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The history of sport

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Can you imagine a world without sports? Today there are many different sports to watch or to take part in, from quiet, gentle sports like snooker to thrilling, extreme sports like bungee jumping. There are sports to suit all kinds of people. But how did sports begin?

We cannot be sure exactly when people began to play sports. We know that children throughout history have always used sports to play together and have fun, but we don’t know when adults started to use sports as physical contests, the way they do today. Cave paintings show pictures of men hunting, but whether this was for sport or for survival is not certain.

In ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece, sports were definitely popular. The ancient Egyptians enjoyed hunting and archery, and the ancient Romans loved to watch chariot races, boxing, wrestling and, of course, gladiatorial combats in which men fought against men or animals. It was the ancient Greeks who first took part in athletic contests. The most famous sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games, began in Greece in 776 B.C.

Medieval sports were not as organised as events in ancient times. At fairs or festivals, men would lift heavy stones and women would run races, but the most popular sport of the time was ‘folk football’, a game which involved a lot of violence and very few rules, and often caused serious injuries to its players. Among the middle and upper classes, archery contests and tournaments (in which two knights on horseback practiced the art of war) were the preferred sporting events.

From the late 17th century, sports became more organised and started to resemble the games we play today. During the 18th and 19th centuries, national organisations were formed which made sure that rules were followed and arranged regular competitions. Modern sport became popular all over the world and national games such as tennis (French) and football (English), became international sports.

Thank to the media, sport in the 21th century is as much a popularity conyest as an athletic contest. Certain sports teams are supported by fans all over the world, and individual athletes are seen as celebrities. Sports have changed a lot over the years, but they still provide entertainment for many people.

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