Sports and games

Sports play an important part in the life of people all over the world. Sport is a psysical activity that results in good pshysical skills of a man, his mental relaxation and bodily fitness. Sport gives people ejoyment, happiness, friendship, health, popularity, money...
We can classify sports in a following way: Winter – summer, outdoor - indoor, team -individual, professional – amateur. There are various sports competitions and championships on various levels - local, city, regional, national, international competitions, European and World championships. The top contest is said to be olympics games (winter, summer, every four years).
There is no typical sport in Slovakia but the most popular ones are football and ice-hockey. Tennis has become very popular recently but it is very expensive sport. There are many people in our country who go in for some sport especially young ones. All generaions like to watch sports on television or at the stadiums, sports halls, swimming pools,. All school children have chance to attend physical education (training) lessons which are compulsory and given in school gymnasia and fitness centres. The British have always been nation of sport lovers. And it is sad, when British buy the newspaper and the first, he turns to, is sport. Many sports which nowadays are played all over the world. Grew up to their present day form in Britain: football, horse ricing, golf, lawn-tennis, or rouin
The most popular sport in Britain is football. A lot of people support their local slubs at matches or watch the matches live on tlevision. Other typical British sports are: golf, tennis, baseball, cricket, rugby. Today bungee jumping become very popular all over the world. It is said to be a dangerous sport, which originated in the jungles of New Guinea. The idea was brought to the civilised world and instead of wooden towers which are built in the joungles famous bridges are used. One of the most exotic places in the world to test your nerve at this exciting game is Victoria Falls in Southern Africa. In the USA baseball used to play a leading role among sports but nowadays basketball and american football seem to be the most popular. Jogging loses its popularity as it is quite dangerous to walk or run alone. You can be robbed or hit by someone or you can colapse and no one is around to help you. Every school in the USA has a school team that play baseball, basketball or football against other schools.

Winter sports are popular among people of all ages. Skiing is probably the most popular or winter sports. Ther are many skiing events. Cross country skiing – it is the sport of skiing for pleasure across the countryside. Ski jumping is a comepetitive event in which individuals jump for distance after skiing down a long, sloping hill. Biathlon – combination of cross-country skiing and shooting. Racing downhill – the fastes direct route down the slepe. Slalom – race in which the skier must pass between pairs of poles...
Every four years there is a festival of winter sports, the Winter Olympic Games, where most of winter sports are performed. The first one took place in Gamonix, France in the year 1924, and the latest was in Nagano, Japan in 1998. The next Winter Olympics games will be in South Lake City, America, 2002. UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE - Since 1829 the university of Oxford and Cambridge agreed to have a race. Tradition started. Now every spring boat race go on the Thames. There are 8 men in each boat and there is also cox, who controls the boat. ROYAL ASCOT - Ascot is a small town in the south of England. In June it becomes the centre of horse racing. The Queen always goes there. Ascot is also famous for fashion, women wear extraordinary big hats. WIMBLENDON - Is the world’s famous tennis tournament. It’s in south part of London. It started in the 19th century. The court are grass and visiters eat strawberries. BOXING DAY HUNTS - Traditionaly boxing day is a day of hunting. The hunters ride horses and used dogs. Before a hunt they drink hot wine. Nowadays some people want to stop this tradition because it is cruel for animals. THE HIGHLANDS GAMES - 100s of years ago Scotish families (clans) started these games. The most interesting sport is Tossing the caber – it means, they have to lift and than throw very long about 6 meters and heavy piece of wood. Some men wear kilts. CRICKET - Is one of the most typical English sports. It demants a perfect pitch, sunny weather and a lot of time. It has its own language and one match can last up to three days. FOOTBALL - Is played by two teams of eleven players. There is a goal keeper, backs, half-backs and forward. The 23rd men on the field is the referee. BASKETBALL - Is all around the year game, it can be played out doors or in halls. The team scores if the ball falls throught a basket situated high above players heads. GOLF - Is a famous English and American outdoor game. It is played be one, two or three players or two players.

A player hold a club in his hand and he tries to hit a ball into hole. It is a hard rubber white ball. SUMMERSPORTS: WINTERSPORTS:
· football * ice-hockey
· basketball * figure skating
· volleyball * snowboarding
· handball * skiing – jumps
· tennis * skiing – downhill
· badminton * cross – country
· cricket
· golf
· swimming
· water-polo
· diving
· yachting
· hiking
· cykling
· riding horses
· roll-skating
· light athletics.