Sport: definition and classification of sports modalities

Abstract

Sport is an area composed of various sports modalities, which share some common properties. However, many sedentary activities are currently considered sports, with their practitioners even being recognized as athletes. Moreover, performance in many of these activities is tested indirectly or evaluated using subjective criteria to determine their champions. While competition is the essence of sport, the goal of this essay is to discuss other important factors in its characterization, excluding sedentary and recreational activities as examples of sports modalities. Furthermore, it aims to classify these modalities according to their structural and functional characteristics, regardless of the number of practitioners.