National Sports of Great Britain

National Sports of Great Britain 

 

Many kinds of sport originated from England. The English have a proverb, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". They do not think that play is more important than work; they think that Jack will do his work better if he plays as well. so he is encouraged to do both. Association football, or soccer is one of the most popular games in the British Isles played from late August until the beginning of May. In summer the English national sport is cricket. When the English say: "that's not cricket" it means "that's not fair", "to play the game" means "to be fair". 

 

Golf is Scotland's chief contribution to British sport. It is worth noting here an interesting feature of sporting life in Britain, namely, its frequently close connections with social class of the players or spectators except where a game may be said to be a "national" sport. This is the case with cricket in England which is played and watched by all classes. This is true of golf, which is everywhere in the British Isles a middle-class activity. Rugby Union. the amateur variety of Rugby football, is the Welsh national sport played by all sections of society whereas, elsewhere, it too is a game for the middle classes. Association football is a working-class sport as are boxing, wrestling, snooker, darts, and dog-racing. As far as fishing is concerned it is a sport where what is caught determines the class of a fisherman. 

 

Walking and swimming are the two most popular sporting activities, being almost equally undertaken by men and women. Snooker (billiards), pool and darts are the next most popular sports among men. Aerobics (keep-fit exercises) and yoga. squash and cycling are among the sports where participation has been increasing in recent years. 

 

There are several places in Britain associated with a particular kind of sport. One of them is Wimbledon where the All-England Lawn Tennis Championship are held in July (since 1877). The other one is Wembly - a stadium in north London where international football matches, the Cup Finals and other events have taken place since 1923.

 

Table Tennis 

 

Table tennis was first Invented in England in about 1880. At first the game had several strange names: Gossima. Whiff Whaff and Ping Pong. It wasn't until 1926 that the International Table Tennis Association was formed with international championships and rules. 

 
                                                                          

Although the game was invented in England British players don't have much chance in international championships. It's the Chinese with their fantastic speed and power who win almost every title. Table tennis looks more like gymnastics when the Chinese start playing, with the ball flying over the net at speeds of over 150 kilometres per hour.

Racing

 

There are all kinds of racing in England - horse-racing, motor-car racing, boat-racing, dog-racing, and even races for donkeys. On sports days at school boys and girls run races, and even train for them. There is usually a mile race for older boys, and one who wins it is certainly a good runner. 

 

Usually those who run a race go as fast as possible, but there are some races in which everybody has to go very carefully in order to avoid falling. 

 

The most famous boat-race in England is between Oxford and Cambridge. It is rowed over a course on the River Thames, and thousands of people go to watch it. The eight rowers in each boat have great struggle, and at the end there is usually only a short distance between the winners and the losers.

 

The University boat-race started in 1820 and has been rowed on the Thames almost every spring since 1836.

 

Squash

 

Squash began at Harrow School in the mid-nineteenth century, but has since worked its way Into almost every city and district in Britain and throughout Europe. 

 

Squash is one of the fastest games in the world. Two people play in a small confined space surrounded by high walls with no net to keep them apart. The aim is to get to the point at the centre of the court and to stay there. 

 

Squash players hope that the game will make them stronger and fitter, but. like many sports, squash can be very dangerous. The most obvious danger is the small ball that shoots through the air extremely fast.      
                                                                                 
 
Windsurfing 

 

Windsurfing was invented in the mid-sixties by two southern Californian surfers, Hoyle Schweitzer and Jim Drake. Surfers need strong rolling waves, and hate days of calm sea. Schweitzer noticed that on days when waves were not high enough to surf, there was often a strong wind and he set about finding a way to use it. 

 

His first experiments Involved standing on his surfboard holding out a piece of sail cloth in his hands. Gradually he and Drake refined this idea into a basic design for a sailboard, similar to a surfboard, but holding a mast and a triangular sail which could be tilted and turned in any direction. The windsurfer operates a boom which controls the amount of wind in the sail, for speed and change of direction. Schweitzer immediately went into business designing and making the new sailboards and taking the idea abroad. By mid-seventies, the sport had spread to Holland, Germany and France.

 

Olympic Games in London 

 

London was host for the first time in 1908. With 1,500 competitors from 19 nations, the Games were by now an institution of world-wide significance. The programme, moreover, was augmented by the inclusion of Association football (which appeared in 1900 but only in a demonstration match), diving, field hockey, and ice hockey, as well as other sports since discontinued. 

 

The most dramatic episode of these Games was in the marathon, run from Windsor to Shepherd's Bush in London, the site of a new stadium. Pietri (Italy) led into the arena but collapsed and was disqualified for accepting assistance from officials. The gold medal went to the second man home, Hayes (USA), but Queen Alexandra, who was present opposite the finishing line, was so moved by the Italian's plight that she awarded him special gold cup. The 400 metres provided an opportunity for Halswelle (GB) to become the only man in Olympic history to win by a walk-over. The final was declared void after an American had been disqualified for boring. Two other Americans withdrew from re-run final in protest, leaving Halswelle an unopposed passage. Britain won the polo, and all the boxing, lawn tennis, rackets, rowing, and yachting titles as well as five out of six cycle races.

 

 
 
 
Sport in Ukraine

 

Ukraine is a country that offers very good possibilities for many types of active holidays. It has vast endless plains, gentle hills and beautiful mountains that are a wonderful setting for hiking and cycling in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. The big rivers and long coastline provide watersport lovers with a range of leisure activities. All this means that your active holiday in Ukraine will certainly be an unforgettable experience, especially if you combine it with exploring the unique culture and enjoying the hospitality of local people. 
Cycling

Cycling is a very popular activity in Ukraine. The diverse landscapes, wild fields and plenty of attractions will keep boredom at bay while you cross the country on two wheels. Most cycling trails include less used roads between charming traditional villages, where you will feel close to nature and local people. Numerous tourist attractions, monuments, bike shops and accommodation of different kinds guarantee you the perfect cycling trip. The best place for fit and experienced bikers is in the Carpathian Mountains with its steep slopes that are perfect for mountain biking. Local travel agencies offer all types of tours – from short mountain-bike descents to 400 kilometre-long guided tours through the countryside that last more than a week.

 

Hiking

Ukraine is a hiking destination that suits all tastes and abilities. The most prominent places for hiking are in the Carpathian Mountains to the west and the unique Crimean Mountains to the south. The full pleasure of hiking, apart from physical exercise, also includes the magnificent scenery and the abundance of wildlife roaming in the countryside. Hiking trails in Ukraine are not always well marked, and occasionally you will find yourself without a fixed path to walk on, but this adds to the authenticity of the experience. Many tour operators and adventure travel companies in Ukraine offer a variety of hiking packages and you can always find one that suites your needs and skills. The best season for hiking in Ukraine is from late May through early June and  September through October.

 

Skiing

Ukraine is still relatively unknown as a skiing destination worldwide. Nevertheless, many resorts were renovated and now offer first-class facilities and accommodation. There is a great advantage in its relative unfamiliarity as general prices are still regarded quite low in comparison to European standards. The most famous ski resorts are Dragobrat and Bukovel, and special attention belongs to Slavsko - which has an abundance of small ski areas surrounded by quaint villages and towns and is practically untouched by modern civilisation. Plenty of cross-country skiing trails cross the whole country from one end to another, offering a salubrious and pleasant way to spend your holiday in Ukraine. The main ski season begins in January and ends in early March.

 

Swimming

Ukraine enjoys warm and pleasant summers and offers great opportunities for swimming at the seaside. There are plenty of beaches along the coasts of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea and modern resorts offer various attractions for a more extensive summer holiday. Good swimming, however, is not associated only with the seaside, as Ukraine has a large number of big rivers like Dnepr. They are lined with sandy beaches and are a favourite place for both local citizens and visitors. In the cities many public swimming pools offer fun and recreation for everyone. 
 
Yachting

Amongst the main attractions in Ukraine are yachting holidays and cruises, which are a definite must for tourists in the country. One of the most dazzling yachting areas in Europe is the scenic coastline of the Crimean peninsula which is full of luxurious marinas. Many tour operators offer yacht sailing tours, including tours for honeymooners. Plenty of additional attractions are available: you can try diving in the warm water, enjoy the marvelous sunsets over the cliffs or even watch the friendly Black Sea dolphins. It promises to be an awesome experience.