The Business Side of Sport
Commercialisation is basically when businesses use sport as their main way to make money. Think of it like turning sport into a profitable business rather than just a game or competition.
The most important concept here is the golden triangle - this shows how three key players work together: sponsorship deals, sporting events, and the media. They're all connected and depend on each other to create the massive sports industry we see today.
Media includes everything from social media and websites to TV broadcasts and newspaper coverage. Meanwhile, sponsorship happens when companies give money or products to athletes in exchange for publicity and increased sales - like when Andy Murray promotes Lucozade.
Quick Tip: Remember that commercialisation always has profit as its main goal, which can sometimes lead to athletes or sports being exploited.
Positive effects include sponsorship deals that fund athletes, better promotion of sports, higher prize money, and improved public image. However, there are negative effects too: sponsors can withdraw support after bad publicity, event dates get changed to suit TV schedules, athletes face clothing restrictions, and inequality emerges (men's football gets way more attention than women's football).
