What is a central concern of conflict theory when studying sport?

• A. Cultural rituals and symbols
• B. Economic forces and exploitation
• C. The technical aspects of training
• D. Personal fitness outcomes

Answer: (B)

Conflict theory in sport focuses on power and economic forces shaping who benefits and who is exploited within the sports system. It asks how ownership, labor relations, revenue, sponsorship, and governance reproduce inequality and control access to opportunities. This lens shows how economic structures and class or power dynamics influence participation, wages, and who gets to profit from sport, rather than focusing on rituals, training techniques, or individual fitness outcomes. So the best answer highlights economic forces and exploitation as the central concern.