Final answer:
Objects used by athletes believed to have magical powers are examples of fetishes, not taboos or forms of witchcraft or prayer. These practices are seen in different cultures and religions as profound acts of faith, where objects are seen to hold supernatural powers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Objects Used by Athletes and Their Superstitious Significance
Objects used by athletes that are believed to have magical powers to attain desired ends are examples of fetishes. A fetish is a type of object believed by an individual to have supernatural powers or to be inhabited by a spirit. The use of fetishes is not limited to tribal societies; it is a common aspect across various religious practices and is seen by anthropologists as a profound human act of faith. These objects or acts form magical bonds and connections that are meant to influence outcomes in the natural world. Practitioners of witchcraft and sorcery also manipulate supernatural force, known as mana, which can be adhered to people or objects. Nonetheless, these are part of larger religious belief systems where magic, witchcraft, and sorcery are often integrated, indicating a complex interplay between religion and the use of magical objects or practices.