Sport, igra, svrhovitost

The nature of the connection between sports and games is thesubject of numerous discussions. The theories range from the claimthat every sport is a game (while every game is not a sport) to theattitudes that abolish any connection between modern sports andgames. The first part of the paper discusses the connection betweensports and games through the analysis of a thesis that claims thatsport is a game. It is pointed to the definitions and demarcations ofthe terms sport, game and play, referring to the texts of Bernard H.Suits, which are critically evaluated. The second part of the paperexamines the issue of the purpose of sport. It discusses the outerand inner purpose of sport. Special attention is paid to the viewpointsof “wide internalism” and “historicist conventionalism” and thethesis that sport is an end in itself. The last part of the text considersthe arguments of Eugen Fink who claims that game is an endin itself.