MASS UNIVERSITY SPORTS IN INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE

The article presents an interdisciplinary analysis of the phenomenon of mass university sports in the international scientific discourse. The author considers student sports activity as a component of socio-cultural integration, a tool for identity formation, and a means of influencing the psychophysiological and academic well-being of young people. Emphasis is placed on the multifaceted nature of mass sports as a phenomenon that goes beyond the educational paradigm and encompasses aspects of politics, marketing, gender, digitalization, the pandemic crisis, and civilizational transformations. The study is based on analytical generalizations of the views of leading foreign scientists who interpret sport as a tool for fostering social inclusion, motivation for leadership, cognitive development, and self-knowledge. Special attention is paid to the phenomenon of transformation of physical activity in a virtual environment and the influence of digital technologies on the involvement of students in sports culture. Mass university sports in international scientific understanding are viewed mainly through the prism of socio-cultural, psychological, and organizational and marketing approaches, where educational influence plays a secondary role. From the research we have done, we see that sports and mass activity contribute to the formation of social ties, leadership qualities, and mental well-being of students. The contrast between the educational models of “Western democracies” and the university practice of “young democracies”, in particular Ukraine, where physical education has the status of a mandatory educational component, is highlighted. The conclusion emphasizes the decline in physical activity among young people on a global scale, which necessitates the need to rethink the functions of university sports as a factor in the formation of a sustainable educational environment. It has been established that the Ukrainian experience in organizing sports and mass work demonstrates greater integration into the educational process compared to the models of many Western universities.