A Brief History of British Sports
Sports (or physical activities) is any types of typically competitive physical activity that, through organised or casual involvement, attempt to utilize, improve or maintain physical capability and abilities while offering entertainment to participants, and occasionally, spectators. Some common types of sports are soccer, rugby, hockey, volleyball and basketball, while others include track and field events like swimming and running. The most popular sports around the world include American football (NFL, CFL, MLB), Australian rugby league (ARL, A Rugby World Cup Series), tennis, horse racing and motor vehicle racing.
Sports recreation has grown in modern times, from grass tracks and “running of the mill” games like hide-and-go-sealed to elaborate, technologically advanced sporting activities like the Olympic Games. The first Olympics began hosting track events in Greece, eventually leading to the first Olympics over a century ago in Venice. While the games themselves have changed a great deal (especially in terms of sport), the spirit behind them remains intact.
Sports, or physical education in general, was often a part of the curriculum in early America, especially for men. As time progressed, schools throughout Europe and America became involved in athletic competitions and the spreading of a love of sports to younger generations. In renaissance times, though, sports were often seen as a way of testing man’s strength and abilities, with results often displayed on scales in public parlements.
Modern sports, such as baseball and football, began in England in the 19th century when the two teams from Manchester united to form the First League. With English football now an international sport, the term “soccer” quickly became synonymous with the word “fuss”. Even the word “foot” in today’s game is derived from the fact that, in the early days, the game was often played barefoot on the streets of Britain. The rules of modern-day football (which can also be called Association Football) have changed considerably since those early days, but the spirit behind the game is still widely held.
Sports are a big part of modern British culture. Many British children have been introduced to the world of sport by the wide spread popularity of the World Cup tournaments. Even non-british children have been known to take part in local sports, such as cricket and soccer. While football is by far the most popular sport in Britain, there is no doubt that other sports have made a huge impact on the country.
One of the most popular sports in Britain today is basketball. Currently, there are nearly 250 million actively playing the sport, according to the Association Basketball Management Association. There are many different types of basketball, including both indoor and outdoor competitions. Basketball is so popular in Britain that there are now several different championships for the different age groups and skill levels. Some of these include the Basketball Challenge, Basketball Olympics, and National Basketball Games.