The World Sport Council and Body Development

Sports (or sports) is any forms of physically demanding physical activity that, through organised or casual involvement, aim to utilize, develop or increase particular physical capability and abilities while offering entertainment for participants, and sometimes, spectators. These activities may be adapted from contact sports like wrestling or martial arts, or outdoor games like cycling, swimming, football and lacrosse. Many people engage in sports to build up their muscle strength, flexibility and stamina. Some get into sports to escape from home and find the excitement and adventure of participating in a team.

The first international organized sports competition took place at the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. With the evolution of the human body and the development of new sports science, sports competition has been incorporated with the other elements of sport. Today, many international sports governing bodies regulate and set standards for various sports and activities. Some of these are Association Football, Professional Boxing, Basketball, Skiing, Australian Football, Cricket, Tennis, Golf, Handball, Cycling, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Track and Field. Each sport has its own unique rules, organization and competing bodies and these are regulated by dedicated governmental and non-governmental organizations.

There are many different professional sports governing bodies that control different levels of physical activity in various countries. Among them, the United States Soccer Federation, the National Soccer Hall of Fame, the Professional Referees Association, the Professional Hockey Association, the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Federation of Association Football Associations ( FIFA ), the International Federation of Professional Judges (IVA ) and the World Rugby Organization (WRO ). There are also other governing bodies for lesser known sports. In countries where there are several professional sports, government and private organizations set up their own governing boards and commission to supervise and regulate the various activities in these sports.

While most sports activities are governed by the laws of common consent, in professional sports, especially during matches and tournaments, it is often the case that a controversial situation may arise and there needs to be a ruling by a third umpire. As an example, in tennis there is no clear cut definition of when a forehand shot would be deemed excessive. There are three different opinions as to what the acceptable limit is, with the general consensus being that it should be no lower than one meter for a serve. This has been accepted as the law by governing bodies and has therefore resulted in the dismissal of players when they are found to be out of line.

Some people argue that the entire point of competitive sports is for the participants to engage in highly physical activity in order to win. While this is true of most sports, it must be noted that mind sports competitions such as chess do not involve physical contact and are therefore not governed by the same laws of common consent. The point of mind sports is to engage in a mental contest, something that any rational person would perceive as impossible. Whether or not this is a genuine competition is up to the user.

The rules applied to non-physical sports are not nearly as defined and some sports are open to interpretation. For example, a popular argument in golf is over whether a golfer should have a ball handy to tap out of a tight spot if they lose their footing and fall to the ground. While it is unlikely that a court would hand down a strict ruling, it is important to ensure fair competition throughout the game. By ensuring fair play at every level of play, the World Sport Council is attempting to promote a sense of fair play throughout the game.