Canadian Sport in Historical Perspective

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CHAPTER 3

• Canadian Sport in Historical Perspective

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Understanding the present by knowing the past
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What is history?

• It is NOT simply a list of facts
• It IS
• Method of inquiry about the past
• Uses facts gained from primary sources
• Interprets facts
• Articulation of historical questions determines
  quality and nature of history
• Objectivity and perspective important

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ANTECEDENTS TO CANADIAN SPORT

• What were the traditions in the past from which
  our sports evolved?

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EUROPEAN INFLUENCES

• Greek sporting culture
• Ancient Olympic Games
• Roman ludi
• Chivalric Code

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Ludi

• The ludi were public Roman games started before
  220 B.C. as annual games to honor Jupiter The
  game days were feast days with various forms of
  entertainment including theatrical events,
  chariot races, and gladiatorial combats or beast
  hunts.

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BRITISH TRADITIONS

• Come from military practices
• Horseracing originated with the military
• Crossed all social classes in interest
• Code of sporting honor
• Team play
• Loyalty to house (team)
• Fair play

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NORTH AMERICAN ANTECEDENTS

• First Nations Games and Contests
• French influence
• British traditions

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• EUROPEAN INFLUENCES
• Greek sporting culture
• Ancient Olympic Games
• Roman ludi
• Chivalric Code

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POST-CONFEDERATION

• Transition to modern organized sport result of
• Industrial revolution
• Technological change
• Improvements in transportation
• Greater communication
• Advances in equipment
• Urbanization

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Transportation

• Improved transportation meant ability to compete
  in a wider geographical area
• Focus turned from social motivation to athletic
  and competitive
• Accelerative and promotional effect on variety of
  sports
• Scheduling, league activity made possible

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Communication

• Faster, more dependable mail delivery easier to
  schedule
• Telegraph allow for almost instant
  communication
• Newspapers create and sustain fan interest

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Equipment evolution

• Improvement
• Availability
• Standardization
• Uniformity
• Cost reduction

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Urbanization - Montreal

• Centrality of economic and industrial prowess
  mirrored in sport
• Montreal cradle of organized sport in Canada
• Montreal Amateur Athletic Association 1881
• Montreal Snowshoe Club (MSSC)
• Montreal Lacrosse Club (MLC)
• Montreal Bicycle Club (MBC)

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Amateurism

• Concept cemented in exclusion
• Sport historically the preserve of elite males
• Many amateur groups excluded females, blacks,
  Indians and labourers
• Attempt to level playing field
• Guiding value system in organized sport

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CAAA

• Canadian Amateur Athletic Association formed in
  1884
• Custodian of amateur code
• In continuous existence until mid 1970s
• Bolstered by prestige of Olympic Games

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Professionalism

• Preservation of amateur ideals difficult
• Entrepreneurs saw commercial basis for
  high-quality sport
• National Hockey Association founded in 1910
• Other sports followed suit

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Hero/Star

• By-product of high-level sporting competition
  notion of heroes or stars
• Public perception of star can influence
  development of sport
• Issues of gender play part in idea of sport
  heroes or stars e.g. Barbara Ann Scott

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Legislation

• 1943 National Physical Fitness Act (NPFA)
• Encourage physical activity
• Establishment of physical degree-training
  programs
• 1954 Repealed NPFA
• 1950s Sporting success symbol for national
  prowess
• 1961 Fitness and Amateur Sports Act (FASA)

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FASA Some results

• Canada Games instituted
• Coaching leadership education
• Cost sharing for elite sporting facilities
• Bursary programs for athletes
• Money for world (hockey) competition
• Fitness component 1971- Participaction

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GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT

• 1900 1960
• Main threads
• 1. Commercial and professional interests
• Sponsorship by business
• Professional leagues
• Government Involvement
• Result of high rejection rates in military
• Desire for good results in international
• competition

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Conclusions

• Many influences on development of sport in Canada
• Fair play
• Male dominance
• Social class control
• Amateurism
• Professionalism
• Social and government policies

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• Discuss in small groups how the
• star of a team can effect how a sport is
  played or watched?
• Should professional athletes be expected to act
  as positive role models?