Sport for all, sport for some: Social inequalities in pluralised sport; [Sport für alle, Sport für manche: Soziale Ungleichheiten im pluralisierten Sport]

The article analyses relations between changing notions of sports and social stratification in sport activities. Current empirical research indicates an increased participation of formerly underrepresented groups, especially women and older people. However, the results of a study show that this is not the case in the traditional contest-orientated model of sports which is still structured by typical differences of age and gender. Furthermore, the traditional notion of sports as a contest is especially pronounced in the less active, lower social strata. A polarity between a rather open "sport for all" and a partly exclusive, traditional, contest-orientated model of sports becomes apparent. As a consequence, research on social stratification in sports should focus on qualitative differences in sports activity. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.