Sport

This section covers the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the UK, notable British sportsmen and women, and the major sports that originated in or are especially popular in Britain.

The Olympics and Paralympics

Sport plays an important part in many people's lives across the UK, with major events held at stadiums like Wembley Stadium in London and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Local governments and private companies provide facilities such as swimming pools, football pitches and gyms. Many famous sports — cricket, football, lawn tennis, golf and rugby — began in Britain.

The UK has hosted the Olympic Games three times: 1908, 1948 and 2012 (the main site was in Stratford, East London). The British team finished third in the medal table in 2012. The Paralympic Games were also hosted in London in 2012 — the Paralympics originated in the work of Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman, a German refugee who developed new treatments and exercise programmes for people with spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Notable British Sportsmen and Women

Cricket

Cricket originated in England and is played worldwide — games can last up to five days and still end in a draw. Its idiosyncratic rules have given English several everyday phrases: "rain stopped play," "playing a straight bat," "it's just not cricket." The most famous competition is the Ashes, played between England and Australia.

Football

Football is the UK's most popular sport, with the first professional clubs formed in the late 19th century. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each field separate leagues and national teams; the English Premier League draws a huge global audience. England's only World Cup win came in 1966, hosted in the UK.

Rugby

Rugby originated in early 19th-century England and comes in two forms — union and league — each with separate leagues and national teams. The Six Nations Championship (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy) is rugby union's most famous competition; the Super League is the top rugby league competition.

Other Popular Sports

• Horse racing — a long British tradition with royal associations; famous events include Royal Ascot, the Grand National (Aintree) and the Scottish Grand National (Ayr).
• Golf — traces to 15th-century Scotland; St Andrews is known as "the home of golf." The Open Championship is the only Major held outside the US.
• Tennis — modern tennis evolved in late 19th-century England. Wimbledon, first held in 1877, is the oldest tennis tournament and the only Grand Slam played on grass.
• Water sports — sailing remains popular; Sir Francis Chichester (1966/67) and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston were pioneers of single-handed round-the-world sailing. The Oxford–Cambridge boat race on the Thames is a popular annual rowing event.
• Motor sports — UK car racing began in 1902; a Formula 1 Grand Prix is held annually, with British champions including Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
• Skiing — increasingly popular; Scotland has five ski centres, and Europe's longest dry ski slope is near Edinburgh.

Check That You Understand

• Which sports are particularly popular in the UK
• Some of the major sporting events that take place each year
• The UK's Olympic and Paralympic history
• Notable British sportsmen and women