Women who don their ladies sportswear and take part in competitive games are not merely exercising, they are involving themselves in a form of cultural expression, a study has suggested.

Asier Oiarbide, lecturer at the University of the Basque Country's Faculty of Physical Activities Science and Sports, studied the relationship between sporting activities and the cultural context in which they are carried out.

He looked specifically at mountain trekking, aerobics and football in the Basque area of Spain.

Mr Oiarbide studied the rules of the activities and how they were taken part in as well as how they were perceived by society as a whole and the symbolism that they possess.

He came to the conclusion that sports are a reflection of the traits of a society and that they are an important tool for enabling and encouraging socialisation.

Earlier in the year, University of Edinburgh scientist Dr Jamie Pearce suggested that the government needs to make it easier for people to take part in sport if it is to tackle the nation's obesity epidemic.

Posted by Martin Sebborn ADNFCR-2569-ID-800037706-ADNFCR

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