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            Last year, while watching the Winter Olympics I could not help but wonder how so many of these individuals got started in these obscure sports. To achieve the Olympic level of athleticism requires training from early childhood. Yet, I found it hard to imagine that many nine year olds want to be curlers or participate in the biathlon. It occurred to me that not only would these children require their parents to push them towards a certain sport but that they would also need substantial funds in order to become skilled in that sport. This is a luxury only afforded by a few. The relationship between social class and sports seemed to be very evident in the Winter Olympics. Coakley states “training at the elite level requires considerable resources” (2008). We can view sports as a reflection of the social class inequality occurring in the United States.

            Sports become something of a symbol of each social class. Sports that do not require much equipment or funds to participate become the staple of the lower classes. Obviously, basketball is the prime example. Middle class sports may require some more time and money than sports like basketball. This may include sports such as hockey and travel soccer. The high-class sports are what interest me the most. Coakley gives us a list, which includes golf, swimming, sailing, tennis, and skiing. I find it fascinating that these are the sports that have become the symbols of high-class society.  These sporting activities require some sense of exclusivity and achieved membership. Growing up in an area that treasures these sports gave me an interesting outlook on the whole issue of class and sport. Each sport had its own private club to go with it. I remember going to country clubs with friends of mine who were members and feeling unwelcomed. There was multiple times where I was told that I was not allowed to wear blue jeans on the premises. At places such as these where membership and exclusivity are highly valued the body becomes something of a key to let you in and let others know you belong. I was not well versed in how to properly use my body in this social environment therefore I always felt out of place; like they all new I was not actually a member.

            I can think back to one time where I went to the sailing club with a friend’s family who were members there. At the time, they were taking care of a black Haitian child who was in the US for surgery. We sat down for dinner at the club’s restaurant. Not even halfway through our meal, one of the waiters explained to us that an elderly couple sitting near by has requested that the child be removed from the club. Obviously, we did not leave and returned to eating our meal in spite of the most overt racism I have ever witnessed. Thinking about this situation again puts it into a new perspective. Their request reflects their perception that a black child could not be a member of the club but also that he would never be able to be a part of their social class. The club is meant to be a barrier to the “outsiders”. It functions as active symbol to distinguish those who are the elites of society and those who are underneath them. In the minds of the elderly members, that distinction was at risk of becoming blurry which is not something they would like to allow. Sports can be seen as an active reflection of social class inequality. The body continues to be a distinguishing mark in who should be playing what sport and who should belong to certain clubs.