抄録
In this paper, the author tries to study the functions of athletic activities in modern societies in order to find solutions for the problems inherent in these activities. First, the targets of athletic activities are classified. Then, the functions of these activities are considered theoretically. All athletic activities have targets that can be directly aimed at by the athletes during the activities. There are many kinds of targets, but all can be classified into seven groups:
1) defended mobile targets, 2) defended immobile targets, 3) defended skill targets, 4) undefended mobile targets, 5) undefended immobile targets, 6) undefended skill targets, 7) undefended record targets. The first three types of these targets are defended, and the latter four types are undefended. All these targets are clearly visible to the athletes. This “visibility” is the most important trait of these targets when one considers the essence and ends of athletic activities in comparison with the ends of modern labour, in order to examine the functions of athletic activities in modern societies. The ends or targets of modern labour are unclear and cannot be seen directly by the workers' eyes. This “invisibility” has gradually deepened since the Industrial Revolution. From this contrast of the “visibility” of the targets of athletes to the “invisibility” of the ends of modern labourers, therefore, a new hypothesis can be proposed that athletic activities have developed as a counter-culture against modern labour, in order that people might participate in actions aiming at targets that are more clearly seen by the participants than are the ends or targets of modern labour.
