Resumen de Globalization of Sports Activities and Sport Perceptions among Adolescents from Berlin and Suburban New York
C. Roger Rees, Wolf-Dietrich Brettschneider, Hans Peter Brandl-Bredenbeck
While economic-oriented theories identify a “homogenized” or “Americanized,” unidirectional model of global sport, figurational theories conceptualize globalization as much more complicated, multifaceted, and interactional. However, the spread of “achievement” sport is seen as central in both approaches. This paper investigates the degree to which “achievement” criteria characterize the sporting behavior and sporting perceptions of adolescents in Berlin and suburban New York. We find evidence that adolescents from both samples accept competition and training as important components of their sport concepts, and examples of some of these components associated with gender differences transcending national boundaries. We also identify differences in the sport concepts of Berlin and suburban New York youth, both in the types of sports they play and in the meaning they attach to these activities. These differences lead us to question the ubiquity of “achievement” sport as a component of globalization, and hence, the efficacy of theories stressing “homogenization” and unidirectionality.
