Sports in
Great Britain, the USA and Russia
The British like sport very much. They are fond of all kinds of sports.
Many sports were invented in Great Britain and then spread throughout the
world. Sports became popular long ago. In the 19-th century sport was
organised at public schools so that young people could develop their physical
abilities. But shortly afterwards the idea was borrowed by businessmen who
started to organise football and other sports for their workers. From the
1960s commercial companies began to sponsor different British sports and
activities. The national British sports are: football, golf, cricket, tennis,
racing, darts. Like everyone else the British adore football. Moreover, the
Englishmen invented it.
Nobody can say for sure when people started playing football on the British
Isles. It is important however, that current uniform rules of the game were
settled only in the 19-th century. At that time there was a great debate,
whether one could use his hand to kick the ball or not. Those who wanted to
permit the players to carry the ball with their hands united to form rugby.
Rugby is played by teams of 15 men with an oval ball. Those who insisted on
playing with feet and head only had the majority and that was the beginning of
football as everybody knows it today. In Great Britain and more often in the
United States football is called soccer to distinguish the game from American
football, the game that has much in common with rugby.
Soccer, played almost in all countries, remains one of the most popular games
in Great Britain. Each team consists of field players and one goalkeeper. Only
the goalkeeper is permitted to take the ball into his hands. The game lasts
for 90 minutes with a 15 minute break between two halves 45 minutes each. Most
British towns and cities have a football team. Every year, each team in
England plays in the Football Association competition. The two best teams play
in the Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. It is one of the biggest
sporting events of the year.
Another traditional British game is cricket. Unlike football cricket is not
widely spread outside the British Isles. Cricket is a summer game, it is
played in schools, colleges, universities. Cricket is a very long and a very
slow game. There are two teams. Each team consists of eleven men. The "bowler"
throws the ball, and a "batsman" hits it with his bat.
Tennis is also very popular in Britain. Two different games that do not have
much in common bear the name of tennis - lawn tennis and table tennis. Both
games first appeared in England, but today the British prefer lawn tennis to
table tennis. Every summer, in June, the biggest tournament in the world takes
place at Wimbledon. This world centre of lawn tennis is located in a suburb of
London. Millions of people watch the Wimbledon Championship on TV. Table
tennis originated in England in 1880. But the British players are not lucky in
table tennis international championships.
Englishmen like all kinds of racing. Horseracing, motorcar racing, boat
racing, dog-racing, donkey racing are very popular in England. The most famous
boat racing in England is between Oxford and Cambridge. It first started in
1820 and has been held almost every spring since 1836. A lot of people come to
watch this competition between England's leading universities.
Americans are interested in different sports and activities. The major
American sports are ice hockey, baseball, American football and basketball.
The large choice of sports in America can be explained by the variety and size
of the country, its different climates and the people's love of competitions
of any type. The seasons of the "four major sports" often overlap.
Baseball is the most popular summer sport in America. But the first baseball
games start in warm, sunny regions like Florida and Arizona in winter. The
first American baseball match was held in 1839 in New York. There is an
opinion that baseball comes from a much older game, played in Europe for many
years. To play baseball, two teams of nine players are needed. The "pitcher"
throws the ball, and the "batter" hits it with a bat. Americans start playing
baseball young. There are "leagues" which children of eight can join. The top
players become big stars.
Americans play most international sports, but they do not play football in the
same way as the rest of the world. American football is a game that does not
have much in common with soccer. The players can run with a ball, touch and
push each other. The field is not traditional, and even the shape of the ball
is different. American football players wear helmets on their heads, because
the game is very dangerous. American football teams have eleven players.
Basketball was invented in the United States. A schoolteacher designed the
rules for a game that his students could play indoors. There are only five
players in a basketball team. Usually basketball players are very tall and
they show that basketball can be exciting. Ice hockey is America's favourite
winter game. It is very fast. It can be dangerous and its players wear helmets
too. Other sports and activities attract millions of participants and
spectators in the USA. These are swimming, tennis, marathons, bowling,
crosscountry skiing, skating, and badminton. Now triathlon is one of the most
popular sports in the USA. Ч comprises swimming, bicycle racing and
long-distance running.
Many sports are popular in Russia. There are many stadiums and public sports
facilities here. Numerous national and international matches and competitions
are regularly held in our country. They attract large numbers of fans. Most of
the important games are shown on TV. Football is believed to be Russia's
favourite sport in summer, while many young people play ice hockey in winter.
Our country has been successful in different sports, especially in ice hockey.
During the Olympic Games the Russian athletes prove the reputation of Russia
as world's leading nation in sports. The national team of Russia has many
times won the World Hockey Championships.
In Russia much attention is paid to organised sports and this shouldn't
overshadow the many sporting activities which are part of daily Russian life.
School children spend their free time playing football, basketball and other
sports. In winter many Russians go in for skiing and skating. There are many
skating rinks in the cities.
- Is sport popular in your country?
- Today there is widespread interest in sport in Russia.
- What games do you play at school?
- -During PT classes pupils play football, basketball, volleyball. Pupils also
do many exercises that help them to keep fit. In winter schools organise
skiing competitions.
- What games are popular in Russia?
- Football, ice hockey and volleyball are sure to be the most popular games in
Russia. A lot of fans go to the stadium to support their teams. When it is not
possible to go to the stadium to support the favourite team people can watch
competitions on TV. Television has made sports available to all. The emphasis
on sports is evident in evening news programmes.
- What football teams are popular in Russia?
- There are many good football teams in Russia. Moscow "Spartak" is the
strongest and the most popular team in Russia. Thousands of "Spartak"
supporters go to the stadium to see their team play. As for me, I prefer
another Moscow team, "Locomotive." There are good players in "Loco" and this
team has a great potential. I am sure that soon "Loco" will take the place of
"Spartak" as the nation's champion.
- What British football teams do you know?
- In Great Britain there are four football championships that are held
separately: in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The best players
are in England. Many football players from continental Europe come to play for
English teams. I guess that today the strongest football team on the British
Isles is Manchester "United", although London "Arsenal" and "Chelsea" as well
as Blackburn "Rovers" are fearful rivals. Scotland is noted for its Glasgow
"Rangers."
- Is football popular in the United States?
- Yes, it is. Football is extremely popular in the United States, but they
have different rules of the game. The fact is that in the United States when
they say football they mean American football, while European football is
usually referred to as soccer. In the recent years soccer is gaining its
popularity in the United States as well. In 1994 World Football Championship
took place in the United States. Nevertheless in the United States soccer is
especially popular among girls, while boys prefer sports that are more
traditional for their country - American football, baseball and basketball.
- Are you keen on sport?
- Although sport plays an important role in my life, I do not go in for it
professionally. My choice of the sports depends upon the season. In summer I
like to swim in the lakes and rivers and in winter I like to skate. Skating is
a widespread activity among my friends. There are many skating rinks in our
town. As for jogging I do it every morning all year round.
- Is sport important for your family?
- Yes, it is. Our family is doing sports on the amateur level. My father is an
avid chess player. My mother likes walking in the parks. My sister prefers to
get fit at home. She has a lot of books and video-cassettes with instructions
how to do home exercise programmes. Although I do not go in for sports, I am
fond of such activities that allow me to keep fit at home. I prefer jogging.
We also like to watch football, ice-hockey and tennis matches on TV.
- What do American school and colleges use sports activities far?
- American schools and colleges use sports activities as a way of teaching
social values. Among these are teamwork and sportsmanship. The average high
school offers its students a great variety of sports, including rowing,
wrestling, tennis and golf. That is why Americans have done well in many kinds
of sports.
- What is regarded as an ideal in the USA?
- Being intelligent and being good in sports are regarded as an ideal. There
are many colleges that have excellent academic reputation and are also good in
sports.
- What worries professional American athletes today?
- Today sport becomes more and more professional. But it is possible to show
high results only at a certain age. Many sportsmen have to terminate their
professional career in their thirties. At present professional athletes are
concerned with getting a good education that will allow them to find good jobs
when their playing days are over.
- Are there special "universities" for sports in the USA?
- There are no separate "universities" for sports in the USA. Everyone in
America can participate in sports activities. Public sports facilities have
always been available in great number for participants.
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