Ko se dojemamo kot športen narod, slavimo svetovne uspehe naših zvezd – rokometašev, smučarjev, atletov ali nogometašev, ko pa govorimo o športnih svetiščih, govorimo o rokometnih dvoranah za 18.000 gledalcev, slalomskih progah za svetovni pokal ali nogometnih stadionih za svetovno prvenstvo. A če se spustimo z Olimpa, se zdi, da šport vseeno raje gledamo, kot pa se z njim aktivno ukvarjamo. Navadnih športnih igrišč, bazenov in telovadnic za nas – učence, amaterje in rekreativce – je malo in njihova gradnja za televizije, časopise in seje vlad nikakor ni zanimiva tema. Vendar se ravno tu poraja in razvija kultura športa: na igrišču v soseski, lokalni telovadnici ali bližnjem kopališču.
(...)

In perceiving ourselves as a sporting nation, we celebrate the planetary success of our stars – handball players, skiers, track and field athletes or football players, and when we talk about sports shrines, we talk about handball arenas for 18,000 spectators, ski pistes for world cup races or football stadiums for the World Cup. However, if we come down off our pedestal, it seems that we much prefer to watch sport than to actually engage in it. There are only a few ordinary sports grounds, pools and halls built for ourselves – students, amateurs or recreational athletes – and their construction is never a topic of interest for television, newspapers and government meetings. Yet, it is exactly there that sports culture is developed: on neighbourhood courts or in local gyms and swimming pools.
(...)