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Sport ~

A sport is commonly defined as an organized, competitive, and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play. It is governed by a set of rules or customs. In a sport the key factors are the physical capabilities and skills of the competitor when determining the outcome (winning or losing). The physical activity involves the movement of people, animals and/or a variety of objects such as balls and machines. In contrast, games such as card games and board games, though these could be called mind sports, require only mental skills. Non-competitive activities such as jogging and rock-climbing, are usually classified as recreations.


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History ~

 There are artifacts and structures that suggest that the Chinese engaged in sporting activities as early as 4000 BC. Gymnastics appears to have been a popular sport in China's ancient past. Monuments to the Pharaohs indicate that a number of sports, including swimming and fishing, were well-developed and regulated several thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt. Other Egyptian sports included javelin throwing, high jump, and wrestling. Ancient Persian sports such as the traditional Iranian martial art of Zourkhaneh had a close connection to the warfare skills. Among other sports that originate in Persia are polo and jousting.

A wide range of sports were already established by the time of Ancient Greece and the military culture and the development of sports in Greece influenced one another considerably. Sports became such a prominent part of their culture that the Greeks created the Olympic Games, which in ancient times were held every four years in a small village in the Peloponnesus called Olympia.

Sports have been increasingly organized and regulated from the time of the Ancient Olympics up to the present century. Industrialization has brought increased leisure time to the citizens of developed and developing countries, leading to more time for citizens to attend and follow spectator sports, greater participation in athletic activities, and increased accessibility. These trends continued with the advent of mass media and global communication. Professionalism became prevalent, further adding to the increase in sport's popularity, as sports fans began following the exploits of professional athletes through radio, television, and the internet—all while enjoying the exercise and competition associated with amateur participation in sports.
In the new millennium, new sports have been going further from the physical aspect to the mental or psychological aspect of competing. Electronic sports organizations are becoming more and more popular.


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Football ~

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Football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players using a spherical ball. It is widely considered to be the most popular sport in the world.

The game is played on a rectangular grass or artificial turf field, with a goal in the center of each of the short ends. The object of the game is to score by driving the ball into the opposing goal. In general play, the goalkeepers are the only players allowed to use their hands or arms to propel the ball; the rest of the team usually use their feet to kick the ball into position, occasionally using their torso or head to intercept a ball in midair. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the score is tied at the end of the game, either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time and/or a penalty shootout, depending on the format of the competition.

The modern game was codified in England following the formation of The Football Association, whose 1863 Laws of the Game created the foundations for the way the sport is played today. Football is governed internationally by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football), commonly known by the acronym FIFA. The most prestigious international football competition is the FIFA World Cup, held every four years


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International competitions :~

 A minute's silence before an international matchThe major international competition in football is the World Cup, organised by FIFA. This competition takes place over a four-year period. More than 190 national teams compete in qualifying tournaments within the scope of continental confederations for a place in the finals. The finals tournament, which is held every four years, involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period. The 2006 FIFA World Cup took place in Germany; in 2010 it will be held in South Africa.

There has been a football tournament at every Summer Olympic Games since 1900, except at the 1932 games in Los Angeles. Before the inception of the World Cup, the Olympics (especially during the 1920s) had the same status as the World Cup. Originally, the event was for amateurs only, however, since the 1984 Summer Olympics professional players have been permitted, albeit with certain restrictions which prevent countries from fielding their strongest sides. Currently, the Olympic men's tournament is played at Under-23 level. In the past the Olympics have allowed a restricted number of over-age players per team; but that practice ceased in the 2008 Olympics. The Olympic competition is not generally considered to carry the same international significance and prestige as the World Cup. A women's tournament was added in 1996; in contrast to the men's event, full international sides without age restrictions play the women’s Olympic tournament. It thus carries international prestige considered comparable to that of the FIFA Women's World Cup.

After the World Cup, the most important international football competitions are the continental championships, which are organised by each continental confederation and contested between national teams. These are the European Championship (UEFA), the Copa América (CONMEBOL), African Cup of Nations (CAF), the Asian Cup (AFC), the CONCACAF Gold Cup (CONCACAF) and the OFC Nations Cup (OFC). The FIFA Confederations Cup is contested by the winners of all 6 continental championships, the current FIFA World Cup champions and the country which is hosting the Confederations Cup. This is generally regarded as a warm up tournament for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and does not carry the same prestige as the World Cup itself. The most prestigious competitions in club football are the respective continental championships, which are generally contested between national champions, for example the UEFA Champions League in Europe and the Copa Libertadores de América in South America. The winners of each continental competition contest the FIFA Club World Cup.


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Most Famous Soccer Players :~

                    
 
»  Diego Maradona (Argentina)

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Born on 30 October 1960, Diego Armando Maradona is regarded as one of greatest footballers of all time. He has played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Newell's Old Boys and Napoli. A debutante in international soccer at the age of sixteen, Maradona retired from the sport in 1977.


»  Kaka (Brazil)

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Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, fondly known as ‘Kaka’, is one of the most famous Brazilian football midfielders. He has made a number of memorable records and is currently playing for Real Madrid C.F. Born on April 22 1982, Kaka started his sporting career at the tender age of eight.


»  Pele (Brazil)

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Edison Arantes do Nascimento, a forward player from Brazil, is popularly known by his nickname ‘Pele’. Pele is unforgettable name in Brazilian football and an idol for millions of aspiring footballers. Born on 23 October 1940, Pele was named as one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century by ‘Time Magazine’ in 1999, which speaks volumes about his popularity in the sport.
 


»  David Beckham (Britain)

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David Robert Joseph Beckham (in short - David Beckham) is an English footballer, born in England, on 2nd May 1975. The midfielder has gained the distinction of being the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches. Apart from gaining global recognition in sports, Beckham is one of the top fashion icons and one of the priciest advertising brand ambassadors.
 


»  Zinedine Zidane (France)

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Born on 23rd June 1972, Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a renowned French football player. The attacking midfielder took retirement from professional football in 2006, after the FIFA World Cup of that year. Zidane was given the title of European Footballer of the Year in 1998.



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Tennis ~

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Tennis is a sport usually played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt past a net into the opponent's court.

The modern game of tennis originated in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century as "lawn tennis" which has heavy connections to various field/lawn games as well as to the ancient game of real tennis. After its creation, tennis spread throughout the upper-class English-speaking population before spreading around the world. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket, including people in wheelchairs.

The rules of tennis have not changed much since the 1890s. Two exceptions are that from 1908 to 1960 the server had to keep one foot on the ground at all times, and then the adoption of the tie-break in the 1970s. A recent addition to professional tennis has been the adoption of electronic review technology coupled with a point challenge system, which allows a player to challenge the line (or chair) umpire's call of a point.

Tennis enjoys millions of recreational players and is also a hugely popular worldwide spectator sport, especially the four Grand Slam tournaments (also referred to as the "Majors"): the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.


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Most Famous TennisPlayers :~

»  Lindsay Davenport

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Name : Lindsay Davenport (Lindsay A. Davenport)
Born : June 8, 1976
Country : born Palos Verdes, California, the USA
Lives : USA
Singles: 51 (1993-2005)
Doubles : 35

Her highest singles ranking was on October 12, 1998 and highest doubles ranking was on October 20, 1997.

Lindsay Davenport's achievements include: 1998 U.S. Open champion; 1999 Wimbledon champion; 2000 Australian Open champion; ranked World No. 1 for 84 weeks.


»   Mary Pierce

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Name : Mary Pierce
Born : January 15, 1975
Country : born Montreal, Canada
Lives : USA
Career Titles for Singles: 15
Career Titles for Doubles: 9
Sanex WTA Tour Singles Titles: 15
Sanex WTA Tour Doubles Titles: 9
Grand Slam Titles: 2 singles, 1 doubles
ITF Women's Circuit Singles Titles: 2 singles


»  Roger Federer

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Name : Roger Federer
Born : August 8, 1981
Country : born Basel, Switzerland
Lives : Switzerland

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n the ATP Ranking's year end Top 100 Federer was the youngest player (18 years, 4 months).

Recent Awards:
2005- Ambassador of United Nations' Year of Sport and Physical Education; Goldene Kamera Award; ATP Player of the Year (for the year 2004); Stefan Edberg Sportmanship Award; ATPTennis.com Fan's Favourite; Laureus World Sportsman of the Year; Michael-Westphal Award; International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA) Player of the Year; International Tennis Writers Ambassador for Tennis; ITF World Champion.

2004- ATP European Player of the Year; ITF World Champion; Sports Illustrated Tennis Player of the Year; Swiss Sportsman of the Year.
Swiss of the Year; European Sportsman of the Year; Reuters International Sportsman of the Year; BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year; International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA) Player of the Year.

2003- ATP European Player of the Year; Swiss Sportsman of the Year; Swiss of the Year; Michael-Westphal Award.


»   Pete Sampras

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Name : Pete Sampras
Born : August 12, 1971
Country : born Washington, DC, USA
Lives : USA











P
ete Sampras's Tennis Rankings

Basketball :~
Wins:
1990- US Open (Andre Agassi)
1993- Wimbledon (Jim Courier)
1993- US Open (Cedric Pioline)
1994- Australian Open (Todd Martin)
1994- Wimbledon (Goran Ivanisevic)
1995- Wimbledon (Boris Becker)
1995- US Open (Andre Agassi)
1996- US Open (Michael Chang)
1997- Australian Open (Carlos Moya)
1997- Wimbledon (Cedric Pioline)
1998- Wimbledon (Goran Ivanesevic)
1999- Wimbledon (Andre Agassi)
2000- Wimbledon (Patrick Rafter)
2002- US Open (Andre Agassi)

In 1993, 1994, 1995 Pete Sampras has been the world's Number 1 ranked player.
He compiled a 762-222 record during his years on the circuit – winning more than 77% of all the matches he played in 15 years.
Sampras won a record 14 Grand Slam titles over his career.
He finished his career with a record $43 million in career prize money.



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Basketball ~

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A basketball is an inflated ball used in the game of basketball. Basketballs typically range in size from very small promotional items possibly only a few inches in diameter to extra large balls nearly a foot in diameter used in training exercises to increase the skill of players. The standard size of a basketball in the NBA is 29.5 inches in circumference.

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History :~

   In early December 1891, the chairman of the physical education department at the School for Christian Workers (now Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, instructed physical education teacher James Naismith, known to many as the inventor of basketball, to invent a new game to entertain the school's athletes in the winter season. Naismith assembled his class of 18 young men, appointed captains of two nine-player teams, and set in motion the first ever basketball game, played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets tacked to either end of the gymnasium. The first purpose-built basketballs were made from panels of leather stitched together with a rubber bladder inside. A cloth lining was added to the leather for support and uniformity (identity). A moulded version of the early basketball was invented in 1942. From 1967 through 1976, the American Basketball Association (ABA) used a distinctive red, white and blue basketball that is still seen from time to time. For many years, leather was the material of choice for basketball coverings, however in the late 1990s, composite materials were put forth and have rapidly gained acceptance in most leagues due to their superior performance in harsh outdoor game conditions. A survey in 2007 showed that there were approximately 300 million basketballs in the United States.


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Most Famous Basketball Players :~

»  Michael Jordan

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 Born on the 17th of February 1963, he started his career in athletics by playing basketball, baseball and football. When he was in the tenth grade, he was rejected a position in the varsity basketball team for reasons of his height. He did not lose heart. His efforts led him to be the greatest basketball player of all times. His extraordinary leaping abilities won him the title ‘Air Jordan’. He is the winner of five MVP awards, six NBA Finals MVP awards and three steals titles. He was conferred the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1988. ESPN named him the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century. He remains to be one of the most eminent figures in the world of basketball.


»   Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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 He was the only child of his parents and was brought up as a Roman Catholic. Since his childhood, he had begun showing a flair for basketball. During the period of 1969 to 1989, when he was in NBA, he scored 38,387 points. This was the highest score made by any player in the league. He is the winner of six Most Valuable Player Awards. He was best known for his Skyhook shot. After retiring from basketball, he was a successful coach and author.


»  Lisa Leslie

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 Lisa was a notable female figure in the list of famous basketball players. When she began playing basketball in the seventh grade, she was six feet tall. She was the first WNBA player to score 3,000 points. She won the regular season, WNBA Championship and All-Star Game MVP awards. She was the first player to win all three of them in the same season. She was the first one to dunk in a WNBA game.



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Benefits of Playing Sports ~            

  Sports serve as an excellent physical exercise. Those who play sports have a more positive body image than those who do not. Playing sports often involves physical activities like running, jumping and stretching and moreover a constructive expenditure of energy. Playing sports since an early age strengthens the bones and muscles and tones one’s body. Thus sports provide the body with a complete exercise.

Playing sports improves the Math skills in children. It develops leadership qualities and fosters a team spirit in them. Sports involve competition; they involve winning and losing. This exposes the players to both the aspects of life, successes and failures. Sports build a competitive spirit in children and teach them to be participative irrespective of whether the participation concludes in a victory or a defeat. Playing sports teaches a person to accept both successes and failures in a positive spirit. The most important benefit of playing sports is the sportsman spirit. Playing sports results in the development of a sportive nature, which is helpful throughout one’s life.

Playing sports is very beneficial for the development of social skills in a person. Sports teach a person to interact with people, act as a team. They foster collective thinking and develop planning skills in children. Sports build confidence in children and give them a sense of accomplishment. Sports thus play a vital role in one's social well-being.

Playing sports requires the children to plan thoughtfully. They need to device the best ways to score goals, the best strategies to win and plan carefully towards victory. Statistics show that kids involved in sports activities fare well in academics and their school and college activities.

A constructive expenditure of energy that sports bring out is very helpful in keeping a person happy. Exercise generates happiness molecules in a person’s body, thus contributing to his/her mental well-being. Sports generate a positive energy.

Playing sports serves as an excellent exercise, which has a wide variety of health benefits. It reduces blood sugar level and reduces the risk of blood cholesterol. Playing sports decreases the chances of hypertension and several other stress related disorders. Research has revealed that people who play sports regularly can deal with stresses and strains in life in a better manner. Depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders are less probable in people who indulge in sport activities.

Regular exercise helps increase the overall quality of life. Playing sports acts as a beautiful blend of recreation and physical activity. It is a combination of both enjoyment and exercise.
By Manali Oak



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