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Sports People Play in America

Among the most popular leisure time activities in America are sports of every kind. Sport activities attract millions of active participants. One reason of the popularity of sport in the USA may be the variety and size of the country providing Americans with a large choice of summer and winter sports. In addition, public sports facilities have always been available in great number for participants. Besides, Most social scientists believe that sports that are organised by a society generally reflects the basic values of that society and attempt to strengthen them in the minds and emotions of its people.

Americans see much of life as a race for success. So if it is a race, then a person must run the race, he must compete with others. The idea of competition is at the very heart of organised sports in the United States. Learning how to win in sports you develop the habits necessary to compete successfully in later life.

It is said that the American pastime is baseball, but football, basketball, hockey, and, in more recent times, soccer are also very popular activities that Americans enjoy as spectators or participants.

Americans spend a lot of time and money on physical activities ranging from bowling to skiing.

The object of these activities is not only enjoyment. Doctors have found that vigorous exercise keeps people feeling healthier. So Americans are working at maintaining and recapturing their youth and vigour.

Baseball and football have the reputation of being 'typically American' team sports. This is ironic because the two most popular participants sports in the world today are indeed American in origin- basketball and volleyball.

There are many other sports and sports activities in America which attract millions of active participants: golf, swimming, tennis, marathon, track-and-field, bowling, archery, skiing, skating, squash and badminton, rowing and sailing, weight-lifting, boxing and wrestling.

Cycling, jogging, callisthenics or gymnastics, and bowling are American's favourite participatory sports. Skating and tobogganing are wide spread activities, too. As could be expected, all water sports (and activities) are very popular, including diving, sailing, canoeing and water skiing.

There are also several sports in the US which were once thought of as being 'strange', but have now gained international popularity. Among these are skate-boarding, wind-surfing and triathlon.

Americans pay much attention to physical fitness. Many sports and sporting activities are popular in the USA. People participate in swimming, skating, squash and badminton, tennis, marathon, track-and-field, bowling, archery, skiing, skating etc. But the five major American sports are hockey, volleyball, baseball, football and basketball. Basketball and volleyball have been invented in America.


 

True or false:

1. Among the most popular leisure time activities in America are sports of no kind.

2. One reason of the popularity of sport in the USA may be the variety and size of the country providing Americans with a large lack of summer and winter sports.


Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1227


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