Games vs Sports
Understanding the difference between games and sports can be done when we first identify the two terms as two different words. Many of us use these two words as synonyms. That is because game and sport appear to be one and the same, but they are not so. There is certainly a difference between games and sports. A game tests the skill of several persons whereas a sport tests the skills of an individual and his performance. However, there is more to the difference between games and sports which will be discussed in this article.
What is a Sport?
According to BBC, a sport is an activity that requires physical effort and ability and usually some degree of mental skill. Mainly physical energy is put to test in a sport and a sport is played with the sense of competition. A set of rules defines a sport that is played as part of recreational activities in the early days. In a sport, the individual participant is called an athlete or a sportsperson.
The capabilities of the sportspersons can be really tested only in sports and not in games since it is the individual who determines the outcome in a sport. For example, take a sport such as cycling. The outcome of the sport is dependent on each individual cycler. If he or she rides well, the outcome will be good. If he or she fails to do a good job, the outcome or the result will be bad accordingly. This is because there are no other people to support the individual sportsperson as this is an individual activity. Moreover, track and field events such as 400m sprint or shot put determines the skill of a particular sportsperson depending upon the achievement of the individual goal. That is because it is a sport activity.
What is a Game?
According to the BBC, a game is when two individuals or teams meet to play against each other. In a game, mental strength is put to test. The individual participant in a game is called a player. Games flourished at a later period and they are also played on the basis of a set of rules.
Games are usually team activities. In games, individual talent does not determine the achievement of a goal. Let us take for example the game of cricket. Cricket is a game that involves more than one player and the achievement of the goal is due to collective and team effort and not due to any individual’s effort. Here, if one individual fails to do a good job there are others to balance his or her failure by a good playing.
It is interesting to note that both a game and a sport are played for enjoyment and hence both of them require spirit among players. It is also noteworthy that a large organized sports event such as Olympic is also called Games; it is called Olympic Games.
A game is played with the sense of friendship. Take Olympic Games. They are played to strengthen the friendship between countries. However, they are competitive too. The capabilities of the sportspersons can be really tested only in sports. It is because individual talent determines the achievement of a goal.
What is the difference between Games and Sports?
• A sport is an activity that requires physical effort and ability and usually some degree of mental skill. Game is when two individuals or teams meet to play against each other.
• Both games and sports are played on the basis of a set of rules.
• In a game, the individual participant is called a player whereas in a sport he or she is called an athlete or a sportsperson.
• The capabilities of the sportspersons can be really tested only in sports. It is because individual talent determines the achievement of a goal.
• In the case of a game, individual talent does not determine the achievement of a goal.
• Both games and sports are played for enjoyment.
• Mainly physical energy is put to test in a sport whereas mental strength is put to test in a game.
• Sport is played with the sense of competition whereas a game is played with the sense of friendship. However, a game can be competitive too.
Images Courtesy:
- Cycling by ludovic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
