Both the ancient and the modern world are unimaginable without sport or, more generally speaking, "activit[ies] involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others (for entertainment)." From the classical Greek pankration (an ancient martial art combining wrestling and boxing) via medieval jousting all the way to modern soccer, the study of sporting activities affords us revealing insights into cultures around the globe and across the ages. This course will explore the phenomenon of sport in a new and unique way: via its manifestations in the cultural artefacts of a given age and/or society, specifically literature, radio, and film as well as the online and gaming worlds. Through these artefacts we will explore issues such as sports and socialization, sports and politics, sports and gender, sports and race/ethnicity, sports and violence, sports and religion, sports and the media, etc. in multiple national contexts including (but not limited to) China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, and Russia. In addition, it will afford participants the opportunity to create these cultural artefacts themselves: semester projects may take (among others) the form of a sports report on YouTube, a live blog from a sporting event, an interview with a coach or athlete, a sports game, to name but a few possibilities.