The Gift of Sports: Indigenous Ceremonial Dimensions of the Games We Love

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He who at every moment is all he is capable of being. - Dag Hammarskjold, 1954 Markings Translated by Leif Sjoberg and W.H. Auden, 1964

The origins of nearly all sports can be found in religious ceremonies. The Olympic Games and Sumo wrestling are clear examples of how civilizations, both ancient and modern, connect athletic performance and achievement to a higher spiritual plane - to an indescribable yet clearly recognized
something more.

The Gift of Sports will give readers an understanding of and appreciation for the religious dimensions of sports. The selections in the text demonstrate that the appeal and popularity of sports is based on viewing them, not just as business or entertainment, but as ceremony.

Topics covered in the book include:

Religion as a gift exchange between different beings The sacred nature of sporting events and venues Sports as a vital force in youth and community development Fan devotion Mascots Sports and Money

The Creator’s Game
of Lacrosse Racism and Sexism in sports

The Gift of Sports offers a unique perspective on two familiar topics by showing that in many respects, they are one and the same.