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P A R T 5
Social Factors Affecting Sports Participation

Access to Sports Environment
Access to the sports environment refers to the suitability of sports facilities for individuals to participate in
sports. The accessibility, size, safety, support and aesthetic features of the sports environment can increase
the sports behavior of the individuals and the demand for sports. Ünal (2014) states that public sports
facilities are an important factor for public participation in sports. Handy et al. (2007) stated that there are
six design features that affect the level of participation in physical activity for access to sports facilities:
connection with the community, density, land use characteristics, aesthetics, safety (or perceived safety),
suitability for public transportation. Reducing the distance between the place where the individual is
located and the place to go, allowing him to walk or ride a bicycle instead of driving, and having a safe and
aesthetic environment encourage individuals to do sports.
Social Class
The concept of class is generally tried to be defined in terms of three dimensions: political, economic and
cultural. While the political dimension focuses on the economic, social and political changes created by
social classes and class behaviors in society, the economic dimension focuses on financial inequality, and
the cultural dimension focuses on the distribution of life style, social behavior and prestige in the society
(Turner, 2006).
Social class is defined as a group in a society that shares similar wealth, power and status. The place of the
individual is important in determining how people live in social classes and how they are perceived and
treated by others (Berber, 2003). There are social classes in all societies and economic inequalities between
individuals continue to exist throughout life (Coakley, 2007). Social class is an important factor to consider
when examining opportunities in sport. A child with a limited family income will have fewer opportunities
to play tennis and golf, surf on the ocean, ski, canoe, paraglide or water ski. Such activities are only open to
those who have the money to access the necessary equipment. Low-income people tend to engage in
sports performed in public facilities or sports that require only limited equipment and small participation
fees. It is highly likely that individuals belonging to the lower class will participate in individual and team
sports where direct physical contact is intense and violence and physical strength are emphasized.
Individuals belonging to the lower class use sports as a means of social mobility, to reach the higher classes,
and therefore they show interest in professional sports. Individuals belonging to the middle class, on the
other hand, are generally interested in team sports and sports in which the upper class participates.
Individuals belonging to the upper class, on the other hand, have turned to various sports, which are
entered through private clubs and which require a certain expenditure to participate (Dever, 2021).

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