Sociology

Olympic Games are international games that involve diverse types of games and competitions. These games have garnered high level of popularity since the eighteenth century. Various scholars have carried out research on sociological theories and sports. There are diverse sociological theories that different authors have invented over time. They include the constructivist theory, the theory of Hegemony by Gramsci and even the Marxist theory. This paper therefore looks at these paradigms in relation to Olympic Games. (Abdel-Shehid, 2005)

In order to analyze the situation in the Olympic Games, it is quite imperative to understand the various paradigms listed above. An analysis of Gramscis theory of Hegemony shows that there are various mechanisms in the society that play a great role in controlling the masses. According to Gramsci, the society and organizations across the globe are controlled or manipulated by class and power. A thorough analysis of this theory expounds that the aspect of dictatorship that is proletarian in nature. This is also where life choices among people are dominated by power and social class. (Sugden, 2009)

Marx sought to comprehend the aspects of culture economics and politics, of the newly emerging nations. He therefore accentuated   the leading role of the economy in society as a whole. These superstructures are non-economic aspects of society, i.e. religion, culture, education, social life politics and social institutions. (Wallechinsky, 2005)

Marx identified society as consisting of two classes The proletariat class and the so-called Bourgeoisie. The Bourgeoisie is a capitalistic, wealthy and powerful minority consisting of nobility and upper class members while the proletariat is also well-known as working-class. They hold the majority of societal members who are poor, semi- or unskilled workers. According to social constructivist theory, learners need not be passive but active participants in the learning process. This is where the learning environment is also challenging to the learners.

Discussion
As earlier on illustrated, there are various authors who have written articles that pertain to the sociological aspects. It is quite essential to note that the Olympic Games started as early as the eighteenth century. The Olympic Games include diverse types of competitions. There are athletics, rugby and boxing etc. Many authors assert that sports are considered to be part and parcel of life. Many people are fans of sports and more so the Olympic Games. It is however quite imperative to note that there is minimal critical analysis of the effects of these sports on the society at large. A critical analysis of the Olympic Games shows that there has been the enhancement of social classes in the society. There are various paradigms that explain the issues that are identified in Olympic Games in relation to the aspect of social classes. (Sugden, 2009)

 According to Gramscis theory of hegemony, the masses in the society tend to be controlled by various factors. These are power and class. While so many people exalt the concept of Olympic Games across the globe, critics assert that these games have been one of the largest channels of creating social classes and inequalities within the society. (McGinnis, McQuillan and Chapple, 2005)
According to Gramscis theory of Hegemony, Olympic Games have played a part in creating social classes within the society in various ways. First of all, in the ancient times, participants or winners in the Olympic Games were not given any monetary benefits.

It was viewed as a way of socializing and relaxing where people showed their talents in diverse sports. With time, Olympic Games started being characterized by the winners being given lump sums of cash. This has been the spurring factor that makes most sportsmen strive to participate in the games. They go through rigorous trainings for years just to ensure that they do not miss the chance to participate in the games. The cash and the fame has been the biggest motivator to the participants.
There have also been other factors that have been evident in the Olympic Games. This is in as much as the participants of the Olympic Games are concerned. An issue that has been quite evident is the aspect of involving the special groups of people in the games. These are the mentally and the physically challenged people in the society.

There is very little that has been done to incorporate this minority group of people in the Olympic Games. This has resulted in a society where the physically and mentally challenged people are not fully accepted by the rest of the people. An analysis of McGinnis, McQuillan and Chapple, 2005 shows that age is a factor that has really been an issue in the Olympic Games. (McGinnis, McQuillan and Chapple, 2005)

In some of the games or competitions, it has been asserted that the participants should not be more than forty years of age. This clearly indicates that the young people in the society are given an upper hand as compared to older people. This tends to make the young people feel to be more superior to their elderly counterparts. This in real sense creates some form of power paradigms in the society and also a form of social disparities among the young and the elderly people.

There are also aspects of gender that have faced the wrath of the Olympic games critics. This is considering the fact that the planners of Olympic Games categorize male and female participants separately. This is an issue that critical analysts of sports concur that is a channel of creating or forming social classes in the society. This is in accordance to Gramscis theory of Hegemony in the society. (McGinnis, McQuillan and Chapple, 2005)

This is where there are social classes based on gender. There is the assumption that women cannot compete with their male counterparts. This is where they are considered to be the weaker sex. This is way of having social classes since Olympic Games make people to classify men to be more superior to the ladies. It has been ascertained that Olympic Games among other contemporary sports have been highly made to be masculine.

This is where physical prowess is depicted in the male participants of the games and female counterparts shown to be frail when it comes to physical potency. According to Gramsci, contestation is an imperative aspect of hegemony theory. Sports activities such as rugby and soccer have been depicted to be dominated by high levels of masculinity. This is highly characterized by Olympic officials decisions that tend to exclude female participants in these sports. This without knowledge has encouraged social classes and power paradigms among the winners of Olympic Games. The amount of money given to winners and participants in the Olympic Games is quite enviable. This however results in a case where the sports create a society where there are very rich and very poor people. (Boyd, 2006)

In this case, the rich tend to have power over the poor in the society. The participants or winners get to be in a higher social class and may not want to have anything to do with those in the lower classes. Research has shown that some of the participants immediately after winning the Olympic Games never want anything to do with people who are not as rich and famous as they are. (McGinnis, McQuillan and Chapple, 2005)

They move estates or places of residence that are of the affluent. The people who could easily be accessed by any person start asking for appointments first and this is done even to their closest relatives. This is how the Olympic Games have been one of the avenues of creating social class disparities in the society.

Another sociological theory is the Marxist theory by Karl Marx. As earlier on illustrated Karl Marx, the society consists of two major classes of people. These can be classified as bourgeoisie and the proletariat classes. The bourgeoisie class is typified to be wealthy and powerful minority consisting of nobility and upper class members. The proletariat class is also known as working-class, consist of poor majority. It has been shown that participants and specifically winners of Olympic Games are given a lot of money that makes them to be grouped in Karl Marxs Bourgeoisie class. They are not the majority but are the minority who are so wealthy and do not have interactions with the proletariat class. (Boyd, 2006)

These are mostly people who do not make it to participate in the Olympic Games and therefore do not have a lot of money as the former social class. This has therefore played a great role in creating social disparities within the society. A society where there are two distinct classes of people the poor and the powerful rich. This issue has emanated from the Olympic Games without the knowledge or plan of the initiators of the games.

The constructivist theory asserts that the best learning needs to involve active participation of the learners. An analysis of this theory in the light of Olympic Games illustrates that there has not been the implementation of the constructivist theory. This is considering the fact that participants are only required to abide by set rules and regulations.

Recommendations
There are a range of approaches that various authors have proposed to help in resolving the issues illustrated above. One of the proposed approaches concerns having a wholesome view of sports activities such as the Olympic Games. Research has clearly indicated that the stakeholders have had a one sided view without looking at the sociological aspects of their decisions in as far as Olympic Games are concerned. (Woods, 2007)

As the stakeholders embrace this view, every decision made at the top most structural level will be thoroughly analyzed to ensure that it will not have negative effects in the society. This includes aspects of having social inequalities and social classes based on wealth, gender and age among other aspects. It is highly recommended that global sports bodies have sociologists in their top leadership personnel. These will help to ensure that the decisions made do not have adverse effects in the society. (Sugden, 2009)

It is also highly recommended that the constructivist theory be incorporated in the sports arena. This theory asserts that learners need to be active participants in the learning process. This also entails creating the right environment that can facilitate learning. Sports officials, coaches etc need to embrace this theory as it will help to give the participants an avenue to air their views pertaining to Olympic Games. Through this various aspects of social classes within the sports fraternity will be eliminated in due course.  (Woods, 2007)

Various authors clearly recommend that aspects of social classes and participation in Olympic Games need to be handled as a first hand issue. This is concerning aspects of gender where equal chances and opportunities should be given to both male and female participants. Physically and mentally handicapped people should be allowed to participate in such games. It would be imperative to allow people of all ages to participate in the Olympic Games without favoring any age groups. All these factors would play a great role in ensuring that social inequalities in the society emanating from sports activities are eradicated.