Sport is often defined as a physical activity that entails a level of competition, like basketball or netball. Many forms of competitive athletics and some games are also called sports. In the United States, professional athletes are known as athletes. To become an athlete, you must put in significant time, effort, and discipline to practice and train intensely.
People who excel at sports, especially in contact sports such as tennis, football, and hockey, or any other sport involving an extended period of time devoted to exercising and competing, have exhibited a higher level of skill than the average person. An athlete is also considered a competitor if he or she exercises or train to the point of causing excessive damage or pain to his or her body. Some people play sports as a hobby, while others exert themselves professionally.
The definitions for sport can be misleading because they usually rely on what type of activity it is. The Olympic Sports Games is the most popular and widely recognized form of competitive sporting events. Other common examples are the high school, college, and professional sports leagues. Many organizations define their meaning by reference to the levels of physical exertion required by participants in the events.