Sports and Games
Sports are very good for active relaxation and are important for our physical and mental health or just for keeping fit. There are lots of types of sports and games. We can practise outdoor or indoor sports, in water or anywhere we want.
Outdoor sports are follow: golf, skiing (cross-country, down-hill, slalom, ski-jump), climbing, marathon-running, hiking, tourism, mountaineering, horse riding, rallies etc.
Indoor sports include: table-tennis, gymnastic, chess …
There are also some sports which could be played both indoor or outdoor such as: tennis, ball games (basketball, volleyball), ice-hockey etc.
Water sports are: swimming, water-skiing, diving (mask, flippers, bodyglove ? wet suit), water polo, yachting, canoeing or rowing .
We can also divided sports according to the season they are practised:
Summer sports: swimming, ball games (football, cricket, golf, …), athletics (sprint, high jump, long jump, javelin throw, ball throw etc.).
Some sports can also be practised in summer or in winter: athletics.
E.g.: Winter ? in summer rest and preparing time for its season.
Winter sports: All sports connected with snow. Skiing, sledge, bobsleigh, biathlon, skating, snowboarding, speed skating, ice-hockey, competitive figure skating (single skating, pairs or ice-dancing).
People all around the world are interested in sports. Ball games are very popular everywhere.
U.S.: Basket ball is one of the most popular sport in USA. The very best players of this sport are blackmen and we can find here many basketball clubs in USA (NBA, Chicago Bulls, L. A. Lakers,…). Million of people like to attend matches, watch them on TV or listen to them on radio and cross their fingers for their favourite team. Another popular game in USA is ice-hockey. There exist NHL (National hockey league)which consist of many ice hockey clubs such as Pittsburgh Pinguins, … In NHL we can find many Czech players, because they are very good paid here. Some of them are very popular ? Jaromír Jágr, Dominik Hašek. According to my opinion money play a big role in this sport. If a club has enough money, it has the best players and it always wins.
GB: Many sports have their origins in GB, that why Britain is sometimes called the cradle of sports. Two types of rugby, modern game of hockey, cricket, darts, tennis and boxing were invented there. The very national sports in GB is cricket, golf, soccer or lawn tennis. We can find some major sports in Britain: Wimbledon (the Grand Slam Tennis Tournament), The British Open Golf Championship, The Grand National (it is the best known horse-race).
IN OUR COUNTRY: has its traditions mostly football. We can find football stadium in almost all town or village. Another favourite sport in our country is ice-hockey. Now we have the best national ice-hockey team in the world, because we have won the gold medal in Olympic Games in Nagano.
The Olympic Games are the most important and the most famous ? they are held every 4 years, they have their summer and winter parts which change once every 2 years. The first recorded O.G. took place in Olympia in Greece in the year 776 BC. There exist many legend about the origin of the games. They were so important to Greeks, that even the wars were stopped during they took place.
The last winter O. G. took place in Japan in Nagano, it was in February 1998. Czech Republic won one gold medal in ice-hockey cup. Kateřina Neumannová received one silver and one bronze medal (skiing).
My experience with sports:
When I was much younger, I learned swimming, cycling, skating, …etc. When I was six I started to play table-tennis with my uncle, who learn this sport for many years now. In this time I also started to practice athletics. I kept practising it for about 5 or 6 years and I often go to some competitions. Later I became interested in various ball games. In summer I use to play volleyball with my friends and in winter I often skate when the lake is frozen over. Now I visited for few years (2 or 3)hours of aerobic and sometimes I go jogging in the evening.
I like to watch some sports on TV ? e.g. ice-hockey matches, figure skating or athletics competitions.
At school we have our Physical Education lessons (three or two lessons a week). When the weather is good, we use to go out to the stadium, where we usually practice athletics. During the winter we usually go to a gym, where we practise gymnastic or we play basketball or volleyball.
DRUGS IN SPORTS
Many kinds of drugs are used in sports all over the world. Some are used to build muscles or give extra energy. Others kill the pain of injuries or calm nerves, but many are illegal.
Anabolic steroids ? are used to build up muscles, they resemble male hormones. Bodybuilders use anabolic steroids to look good in competitions. These drugs can cause health problems: liver cancer in men and infertility in women. You can become very aggressive.
Stimulants ? make you feel full of energy and confidence, and you have the bigger stamina. Its amphetamines and cocaine, they are used by cyclists and basketballers and footballers. Problems: they dont create energy ? they take it from your body. Users feel exhausted and washed-out. There is a danger of having a heart attack (collapse).
Beta-blockers ? are drugs, which are normally prescribed by doctors for people with high blood pressure or heart problems. They help calm you down and relieve stress. Users: snooker players and archers ? who need steady hands and cool nerves. Problems: with heart and blood pressure.
SPORTS AND GAMES
Sports and games are one of the most popular leisure time activities. Such a form of relaxation sport is refreshing, can help take off some weight and it is important for our physical and mental health. During the sport events we can meet a lot of new people and see how it feels to be a winner or loser.
There are a lot of types of sports and games. We can practise outdoor or indoor sports, in water or anywhere we want. Outdoor sports are as follows: golf, skiing, sledding, windsurfing, marathon-running, fishing, climbing, hiking or tourism, mountaineering, horse riding, rallies. Indoor sports include: table tennis, gymnastics, chess. Ball games, athletics (sprint, high jump, long jump, etc.), tennis, shooting, skateboarding and skating may be practised both outdoor and indoor. There are also aquatic sports: water skiing, swimming, diving, water polo, yachting, canoeing, and rowing.
People all around the world participate in for sports. Ball games are popular all around the world – basketball, volleyball, football (called soccer in America), tennis, and handball. Many people go to the hills our mountains – where there are adapted slopes and down hill runs for skiing. Millions of people like to attend matches, watch them on TV, and listen them on the radio and cross their fingers for their favourite team.
Many sports have their origins in Britain that is why Britain is sometimes called the cradle of sports. Two types of rugby, modern game of hockey, cricket, darts, tennis and boxing were invented in Britain. Golf has its origins in Scotland. Here are the major sports events in Britain: Wimbledon (the Grand Slam Tennis Tournament), The British Open Golf Championship, football Premier league, etc.
In the USA most sports and games have been to a great extent commercionalized. The four foremost games there are American football, baseball, basketball and ice-hockey (it has its roots in Canada). These games are turned into big shows in which the sports stars make a lot of money. American football differs from European mainly in the shape of the ball (oval), the way in which it is carried by the players (in the hands), and the form of scoring (touchdown at field goals). Other sports such as the former Indian game lacrosse or field hockey are also popular. In America: US Open (the Open Grand Slam Tennis Tournament), NBA, NHL (National hockey league) etc.
Most famous all around the world are Olympics games. The first ancients of Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. The significant was the treaty signed on this occasion. All the fighting had to be stopped for as long as the Olympic games were on. First Olympic Games lasted only for one day and consisted only from one event, the running of one Stadion. All Greeks who were free citizens and hat not committed murder or heresy, had right to take the in the Olympic Games. The ceremonies began with the official oath that was taken by the athletes swearing that they would compete with honour and respect the rules. The institution of Olympic Games lasted for twelve centuries and was established in 393 AD. About hundred years ago Pierre de Coubertin renewed The Olympics. Today as well as in ancient times they take place every four years. Every four years is the flame of Olympic games transferred by many sportsmen to the city that hosts the Olympic games. Since 1924 there are two parts of the games ? summer and winter ? which change every two years.
In 2002 the venue of winter Olympic Games was in Salt Lake City in USA. About 2000 athletes from 70 nations competed there in 78 different events. The most successful of our Czech sportsmen was Aleš Valenta who wan the gold medal in ?. and Kateřina Neumannová who won the bronze medal in?