Between them they push sport further and further away from the play-spirit proper until it becomes a thing ‘sui generis’: neither play nor earnest. In modern social life sport occupies a place alongside and apart from the cultural process. The great competitions in archaic cultures had always formed a part of the sacred festivals and were indispensable as health- and happiness-bringing activities. This ritual tie has now been completely severed; sport has become profane, ‘unholy’ in every way and has no organic connexion whatever with the structure of society, least of all when prescribed by the government.
However important it may be for the players or spectators, it remains sterile. The old play-factor has undergone almost complete atrophy.