Introduction

Without question one of the great passions of the twentieth century has been sport. The opening decade of the twenty-first century suggests that this passion remains unabated. Sport continues to matter to thousands of players and fans across the globe, with differing sports playing a particularly important role in the cultural life of countries and people. While football is the global game, other sports such as baseball occupy a central position in American popular culture, cricket and Aussie Rules in Australian life, Gaelic games in Ireland, cricket and basketball in Caribbean culture, while rugby union is important in constructions of Welsh and New Zealand national identities.