Sport

Sports of all kinds play an important part in many people’s lives. Many sporting events take place at major stadiums such as Wembley Stadium in London and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Many famous sports, including cricket, football, lawn tennis, golf and rugby, began in Britain.

The UK has hosted the Olympic Games on three occasions: 1908, 1948 and 2012. The main Olympic site for the 2012 Games was in Stratford, East London. The British team finished third in the medal table in 2012. The Paralympic Games for 2012 were also hosted in London.

The Paralympics have their origin in the work of Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman, a German refugee, at the Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire. He developed new methods of treatment for people with spinal injuries and encouraged patients to take part in exercise and sport.

Cricket originated in England and is now played in many countries. Games can last up to five days but still result in a draw. Expressions such as ‘rain stopped play’, ‘batting on a sticky wicket’, ‘playing a straight bat’, ‘bowled a googly’ and ’it’s just not cricket’ have passed into everyday language. The most famous cricket competition is the Ashes — a series of Test matches played between England and Australia.

Football is the UK’s most popular sport. It has a long history in the UK and the first professional football clubs were formed in the late 19th century. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have separate leagues and their own national teams. The English Premier League attracts a huge international audience, and many UK teams also compete in the UEFA Champions League. England’s only international tournament victory was at the World Cup of 1966, hosted in the UK.

Rugby originated in England in the early 19th century. There are two different types of rugby with different rules: union and league. Both have separate leagues and national teams in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (who play with the Irish Republic). The most famous rugby union competition is the Six Nations Championship between England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. The Super League is the most well-known rugby league (club) competition.

There is a very long history of horse racing in Britain, with evidence of events taking place as far back as Roman times. The sport has a long association with royalty. Famous horse-racing events include Royal Ascot (a five-day race meeting in Berkshire attended by members of the Royal Family), the Grand National at Aintree near Liverpool, and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. The National Horseracing Museum is in Newmarket, Suffolk.

The modern game of golf can be traced back to 15th century Scotland. St Andrews in Scotland is known as the home of golf. The Open Championship is the only ‘Major’ tournament held outside the United States and is hosted by a different golf course every year.

Modern tennis evolved in England in the late 19th century. The first tennis club was founded in Leamington Spa in 1872. The most famous tournament hosted in Britain is the Wimbledon Championships, which takes place each year at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. It is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and the only Grand Slam event played on grass.

Sailing continues to be popular in the UK. Sir Francis Chichester was the first person to sail single-handed around the world passing the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn, in 1966/67. Two years later, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to do this without stopping. The most famous sailing event is at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Rowing is also popular, including the yearly Oxford and Cambridge race on the River Thames.

Motor-car racing in the UK started in 1902. A Formula 1 Grand Prix event is held in the UK each year. Recent British Formula 1 World Championship winners include Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. The UK continues to be a world leader in the development and manufacture of motor-sport technology.

Skiing is increasingly popular in the UK. Many people go abroad to ski and there are also dry ski slopes throughout the UK. There are five ski centres in Scotland, as well as Europe’s longest dry ski slope near Edinburgh.

Done reading? Check yourself