Think of your favourite sport. Whatever it is, there is a good chance that it was first played in Britain, and an even better chance that its modern rules were first codified in Britain. The public schools of the Victorian era believed that organized competitive games had many psychological benefits. These games appealed to, and developed, the British sense of "fair play". You had to be a "good loser". To be a cheat was shameful, but to lose was just "part of the game". Team games were best, because they developed "team spirit".
Modem sport in Britain is very different. "Winning isn"t everything" and "it"s only a game" are still well-known sayings, but to modern professionals, sport is clearly not just a game. These days, top players in any sport talk about having a "professional attitude" and doing their "job" well, even if, officially, their sport is still an amateur one.
Sport probably plays a more important part in people"s lives in Britain than it does in most other countries. For a very large number, this is especially true for men, it is their main form of entertainment. Millions take part in some kind of sport at least once a week. Many millions more are regular spectators and follow one or more sports. There are hours of televised sport each week. Every newspaper, national or local, quality or popular, devotes several pages entirely to sport.
Sometimes the traditions which accompany an event can seem as important as the actual sporting contest. Wimbledon, for instance, is not just a tennis tournament. It means summer fashions, strawberries and cream, garden parties and long, warm English summer evenings.
Many of such events have become world-famous. Therefore, it is not only the British who tune in to watch. The Grand National, for example, attracts a television audience of 300 million. The cup finals of other countries often have better quality and more entertaining football on view - but more Europeans watch the English Cup Final than any other. The standard of British tennis is poor, and Wimbledon is only one of the world"s major tournaments. But if you ask any top tennis player, you find that Wimbledon is the one they really want to win. Every footballer in the world dreams of playing at Wembley, every cricketer in the world of playing at Lord"s.
Sport in Great Britain
The British have a reputation for being mad about sports. In fact they like watching sports more than playing them. The British are spectators and the most popular spectator sports are cricket and football.
Football is the most popular game. Football, or soccer, is an example of a professional game. The game of football was first played in Britain, and later people began to play football in other countries.
There are many amateur soccer players in Britain who play the game on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Amateur clubs often play against professionals.
Almost every school has its football team and every boy in Britain knows a lot about the game. He can tell you the names of the players in the most important teams, he has pictures of them and knows the results of many matches.
Rugby is another popular British sport which is played in other countries. It is also called rugby football. The story is told that in 1823 boys at Rugby school in England were playing football in the normal way, when suddenly one boy picked the ball up and ran with it. That was how a new game was born. There are two forms of rugby football: the amateur game and the professional game. The two games have different rules.
Football is the favourite winter game in Britain and cricket is the favourite summer sport. Amateur cricket has the same rules as the professional game. A typical amateur cricket match takes place on a village green, an open space in the centre of the village. It is .played between two teams - the «home» team and the «visitors» who come from another village.
Спорт в Великобритании
Британцы имеют репутацию людей, которые без ума от спорта. На самом деле они больше любят смотреть, как кто-то занимается спортом, чем заниматься самим. Британцы - зрители, а наиболее зрелищные виды спорта - крикет и футбол.
Футбол - наиболее популярная игра. Футбол - это образец профессиональной игры. Впервые в футбол начали играть в Британии, а позже люди стали играть в футбол и в других странах.
В Британии много футболистов-любителей, которые играют в субботу или в воскресенье. Любительские клубы часто играют с профессиональными.
Почти каждая школа имеет свою футбольную команду, а каждый мальчик в Британии много знает о футболе. Он может назвать вам имена игроков наиболее известных команд, у него есть их фотографии и он знает результаты многих матчей.
Регби - еще один популярный вид спорта в Британии - игра, в которую играют и в других странах. Его также называют регби-футбол. История рассказывает о том, что в 1823 г., когда мальчики школы Регби в Англии играли в обычный футбол, один мальчик вдруг схватил мяч руками и побежал. Так родилась новая игра. Есть два варианта регби: любительский и профессиональный. Правила игры в этих двух видах отличаются.
Футбол - любимая игра, в которую играют зимой, а летом в Британии любимая игра - крикет. Любительский крикет имеет те же правила, что и профессиональный. Обычный любительский матч крикета проходит на деревенской лужайке - открытом месте в центре деревни. В крикет играют две команды - команда жителей деревни и команда гостей из другой деревни.
Unusual Sports in Great Britain
Football, tennis, and other famous sports, came to us from the UK. But the British have become famous for unusual competitions, which at first caused joy and fun, and afterwards they were recognized as sports games in many countries of the world, which can not helping a smile.
- Competitions with eggs.
In England, there are whole tournaments on throwing eggs. All interested persons can take part in this games. Eggs throw at the accuracy, at a distance, run with them race in the mouth or in a spoon. There is also an egg English roulette: 6 stone eggs and 1 fresh egg are put in a basket, let in a circle, and start to beat them to each other on the forehead. On whom the liquid egg is broken, he is eliminated from the game.
- Race Lawn Mowers
The appearance of the lawn is the face of any English landlord. Cutting gnazons became a tradition in all houses. In 1972, a group of young neighbor"s children decided to organize a competition who would swiftly mow the lawn in front of their house. Everyone was sitting on his mini-car and the real races began. The very first race on lawn mowers was officially opened in 1992.
- Hockey in the water
Such an entertainment the British invented in 1954, now this kind of entertainment is popular in many countries. The main condition is to install a gate at the bottom of the pool, carry an underwater mask, fins, a plug of the ears, and a tube to breathe. Stick - 40 centimeters, allows you to score goals in the direction of the opponent.
- Skating cheese.
This fun competition is arranged in Gloucester meeting the first day of spring. The huge heads of cheese start rolling down a steep hill, and a group of daredevils runs after cheese to be the first to catch it. In this competition, both men and women participate. The winner takes home a big head of the most delicious cheese in the neighborhood. Of course, it does not do without injuries and injured limbs, but the joy of victory and general fun outweigh these unpleasant moments.
Перевод
Футбол, теннис, и другие известные виды спорта, пришли к нам из Великобритании. Но британцы прославились и необычными соревнованиями, которые по началу вызывали радость и веселье, а после были признаны спортивными играми во многих странах мира, которые не могут не вызвать улыбку.
В Англии проводятся целые турниры по киданию яйцами. Все желающие могут принять участие. Яйца кидают на меткость, на расстояние, бегут с ними наперегонки держа во рту или в ложке. Существует также яичная английская рулетка: в корзину кладут 6 каменных яиц и 1 свежее, пускают по кругу, и начинают бить их друг другу об лоб. На ком разбивается жидкое яйцо, тот выбывает из игры.
Внешний вид газона - это лицо любого английского домовладельца. Подстригать газоны стало традицией во всех домах. В 1972 году группа молодых соседских ребят решили устроить соревнование кто быстрей покосит газон перед своим домом. Каждый садился на свою мини-машину и начинались настоящие гонки. Самая первая гонка на газонокосилках была официально открыта в 1992 году.
Подобную забаву англичане придумали в 1954 году, сейчас этот вид развлечения популярен во многих странах. Главное условие, установить на дне бассейна ворота, иметь при себе подводную маску, ласты, заглушки доля ушей, и трубку чтобы дышать. Клюшка - 40 сантиметров, позволяет забивать шайбы в сторону соперника.
People all over the world are fond of sports and games. Sports keep people united; make everyone healthy and strong; and bring a lot of positive emotions. Would you like to know what kinds of sports in Great Britain bring the British the joys mentioned above?
According to the recent National Sports Quiz results, the British consider the following kinds of sports as popular: football, cricket, rugby, golf, and racket sports. Let’s have a quick look at each of them. Football is the national sport in England and Scotland. It is an obsession for many British people. The English Barclays Premier League is generally seen as the best league in the world, while the Scottish Premier League is also very successful. People worldwide support famous English clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Cricket is the main summer sport in the UK and is played at various levels from village standard up to the England national team. The England team plays home Test matches, one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches every summer and goes on tour every winter. The undoubted highlight is the Ashes - England against Australia - contested every two years.
British rugby union is currently booming. British clubs are highly successful in the Heineken Cup - otherwise known as the European Cup. The English Guinness Premiership and Celtic League are both highly competitive and watched by sell-out crowds every week. The Rugby World Cup, which takes place every four years and was won by South Africa in 2007the biggest event in the rugby calendar. Rugby league is mainly played in the north of England, although the Super League includes a team based in Perpignan, France and London - the Harlequins. Rugby teams from England, Scotland and Ireland are going to participate in the Rugby League World Cup in 2008.
The UK is renowned as the home of golf and boasts hundreds of world-class courses. They include St Andrews, Wentworth, the Belfry and Carnoustie - four of the most famous course in the world. The British Open is held every July at different courses in the UK. It is the oldest and most famous of golf’s four major championships.
Racket sports include tennis badminton and squash. Tennis, badminton and squash are all hugely popular sports in the UK. Tennis is probably the most widely-known, with tournaments such as Wimbledon and the Stella Artois Championships at Queen’s Club and is a major part of every summer. British badminton players have been highly successful in recent years. The highlights are Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson, who won silver medals in the mixed doubles at the 2004 Olympic Games. The Yonex All England Open in Birmingham takes place in March and is the biggest tournament in the British calendar. Squash is another highly successful British sport, with players such as James Willstrop and Nick Matthew ranked among the top players in the world.
Словарь
to have a quick look at smth - что-то быстро просмотреть
Twenty 20 matches - вид соревнований в Англии по крикету, в котором команды играют друг против друга в коротких матчах, выполняя 20 серий бросков с каждой стороны
to be currently booming - процветающий в данное время
]Most people in Great Britain are real sport-lovers. Even if they don"t go in for sport, they like to talk about it. Perhaps, you didn"t know, but many kinds of sport have taken the origin in Great Britain. Cricket, football, rugby, tennis, table tennis, badminton, squash, canoeing and snooker were invented in Britain.
Britain"s national sport is football or soccer. It was played there as far back as medieval times. Nowadays it has become the most popular game all over the world. There is no national football team in Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their separate football clubs, which compete in European and World Cup matches.
English football fans are fond of most exciting games which are held between teams from the same city. For example, between Manchester United and Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea from London.
There are plenty of amateur association football clubs. Many schools form their own football teams, offering students an opportunity of entering prestigious universities according to their sport achievements.
There is a certain type of football called rugby. The game is called so because it was originated at Rugby — a well-known English public school. As well as common football it is a game played by two teams of fifteen players each. The game takes place on a field 100 metres long and 80 metres wide. There are goal posts at both ends of the field. Rugby is played with an oval or egg-shaped ball which can be carried by hands and kicked. The ball is passed from hand to hand in order to be thrown across the goal line. It is a rather violent game, that is why the players must be big and strong. Another requirement for the players is to wear helmets, masks and chest and shoulder padding.
Cricket is a popular summer sport in Britain. There are many cricket clubs in the country. Cricket players wear a certain uniform — white boots, a white T-shirt and white trousers. One cricket game takes a terribly long time. There are two teams of 11 players each and test matches between national teams can last up to 5 days. The spectators have to be very patient. The game is played on a pitch with a wicket at each end. The rules of the game have changed over the years. It is a game which is associated with long sunny summer afternoons, the smell of new-mown grass and the sound of leather ball beating the willow cricket bat. Cricket is more popular among men, but it is also played by women and girls.
Tennis is another favourite sport of the Englishmen. People all over the world know Wimbledon which is the centre of lawn tennis. It is the oldest tennis tournament in the world considered by many people to be the most prestigious. It takes place over two weeks in late June and early July. Wimbledon is known for its traditions — strict white dress code for competitors, the absence of sponsor advertising around the courts and some others. Every tennis player dreams of taking part at this tournament.
Golf is a game of business community. In Great Britain it is very common to establish good business relations playing golf. The equipment for this game is quite expensive as well as the entrance to a prestigious golf club, so not everyone can afford it. Golf is a ball and golf stick game played on a natural field. In this game one has to knock a ball into a hole.
There are a lot of other popular sports in Great Britain, for example, horseracing, croquet, swimming, running, cycling and rowing.
Перевод текста: Sport in Great Britain - Спорт в Великобритании (5)
Большинство британцев — настоящие любители спорта. Даже если они не занимаются никакими видами спорта, они любят поговорить о них. Многие виды спорта — крикет, футбол, регби, лаун-теннис, настольный теннис, бадминтон, сквош, гребля на каноэ и снукер — были изобретены в Британии.
Национальный спорт Великобритании — футбол. В него играли ещё в Средние века. На сегодняшний день эта игра стала самой популярной во всём мире. У Великобритании нет своей команды. В Англии, Шотландии, Уэльсе и Северной Ирландии — свои национальные команды, которые борются за европейские и мировые кубки.
Английские футбольные болельщики очень любят игры, которые проводятся между командами одного города. Например, между командами Манчестер Юнайтед и Манчестер Сити, лондонскими командами Арсенал и Челси. В Великобритании существует множество любительских ассоциаций футбольных клубов. Многие школы организуют свои собственные футбольные команды и предлагают участникам возможность поступления в престижный вуз в соответствии со спортивными достижениями.
Регби — особая разновидность футбола. Матч по современному регби впервые состоялся в английском городке Регби в 1823 г. Это — командная игра с мячом овальной формы на площадке размером 100 х 80 метров с Н-образными воротами с двух сторон поля. В каждой команде 15 игроков. Цель игры — передавая мяч друг другу руками (назад) или ногами (в любом направлении), приземлить его в зачётном поле соперника за линией ворот или забить ногой в ворота так, чтобы он пролетел над перекладиной. Это довольно жёсткая игра, поэтому регбисты должны быть крупными и сильными. Ещё одно требование к игрокам — надевать шлемы, маски и защитные накладки на грудь и плечи.
Крикет — популярная летняя командная игра в Великобритании. В стране существуют множество крикетных клубов. Игроки надевают определённую форму — белые ботинки, белую футболку и белые брюки. В игре участвуют 2 команды по И человек в каждой. Один матч в крикет может быть очень продолжительным — он может длиться до пяти дней. Так что зрители должны набраться терпения. Цель игры — разрушение мячом «калитки» (ворот) соперника. Крикет зародился в Англии в Средние века, и его правила менялись на протяжении многих лет. Эта игра ассоциируется с длинными солнечными летними днями, запахом свежескошенной травы и звуком удара кожаного мяча об ивовую крикетную биту. Крикет популярен больше среди мужского населения, однако женщины и девочки тоже играют в него.
Теннис — ещё один любимый вид спорта англичан. Уимблдон известен на весь мир как центр лаун-тенниса. Этот теннисный турнир является старейшим и считается самым престижным в мире. Он длится 2 недели — с конца июня до начала августа. Уимблдон славится своими традициями: игроки должны быть одеты в строгую белую форму, а на кортах не разрешается использовать любую рекламу. Каждый теннисист мечтает принять участие в этом турнире.
Гольф — игра бизнесменов. В Великобритании принято налаживать деловые отношения во время игры в гольф. Снаряжение для этой игры стоит довольно дорого, как и входной билет в престижный гольф-клуб, так что не все могут позволить себе эту роскошь. Гольф — это игра с мячом и клюшками на естественном поле. Цель игры — загнать мяч в лунку.
В Великобритании очень популярны и другие виды спорта: скачки, крокет, плавание, бег, велогонки и гребля.
