Your criticism is valid, but something does not need to have been deliberate for those in power to take advantage of it. Sports serve much the same purpose in secular society as rituals do in religion.

Also, the sport calendar can be used to time communications, particularly those w/ a populist message. Natural events are used this way fortuitously all the time (storms, natural disasters, 9/11, etc.)

I don't know that he necessarily means that sports were designed with these purposes in mind. Sports/games in general have always been diversions and that's why they're popular.

Be careful, you are making too much sense! No, but this overly conspiratorial stuff is common among non-philosophers when discussing such matters. It's all about what one can conflate with anything with some mildly plausible excuse.