It is significant to understand the importance of sociological imagination because it helps us dive deeper into a certain topic and analyze from different points of view. The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. That is, its task and its promise (Wright Mills, 2000, p.6). Within Charles Wright Mills book The Sociological Imagination it determines that by arguing several sensibilities or components to the sociological imagination which together provide a mean for proceeding in the sociological quest for understanding. When discussing sociological imagination there are three main elements: critical sensitivity, comparative sensitivity and historical sensitivity. Critical sensitivity is the most important one to note as it is crucial when analyzing topics in a different way than normal while also gaining a greater understanding. Wills (20, p.72) explains that the term critical is not being used as negative towards something, but rather the term critical is used in s
ociology in the sense of being reflexive or sceptical about the social world. Wills goes onto state that it aims to narrow down as much doubt as possible (p.72). Critical sensitivity is useful when looking at sports mega-events as it evaluates the positives and negatives in society while questioning claims that have been made and digging more specific in studies. Max Weber argued that sociology can and should be value free, dealing only with what is rather than what should be (p.74).
Sports mega-events are large scale cultural (including commercial and sporting) events, which have a dramatic character, mass popular appeal and international significance (Roche, 2000, p.). Some examples of sports mega-events are the Olympics and The World Cup as they are global and commercialized around the world. With the Olympics and The World Cup held every four years, this shows their significance as it is a long period of time till the next one. These events are also opportunities to gain greater international recognition and to promote national identity.