Whether you love football or not, it’s a national sport that is played by many people across the country. In fact, it’s one of the most popular sports in the UK and it’s not hard to see why. The game is simple and it involves two teams of 11 players. They play on a rectangular field called the pitch.
Origins
Whether it was rugby, golf or soccer, there is no doubt that sport has played a significant role in shaping our national identity. The history of British sport can be traced back more than 300 years. However, most sports in the UK were created in the 19th century.
Early sports were very insular and not widely played. In the late nineteenth century, public schools introduced sports to pupils. Games such as horse racing were regarded as “lawful” at the time.
As the British economy developed, the middle classes gained a new interest in amateur sports. This gave rise to an emphasis on fair play and amateurism. Professional sport also gained in popularity. It was mostly watched by men and middle classes.
As mobility increased, traditional games were adapted to suit the urban environment. Football forms were adopted by public schools to develop teamwork skills.
Most popular sports in England
Besides the obvious cricket and football, England has many other sports that are popular. Some of these include horse racing, motorbike racing, ice hockey, cycling, athletics, and tennis.
Tennis, the best known game in England, has been played since the nineteenth century. It is a team sport with a few players on court at any one time. The game is also a social event with pubs serving post-game drinks.
Other popular sports in England are swimming, ice hockey, association football, and horse racing. Some of these are traditional British games while others were borne in the country. The Olympic Games have been successful for the UK. The summer Olympics were held in England for the first time in 1936, and again in 1996 and 2012. The Winter Olympics were held in Britain in 2010 and 2012.
The most popular sporting event in England is probably the World Cup. More people watch the World Cup than any other event.
Most popular sports in British schools
Across the United Kingdom, sports play an important role in promoting integration and encouraging an active lifestyle. Most schools in the UK have a variety of sports on offer. These include athletics, football, cricket, rugby, and tennis. Depending on the school, you might find that these are offered as part of your Physical Education (PE) lessons.
The most popular sport for boys and girls in British schools is football. In a typical football game, two teams compete to pass the ball between goalposts. The team that has the ball first attempts to score by putting it into the goal of the opposing team. The other team tries to prevent the other team from scoring.
The second most popular sport in British schools is rugby. Rugby is a team sport that is played with an oval shaped ball. The players on both teams try to hit each other with the ball.
Most popular sports in Britain’s motorsports
Across the United Kingdom, there are a variety of motor sports events. Each year, industry surveys estimate that six million spectators attend races, making it one of the most popular sports in Britain.
In the world of motorsport, the United Kingdom has a wealth of history. It is home to a number of Formula 1 teams and has been a major force in the international scene for decades.
Lewis Hamilton has won seven world titles and is the most successful British driver in history. He also holds the record for most wins in the F1 Championship, and has equalled Michael Schumacher’s record. In 2014, he won four more titles and became the first British driver to win four World Championships in a single year.
Most popular sports in Britain’s summer
During the summer season, England is home to many of the world’s most popular sports. These include football, rugby, cricket, athletics and motorsports.
Football is the most popular sport in Britain, with almost one in five adults playing the sport. There are almost eight million people who play football twice a month .
Tennis is the second most popular sport in the UK, with a number of tournaments being held in the country. The world’s oldest tennis tournament, the Wimbledon Championships, takes place in England during July. It attracts a huge global audience.
Snooker is a racket sport that is popular in the UK. There are approximately four grand slam events on the ATP Tour, including the US Open and the Australian Open. The game requires high levels of agility and power.
