4.9 The British and Sport

For a very large number of people sport is their main form of entertainment. Millions take part in some kind of sport and even more millions are regular spectators or sport fans.

The English not only love sport, they invented some kinds of sport. Golf was first played in Scotland in the 15^th century and the most famous golf club, Saint Andrews in Scotland, is still the most respected authority on golf in the world.

Cricket was first played in England in the 16^th century. It’s a very long game and international matches go on for five days. But in the real English way, the players always stop for tea. Cricket may seem slow, but it is very exciting for those who understand it.

Rugby is a type of football. It is played with an oval ball and players can kick or run with it. Rugby takes its name from Rugby School in Midlands (England). In 1823, a boy playing football at the school picked up the ball and ran with it.

Lawn tennis is another popular game in Britain. Every summer, in June, the biggest international tournament takes place at Wimbledon, a suburb of London. Everybody hopes that the rain will stay away.

Among other popular sports are aerobics with women, snooker with men, swimming, cycling, sailing and walking.

(1028)

4.10 A National Passion

The British love football, in fact, they invented it. Football is their national sport. During the football seasons (August to May) most professional footballers play two matches every week.

Most British towns and cities have a football team. Every year each team plays in the Football Association competition. The two best teams play in the Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. It is one of the biggest sporting events of the year. Eighty thousand fans fill the stadium and there is usually a very good atmosphere.

The most exciting games are often between teams from the same city: Manchester United and Manchester City; Arsenal and Chelsea from London; Celtic and Rangers from Glasgow. About 20 million people go to football matches every year, making it the most popular spectator sport.

(679)

4.11 Animals and the British

The British are a nation of animal lovers. They have a sentimental attitude to animals. They treat animals as they treat people.

There are six and a half million dogs and six to eight million cats in Britain. This means that approximately one of ten people owns a dog or a cat. Every year the British spend over 1.5 billion pounds on pet food such as tinned dog food. Many people are prepared to pay quite large sums of money to give their pets, from a budgie to a lion, a decent burial. They also support over 380 charities and societies which protect animals. These include donkey and pony sanctuaries, horses’ rest homes and dog and cat sanctuaries. They provide practical help to animals in homes, hospitals and clinics and campaign against cruelty to animals. There are over 250 inspectors who make sure nobody breaks the laws which protect animals.

(725)

4.12 Windsor Safari Park

Zoos in Europe are changing. Cities close the big zoos with large animals in small cages and open Safari Parks. In these special parks animals live in the open. There are fences not cages.

Windsor Safari Park is near London in the south of England. It was opened in 1970 and covers 345 hectares. It is open from ten a.m. to seven p.m. In the park you can see animals from camels to dolphins, from parrots to lions. The park is divided into animal areas.

The Reserves are the areas where animals live free. The lions, tigers, zebras, camels and monkeys live on the Reserves. Visitors travel in the Park or on special Park buses. There are three important rules for visitors to the Park – they must drive slowly, never open the car window and never get out of the car in the Reserves.

There is also a Seaworld section, with dolphins, sea-lions, whales and fish. There are two other special sections for birds and tropical animals. In the Birdworld section there are hundreds of species of birds from beautiful eagles to parrots.

(864)