Aspen Ideas Festival

What's the Role of Sports in Society?

Organized sports were introduced to American life more than a century ago as not just a venue for entertainment but a tool of nation building. Now that we’re a nation of sports fans—where even President Obama’s March Madness picks are televised on ESPN—what does social leadership through sports look like?

Speakers: Robert Lipsyte, John Walsh, Christine Brennan, Beth A. A. Brooke
Festival: 2012

Audio/Video: Sports

What's the Role of Sports in Society?
Organized sports were introduced to American life more than a century ago as not just a venue for entertainment but a... See more
In the Zone: What Does Peak Performance Require?
What does it mean to perform at the top of your game physically and mentally? A top fitness expert, Paralympic athlete... See more
College Sports at a Crossroads: Entertainment or Education?
The NCAA is beset with scandals, anti-trust lawsuits, calls for reform, and manic conference hopping—all signs that... See more
Head Games: Can Football Be Saved from Itself?
Football is America’s most popular game, underwritten by communities and schools everywhere. But even NFL veterans are... See more
Competition: What's Fair Today?
Where we draw that line in sports, and in the general culture, shapes the games we play and the society in which we... See more
London Calling: What’s Our Olympic Legacy?
As a prelude to the upcoming Olympic Games, our panel considers what we want the Olympic movement to represent and... See more

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Fact: Sports
Girls who participate in athletics report being more content with their lives than girls who do not participate in athletics. Much of the social, educational, and health benefits of sports participation become visible in elementary school years for girls and boys.
—Women’s Sports Foundation, Oct. 2008