Use of English

Sport in Society

Sport plays an important (0) ROLE in modern society. It is far more than simple entertainment, as it can bring people together, teach valuable lessons and even influence national identity. At local level, sports clubs often give young people a sense of belonging and help them stay (1) .......... from harmful habits. They also encourage teamwork, discipline and respect for rules. On a wider scale, major sporting events can have a powerful (2) .......... on how a country is seen by the rest of the world. Success in international competitions often fills citizens with pride and gives them something to (3) .......... in common. At the same time, sport can sometimes reveal social problems, such as inequality in access to facilities or unfair treatment of athletes. For this reason, many people argue that governments should (4) .......... more in public sports programmes. These can improve public health and also help to (5) .......... down barriers between different groups in society. In addition, sport can offer individuals the chance to set goals and (6) .......... progress through effort and practice. Whether people take part or simply watch, sport continues to (7) .......... a strong influence on daily life and can (8) .......... to a more united community.