Why Space Matters when Thinking about Sports - Term Paper Example

Name: xxxxxxxx Tutor: xxxxxxxx Title: Why Space Matters when Thinking About Sports Institution: xxxxxxxx Date due: xxxxxxxx Introduction Space and place are fundamental themes within the geographical thinking. Regardless of this, the two remain difficult to describe since they have been employed in differing ways and in varied perspectives throughout the Geographical history as a discipline. This implies that before articulating their significance and use on sports development, the two terms must be well explored and explained. Space is perceived to be the ‘fundamental aspect’ of the human geography. Therefore, the creation of geographical knowledge is focused on claims to know space in specific ways. For the past decades, the perceptions of space have generally focused on ‘locating’ places and phenomena as well as events on the earth’s surface (Emma & Nicola 2000). Space and Sports Geography Bale (2000) defines sports geography by describing some of the spatial characteristics such as sports are played at both sites and locations and the phenomena which include analysis of the places where sport takes place, for instance, stadia and a wider context of supporters who migrate from the surrounding area that are associated with sports. This identifies sports development as the relation between people and place which takes place in and throughout space (Bale 2000). Studies indicate that sports geography is often considered as the spatial variations within the development of various sports and examining the impact that the various sporting activities may have on a given landscape. It is clearly observed that space and place are essential and common themes within the geographical thinking. Space and the spatial are examined by the geographers through different ways. This is because spaces of the sports development can be absolute material and concrete as well as metaphorical and imaginative (Miller 1999). Therefore, sports development can be used to shape space and provide a new meaning to place. This second understanding of space and the spatial differs noticeably from the common empiricist view of space in enabling sports development as situated and marked out, with the patterns of location still waiting to be identified and mapped. Philosophical discussions about space are dominated by the dichotomy of unlimited space and relational space. The former presents space as a container which is clearly different, real and objective (Evers 2006). Consequently, absolute space center on the features of things on the basis of their concentration and dispersion. It is this concept of the spatial perceived to be closely connected to both the processes and history of the geographical map-making as well as the concern for defined measurement of the locational relationships. This is in contrast to the relative or relational space in sport geography which is focused on the perceptual and socially produced, focusing on the characteristics of various places (Forever 1998). Place Promotion in Sports A part from the physical transformations, the sports development as well as its significant use as a tool for urban regeneration, it is as well an effective and vital means of changing the meaning of place and promoting place. Place promotion in sports can be applied in regions that are affected by both deindustrialization and deprivation. It is important in the promotion of certain images to their residents. For instance, in Barcelona, it has been discovered that Olympics contributed to the collective imaginary of the democratic Barcelona and for its citizens. In addition, place promotion provides an external function which leads to outward attraction of the potential visitors and investors in sports as well as creating a tourist location. This implies that geography of the spectacle is an idea that is basically imagineered and marketed events that include the Olympic Games as well as sporting occasions that are global in reach (Emma & Nicola 2000). The collective imaginary of Barcelona city together with its Olympics is well exemplified in the manner in which the inhabitants found in the city volunteered within the games infrastructure. However, the creation of place-specific identity in sports have received much criticisms because of its marketing exercise for some outside market aspect which potentially leaves the residents behind with a feeling of them being excluded. Although Barcelona has put its focus on the exceptionality of its geography as well as the place identity, this is in contrast with the marketing for 2012 Olympics in London which seems to be ‘placeless’, As a result, it has been criticized so much for bringing to an ending its geography (Wagner 2000). The sense of place in thinking about sports is important since it is closely related to identity as well as how people make sense of themselves and their lives. This is because it shows how individuals’ feelings and thoughts about places, and thus used by various geographers who emphasize that places are vital as they are considered as the main focus of the personal feelings. Sports development may also be used within the remaking place images. This implies that the meanings of space and place in sports are not a fixed, but dynamic look and very open to both resistance and contestation. Different sporting places are distinguishable from each other through the process of relating power that construct those boundaries around them in addition to creating spaces with specific meanings in which certain relationships are facilitated, while others discouraged (Hargreaves 2001). Therefore, successful sports development requires some construct place images which are inclusive. However, images and attitudes may possibly change over time, mainly if a development is considered to be evolved from a public to private space. This works best if those people who once considered themselves as part of the sport development project stop to feel that they have ownership or belonging. Thinking about the development of sports should not only be focused on the temporary terms, but also involve the spatial considerations, identifying the central as well as the dynamic role of space in sports. It is apparent that space and place are not just inert empty canvas built upon, but they are remade within the sport development process. Emerging as an encounter between the people and place, the development of sports can interrupt and dislodge the prevailing, create and promote the new meanings of place (Bale 2000). Managers in sports development need to be more sensitive to the impacts associated with its development on the physical environment as well as the use of place based on the meaning of a changing place. Nearly every sport is considered to be a fantastic visual spatial game. This means that some are associated with more linear thought and sequencing compared to others. However, it becomes hard-pressed to discover a sport which is not spatially intensive. Therefore, a common spatial element within sports is the perception on space and time (Evers 2006). Normally, the concept of space and time focus on the calculation of speed. For example, in a baseball outfielder, the outfielder views a ball at a high level in the air and aims to predict its trajectory. He runs to traverse the trajectory, not only aim to get there prior to the ball landing on the ground, but also applies a more complex set of calculations. In another example good athletes can achieve this almost instinctively by practice doing similar tasks. This is because such practices teach them not only physically, but also mentally how they can do these kinds of the visual spatial tasks. Therefore, place promotion works best through economic logic that involve luring the inward investment from tourists, shoppers, industries and a social logic of how to convince the local people that they are the main cogs within a successful community (Baer & Butler 2000). Spatial Analysis of the Sport Tourism in Peripheral Locations Sport tourism within the peripheral locations is basically resource-dependent, and thus determined by physical nature of a given land landscape rather than the closeness to market areas. Sports-space theory used in peripheral areas indicates that the foundation of natural resource rather than the market access, effectively determines the location at which sport tourism can take place. For instance, the Ski resort depends on the requisite terrain, elevation and the snow conditions which enable the participants to take on their sports within the favorable conditions (Light 2008). However, the main challenge faced in sports areas within the periphery concerns facilitating the visitors’ access and opportunities to enable them fit into place sports within the natural areas. This implies that sports areas need to be located within the peripheral areas where the natural resources and some built infrastructures rather than the centrality determines decisions undertaken on the site location. Additionally, the quality of sport environments or resources, determines how peripheral area is organized in a sports location hierarchy. Therefore, the quality of a place for sports can be determined through factors such as uniqueness, the naturalness or absence of impacts, remoteness and the features of a natural environment. Studies indicate that there is existence of peripheral locations in groups of critical mass that enable the creation of a high standard and various sports facilities which enhance a sustainable destination within the sport location hierarchy (Dennis & Carron 1999). Conclusion The perceptions of space have generally focused on ‘locating’ places and phenomena as well as events on the earth’s surface. The sense of place in thinking about sports is important since it is closely related to identity as well as how people make sense of themselves and their lives. Thinking about the development of sports should not only be focused on the temporary terms, but also involve the spatial considerations, identifying the central as well as the dynamic role of space in sports. Different sporting places are distinguishable from each other through the process of relating power that construct those boundaries around them in addition to creating spaces with specific meanings in which certain relationships are facilitated, while others discouraged. Bibliography Bale, John. 2000, Sportscapes, Sheffield, Geographical Association. Baer, Leonard & Butler David, 2000, Space-time modeling of grizzly bears, Geographical Review, 90(2), 206-221. Dennis, W. Paul. & Carron V. Albert. 1999, Strategic Decisions of Ice Hockey Coaches as a Function of Game Location. Journal of Sports Sciences, 17(4), 263-268. Evers, Clifton., 2006, How to Surf’, Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 30(3), pp. 229-243. Emma, Wainwright & Nicola Ansell., 2000, Geographies of sports development: the role of space and place. Forever Pip, 1998, Geometric Approaches to the Nexus of Time, Space and Microprocess: Implementing a Practical Model for Mundane Socio-Spatial Systems. In: M J Egenhofer and R G Golledge (eds), Spatial and Temporal Reasoning in Geographic Information Systems, (Oxford: Oxford University Press), pp.171-190. Hargreaves, Jennifer, 2001, Heroines of Sport: The Politics of Difference and Identity. London and New York: Routledge. Light, Richard., 2008, Boys, the Body, Sport and Schooling', Sport, Education and Society 13(2), pp. 127-130. Miller, Harvey. 1999, Modelling Accessibility using space-time prism concepts within geographical information systems. International Journal of Geographical Information Systems, 5, 287-301. Wagner, Pete. 2000, Sport: culture and geography. In: A Pred (ed), Space and Time in Geography (Lund, Sweden: Gleerup), pp.85-108. Read More