• History of British sport

• Football, golf, cricket, squash and other

• Sport in Ireland

• Sport and health

• Spectators and Participators

• Sport players are such a large part in British life that many Sport players are such a large part in British life that many idioms in the English language have come from the world of idioms in the English language have come from the world of sport, for example ‘to play the game’ means ‘to be fair’, and sport, for example ‘to play the game’ means ‘to be fair’, and ’that’s not cricket’ means ’that’s not fair’.’that’s not cricket’ means ’that’s not fair’.

• The most popular sport in Britain as a whole is football. A lot of The most popular sport in Britain as a whole is football. A lot of people support their local clubs at matches on television.people support their local clubs at matches on television.

• The football league England and Wales has four divisions. The football league England and Wales has four divisions. (Scotland has its own separate system, and there are not many (Scotland has its own separate system, and there are not many professional sides in Northern Ireland). Each division contains professional sides in Northern Ireland). Each division contains twenty teams, and at the end of each season the top three clubs twenty teams, and at the end of each season the top three clubs from the lower divisions are promoted to a higher one. Those from the lower divisions are promoted to a higher one. Those who are at the bottom are relegated. There are two main prizes who are at the bottom are relegated. There are two main prizes each season. The football league championship is won by the each season. The football league championship is won by the team that is top of fist division, where areas the knockout team that is top of fist division, where areas the knockout competition between all the teams of the league. The final of competition between all the teams of the league. The final of this competition takes place every May at the famous Wembley this competition takes place every May at the famous Wembley stadium in London. Some of the best-known clubs in Britain are stadium in London. Some of the best-known clubs in Britain are Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. In Scotland either Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. In Scotland either Rangers, Celtic or Aberdeen usually win the cup or the Rangers, Celtic or Aberdeen usually win the cup or the Championship.Championship.

• Sport is Britain’s gift to the world. Sport is Britain’s gift to the world. Cricket, soccer, rugby, tennis, squash, Cricket, soccer, rugby, tennis, squash, table tennis, badminton, canoeing and table tennis, badminton, canoeing and snooker were all invented in Britain. The snooker were all invented in Britain. The fist rules for such sports as boxing, golf, fist rules for such sports as boxing, golf, hokey, yachting and hors-racing also hokey, yachting and hors-racing also originated from Britain. The most originated from Britain. The most popular sports that people take part in, popular sports that people take part in, rather than watching, are angling, rather than watching, are angling, snooker and darts.snooker and darts.

• Football began as a contest between Football began as a contest between neighboring villages – with no to the neighboring villages – with no to the number on each side, no fixed pitch number on each side, no fixed pitch and almost no rules! The Football and almost no rules! The Football Association drew up the rules of the Association drew up the rules of the modern game in 1863 and in 1888, modern game in 1863 and in 1888, 12 clubs joined together to form the 12 clubs joined together to form the fist Football League. England won fist Football League. England won the world Cup in 1966.English teams the world Cup in 1966.English teams such as such as Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United Liverpool and Manchester United have fans all around the world.have fans all around the world.

• Rugby and football became two separate Rugby and football became two separate sports when the rules laid down by the sports when the rules laid down by the Football Assignation said that only the Football Assignation said that only the goalkeeper could handle the ball. Two goalkeeper could handle the ball. Two kinds of rugby are played in Britain. Rugby kinds of rugby are played in Britain. Rugby Union is played by amateurs in teams of Union is played by amateurs in teams of 15 in the south of England and in Wales 15 in the south of England and in Wales (where it is the national sport). Rugby (where it is the national sport). Rugby League is played by professionals in teams League is played by professionals in teams of 13 in the north of England.of 13 in the north of England.

• Golf was probably invented in Golf was probably invented in Holland, but has been played in Holland, but has been played in Scotland for at least 400 years. At Scotland for at least 400 years. At first , it was played with balls made first , it was played with balls made of wood, then of leather stuffed with of wood, then of leather stuffed with feathers. The earliest rules were feathers. The earliest rules were drawn up in1754 at the Royal and drawn up in1754 at the Royal and Ancient course in St. Andrews.Ancient course in St. Andrews.

• Tennis was originally called Tennis was originally called ‘sphairistike’ the fist rules were ‘sphairistike’ the fist rules were drawn up by the All-England Lawn drawn up by the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet club when it Tennis and Croquet club when it held its fist tournament in the held its fist tournament in the London suburb of Wimbledon in London suburb of Wimbledon in 1877. Wimbledon is still the 1877. Wimbledon is still the world’s most famous tennis event.world’s most famous tennis event.

• Cricket is a real English game. At Cricket is a real English game. At village level a match can be played village level a match can be played in an afternoon. At international level in an afternoon. At international level it can take five days – and still end in it can take five days – and still end in a draw. A form of cricket was being a draw. A form of cricket was being played 250 years ago. The first played 250 years ago. The first Australian team visited England in Australian team visited England in 1882 – and won!1882 – and won!

• The Irish play football and rugby football, but they also The Irish play football and rugby football, but they also have their own games: hurling and Gaelic football.have their own games: hurling and Gaelic football.

• Hurling is played with a sticklike a hockey stick. The ball Hurling is played with a sticklike a hockey stick. The ball is very small and you can hit very far. Nearly every Irish is very small and you can hit very far. Nearly every Irish town has its own team, and every year there is town has its own team, and every year there is competition to find the best team in the country. competition to find the best team in the country.

• Gaelic football is played with a ball like a soccer ball. The Gaelic football is played with a ball like a soccer ball. The players can both kick the ball and tough it with their players can both kick the ball and tough it with their hands. There are fifteen players in on each team. They hands. There are fifteen players in on each team. They play Gaelic football all over the country, and there is a play Gaelic football all over the country, and there is a competition each year to find which is the best team.competition each year to find which is the best team.

• The Irish people love to go races. Horse racing brings The Irish people love to go races. Horse racing brings color and excitement to peoples lives. For most of the color and excitement to peoples lives. For most of the year there are races in different parts of country. The year there are races in different parts of country. The most important race of year is Irish Sweeps Derby at the most important race of year is Irish Sweeps Derby at the Curragh and there are summer race festivals at Galway, Curragh and there are summer race festivals at Galway, tralee, Killarney, Listowel and Tramore.tralee, Killarney, Listowel and Tramore.

• The majority of people live in towns and The majority of people live in towns and cities , where space for team sports is cities , where space for team sports is limited. To keep fit, most people take part in limited. To keep fit, most people take part in individual sports. They usually go walking, individual sports. They usually go walking, swimming, cycling, or do aerobics. Taking swimming, cycling, or do aerobics. Taking part in all of these sports is informal and part in all of these sports is informal and casual. Most people just want to relax. If they casual. Most people just want to relax. If they do aerobics or go swimming, they usually go do aerobics or go swimming, they usually go to the sports centre but not many people join to the sports centre but not many people join in sports club.in sports club.

• There is wide variety of sports in Britain There is wide variety of sports in Britain today, which cater for large number of today, which cater for large number of spectators and participators. Some of these spectators and participators. Some of these are minority sports, while others appeal to are minority sports, while others appeal to majority tastes. There are many other sports majority tastes. There are many other sports which reflect the diversity of interests in which reflect the diversity of interests in British life. British government has only British life. British government has only recently taken an active political interest in recently taken an active political interest in sport. Their sporting notion of ‘a healthy sport. Their sporting notion of ‘a healthy mind is in a healthy body’ has been a mind is in a healthy body’ has been a principle of British education. All schools are principle of British education. All schools are provided physical recreation. . Some parents provided physical recreation. . Some parents turn to the independent sector, which is turn to the independent sector, which is usually well provided with sports facilities.usually well provided with sports facilities.

There are many other sports There are many other sports which reflect the diversity of which reflect the diversity of

interests in British life.interests in British life.