such as yachting , serving as a medium to showcase the leisure activities of the upper classes . However , in terms of actual sports participation , this does not mean that these aristocratic sports dominated . The perception of their prominence was largely a media construct . Tétart also questions the commonly held belief that England is the cradle of modern sports . “ I am reluctant to say that England is the birthplace of sport . Between 1880 and 1920 , cycling followed a model that was distinctly French rather than
English .” Thus , one could argue that there are different definitions of sport — one aristocratic , inspired by British elites , and another , more modern , encompassing a vast array of physical activities . Cycling , for instance , became highly visible due to manufacturers promoting bicycles , tires , and related products .
The Racecourse as the first sports arena ? Could the racecourse be considered the first sports venue — the prototype for stadiums that later accommodated other disciplines inspired by horse racing ? Tétart argues that it was first and foremost a socially and athletically “ enclosed ” space that set apart certain social groups . The earliest tennis clubs and golf courses were also shielded from public view . Similarly , mountaineering and regatta feats took place far from spectators , which only added to their prestige . Nevertheless , the racecourse did serve as a model for velodromes , stadiums , and other popular sports venues . “ After 1870 and the defeat at Sedan , there was a bodily mobilization expressed through gymnastic societies , whose values aligned with those of the Republic ,” says Tétart . These groups organized grand celebrations and demonstrations , often held at racecourses , which became a prominent stage thanks to their open visibility from
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