Contemporary Issues in Sport and Leisure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Contemporary Issues in Sport and Leisure - Essay Example an as apathy or indifference – interpreted in parallel with the US’ approach to pressing modern-day issues; and 3) the globalization of soccer has been presented as a reflection of interdependency and unity among audiences, and among nations. The 202 Soccer World Cup has been acknowledged as the â€Å"greatest show on earth†, and it is said that the number of people who watch the event exceeds that for any other event (Sportsprof.com, 2005; Finance Professor.com, 2005; The Globalist, 2002; The Missouri Review, 2005). Moreover, it is a record-setter, establishing new breakthrough records every time it is staged every four years. However, only a handful of Americans will be among this number. The 2002 event will all the more boast of a large audience since Asia is among one of the most populated regions in the globe. The Globalist (2002) has estimated that for that year, pegging China at 350 million television sets, the total number of viewers may be just a little less than 3 billion. In the Sub-saharan region, there are only about 67 million television sets for a populace of around 530 million, but the zest with which Africans feel for the game would compel them to be tuned in to their radios instead. This passion for the game of other races and regions is placed in stark contrast against that of Americans, who have placed themselves in voluntary exclusion. It is interesting to note that soccer has been taken as a mirror of politics, where the US has taken a similar stance of apathy. It is said that soccer is more than just a game, but rather is a â€Å"microcosm of life itself†, along with its emotions and parallelisms. Further, some authors assert that this indifference indicates a more profound truth about world politics; that is, the United States has wilfully chosen to isolate itself in several critical areas, such as the struggle against global warming. The present study intends to assess the sociological aspects of the globalization of soccer in the