While opinions in Europe were fractured about many things in the 18 and 1900's they all seemed to agree

on on simple fact :organized sports were a useful and powerful tool. The disagreements in this subject centered mainly on what this tool would be used for. Some believed it should be used to promote a country's military, others to improve a nations' ability to function as a cohesive unit and still others believed it should be use to further the battle for Womens rights. Documents 1, 5 and 6 discuss and show the military applications of sports used in the correct manner. In document 1 sports are used as symbol to show the rebirth of a nation and its people and how they can strengthen the government and military with the support of the populace. The speakers position as Co-founder of the national Organization of Gymnastics of course puts him in a position to benefit greatly if sports were to become popular, this of course makes him largely biased in favor of the widespread use of gymnastics. Document 5 shows that the games are in every way but name a war between countries jockeying for a position from which to look down upon its fellows, while in theory this may allow some countries to blow off steam without any actual violence , in practice the tensions produced can actually serve to aggravate the already strained relationships between countries. Document 6 is a propaganda poster promoting the military as one giant team simply playing the game of war, and hoping to win it. This shows war in a favorable light, as simply a noble game that must be won, neglecting the bloody aspect entirely it serves to attract young athletes to a career in the military. Explored in documents 4, 7, and 9 are the ability of sports to help a nation work together to improve their society and way of life. Document 4 is written by an observer describing how his peoples inability to work together is displayed in their game play. He describes how while his people are good at cricket, a game that requires little team play in favor of individual skill, they lack the team work to properly play a game like rugby. While this speech may be simply a plea from a leader to his people that team work would be needed to throw off the shackles of British rule, it is also biased due to the position of power the speaker would be in if this did occur. Document 7 describes how like in a team all the members of a society and an economy must work together in order for it to grow and prosper. Described in document 9 is the fervor and ecstasy that the demonstration brings to the crowd as it roars out in a single joyous voice. This is a unity that a nation can rarely feel and can be used to link a society into tighter knots of camaraderie. Documents 2, 10, and 12 show how sports, specifically gymnastics can aid in the fight for gender equality. The statistics show in document 2 that for the first time in 1910 women were considered important enough to be counted in the census symbolically showing that they were just as important as the men in the organization. Document 10 is an observation by a German Physician named Alice Profe, who says just as there is no female blood or female breathing there are no exercises that men can do that women can not or should not. Of course if sports could help women to crash through the glass ceiling that society places on them Dr Profe would most likely gain standing and power which makes her observations biased. Document 12 describes the experience of a gymnasts' first memory of performing and how this affected her. While society frowned upon the use of the improper uniforms the freedom of motion was needed to perform such as sport, this helped to dispense with some of the behavioral expectations placed on Women by society. The unity accomplished by sports is largely the reason it is such a well formed tool in order to control and influence societies. The ability to relate to ones neighbors and peers strengthens the bonds of a community and nation as well as providing a common thought and mindset which can be easily used to influence masses of people.