Reality, Meet Fiction: Sporting Events

Reality:

This week is a big week in American sports. The Superbowl (championships for the National Football League--American Football, of course) was on Sunday. This Thursday marks the kick off of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, which should be interesting as well. 

Regardless of how sporty you are (personally, I'm watching the Yukon Quest sled dog race over football), these events give some insight into national mentality. 

Not only does it show that we have enough time, leisure, and extra money to pay people millions of dollars to play for our entertainment, but it offers insight into what Americans value. 

And you don't get much more American than the Superbowl. Home celebrations center around greasy, overly sweet, and spicy foods accompanied by mass amounts of pop and (depending on the group) alcoholic beverages while yelling at the television. The event itself is subject to huge marketing, with some people just watching it for the commercials. Beyond this, it focuses largely on many typical American things, notably the military; this year, a WWII vet did the coin toss at the beginning of the game and, as for many big sporting events, there was a flyover by the Air Force at the start of the game. National pride definitely shines through in American Football, in spite of any politics that may have taken center stage earlier in the season.

Fiction:

How can you utilize sports or recreational events to show part of your world's culture? Do they compete for religious reasons? Or is it pure entertainment? 

Are there stereotypes about people who are fans of a particular sport? (Loud, obnoxious, nerdy, fanatical, etc.) Are certain sports more popular than others? Are nations associated with a particular sport? (It's American as baseball and apple pie).

What sort of marketing goes into the sports your culture values? How does that reflect on the culture at large? 

Are there stereotypes of people who compete in different sports? Are they considered violent? Stupid? Smart? Patient? Skilled? Graceful?

What's your favorite sport to watch? Are you looking forward to the Olympics?