"Competitive sport is big business; money and circuses- for the 'bread' of ancient Rome comes in the form of hard currency today." Competitive sport is different in the sense that losing in the ancient world usually meant more than merely "coming second". Sportsmen and women have always enjoyed a special status in the societies in which they live. This is as true in antiquity as it is in the modern world. What has changed is what people perceive to be a "game".

For the Greeks and Romans "...a game had become a battle, and often a bloody one." But, times change and as the process of civilisation marches on, the death of the loser which was once publicly accepted to satisfy the demands of honour would only cause a public reaction of horror in the modern world.

Ultimately, only winning counts. This is as true today as it was in the Roman Empire. The battles fought between players and teams are mock battles compared to those of the arenas of the ancient games. However these battles satisfy very similar purposes- the entertainment of the masses.

The spectacular games organised by the Roman emperors were more than just putting on a lavish display of entertainment; they satisfied and played an important role in the complicated affairs of the Roman Empire. "Panem et circuses" (Bread and circuses.) The spectacular entertainment was designed to distract the massive plebeian class from their everyday hardships in order to receive their loyalty and adulation. The games were no more than a pleasant distraction from the unattractive reality of ancient Rome. The emperor that could command the loyalty of the army and the people could sit securely on the imperial throne.

In certain ways, the role of sport in the ancient and modern worlds has remained the same. The desire to see skill, athleticism, victory and defeat remain the motivation for spectators. However the reasons why sports and entertainment are still staged in massive arenas for everyone to enjoy are different. Government and politics in the modern world are more evolved. The people have rights to participate in the government. Their loyalty has to be earned through good governance and participation. In the Roman period, whomsoever could kill and thrill the most people in the name of entertainment bought loyalty.

Tasks:

1) What characteristics do ancient and modern sports share?
2) What kind of status do sportsmen and women share?
3) What did Greeks and Romans look for in their sporting activities?
4) Games in ancient Rome had a very serious purpose. How did the Roman emperors use them?
5) What separates the modern audience from those of Rome?
6) Which sports do you enjoy and why?
7) Are these sports similar to those found in the Roman Empire? Explain your answer?