The Sport in Bulgarian Cities (the End of 19th – the Mid-20th Century)

Abstract

  This study retraces the arising and the features of the sport in Bulgaria during the period from the end of 19th till mid 20th century. The sport is described as a social and cultural phenomenom, typical for the modern industrial society. The functions of the sport in the Bulgarian urban society are also shown in the study. Historically are followed the entering of new types of sport in Bulgaria and the changes that take place in the traditional sport games. Parallel with this function are shown other features thar make the sport very popular in this period.

 Based on the described facts and on an ethnological analisys we can conclude that the sport in Bulgaria is developing almost parallel to the European tendency and carries all the basic properties of this process. It must be noticed that there are such properties of the sport as arising of sport stars, idols and fans, beginning of commercializing, ability for people from different sex and social origin to reach and to be involved in sport events, establishment of different organizations etc., that were not known in the previous period. The phenomenom pf sport is becoming one virtually important part of the life of the residents of the Bulgarian industrial cities during the descriped period.