query: what sport is popular in china?

title: Sport in China

text: and professionally. International tennis tournaments receive wide coverage on Chinese sporting channels, being the third most popular after football and basketball. Volleyball arrived in Asia in 1908 and was officially introduced to China in 1910. The Chinese Volleyball Association represents China in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball and the Asian Volleyball Confederation, as well as the representing the volleyball sports in the All-China Sports Federation. The China women's national volleyball team is one of the leading squads in women's international volleyball, having twice won the Olympic title (1984 and 2004). China took five consecutive World titles in the 1980s, the

title: Sport in China

text: Sport in China Sport in China has been long associated to the Martial Arts. Today China (including mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) consists of a variety of competitive sports. Traditional Chinese culture regards physical fitness as an important characteristic. China has its own national quadrennial multi-sport event similar to the Olympic Games called the National Games. The largest audience for a single sporting event within the boundaries of mainland China was a football match in the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou. Football is a popular sport. The average attendance of the Chinese Super League games in 2017 was 23,766 spectators.

title: Sport in China

text: free practice session for the HRT Formula 1 Team at the 2012 Italian Grand Prix. Rugby union is becoming a more popular sport in China, than it previously has been. However, it is still not overly popular. China became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1997 and is currently ranked 67th in the world. The national team has not qualified for a world cup so far. One segment of Chinese society where rugby is particularly popular is the military. Rugby is an official sport of the People's Liberation Army, with the PLA Sports Institute participating in the highly competitive

title: Sport in China

text: High schools often have football facilities, some of which are rented on weekends to local amateur teams to organize matches. It is also the most popular sport to watch on television, with large international tournaments such as the World Cup and the European Championships, as well as major European leagues receiving widespread coverage. Badminton is popular in China thanks to its relative simplicity in recreational use and inexpensive equipment. Many Chinese badminton players have gained international success and fame, especially the many Gold medalists at the BWF World Championships. It is a popular recreational, and professional sport, with amateur leagues

title: Sport in China

text: million players. Badminton is also well established and popular. According to CCTV Sports Channel, the gold-medal women's volleyball game of the 2004 Summer Olympics drew the viewership of 30% of TV-owning households; the figure was 18% for the China vs. Brazil match in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Football and basketball are also shown on TV. Popular amateur sports include table tennis, badminton, martial arts, and various forms of pool. China's professional sports are in its developmental stages. They also may consist of hacky sack, or ping pong during their free time. Football is the most popular spectator sport in

title: Sport in China

text: the world's largest. At the amateur level, golf is seen as the top recreational sport for businesspeople and officials. Because of their relatively high position in Chinese society, they are usually the only people with access to the sport of golf on mainland China. At the 2007 National People's Congress, caving in to the popular acknowledgment that the building of new golf courses is not only a waste of public funds but an illegal use of space, Premier Wen Jiabao said in his Work Report to the Congress that contracts in building new golf courses should be highly discouraged and

title: Sport in China

text: the world. Deng Yaping is regarded by many as one of the greatest table tennis players of all time. The sport played an important role in China's international relations; in April 1972, the U.S. table tennis team were invited to visit China, an event later called "Ping Pong Diplomacy". Table tennis is the biggest amateur recreational sport in China with an estimated 300 million players. Tennis is a growing recreational sport in China, although access to courts can be limited in densely populated urban areas. Recently Chinese tennis players, especially women, have seen success internationally both at the amateur level

title: Sport in China

text: Hong Kong leagues. Notable Chinese rugby players include Zhang Zhiqiang ("Johnny Zhang"), who had a stint with the famous Leicester Tigers club in England, and promising young speedster Li Yang, who boasts a time of 10.6 seconds in the 100-meter sprint. Although pool or, more specifically, billiards, has long been a popular street recreation sport in China, snooker's popularity has increased over the last few years in China. It can partly be attributed to the ascension of Ding Junhui who was once the number one ranked professional player and reached the final of the 2016 World Snooker Championship. More and

title: Sport in China

text: Villa F.C., RCD Espanyol, Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan, SK Slavia Prague, FC Sochaux and ADO Den Haag. China's sports industry has gone through three stages. The first was the Exploratory Stage, from 1978 to 1992. The second was the formative stage, from 1993 to 1996. The third is the development stage, from 1997 to the present. Sport in China Sport in China has been long associated to the Martial Arts. Today China (including mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) consists of a variety of competitive sports. Traditional Chinese culture regards physical fitness as an important characteristic. China has its own

title: Sport in China

text: Olympiad in Turin when the men's team came second behind and the women's team third for the best result overall. The Chinese progress has been underpinned by large government support and testing competition in numerous tough events. Commensurate with its status, China currently has seven hundred players, second only to . However, even today countries like and Israel still have an edge in experience over their Chinese counterparts. Xiangqi is also considered a sport in China, with millions of players nationwide. There is a national Chinese chess league. Cricket is a fast-growing sport in China. It is already a well-established

title: Sport in China

text: and Wangqing). "Ping pong" (乒乓) is the official name for the sport of table tennis in China. Apart from the national representative team, the table tennis community in China continues to produce many world-class players, and this depth of skill allows the country to continue dominating recent world titles after a short break during the 1990s. The overwhelming dominance of China in the sport has triggered a series of rules changes in the International Table Tennis Federation and as part of the Olympics. Ma Long is currently one of the highest-ranked Chinese table tennis players, and the highest-ranked player in

title: Tennis in China

text: Tennis in China Tennis in China is a rapidly growing sport that has received much private and public support, and has today become firmly entrenched in the Chinese consciousness as one of the most popular. Tennis is now the third-most popular sport on television in China, behind Association football and basketball. The national governing body is the China Tennis Association. China has 30,000 tennis courts and an estimated 14 million people in China regularly play tennis, up from 1 million when the sport returned to the Olympics in 1988, according to the WTA Tour. The Chinese government is aiming to

title: Sport in China

text: terms of licensed athletes, it is the second biggest winter sport in the world. Baseball was first introduced in 1864 with the establishment of the Shanghai Baseball Club by American medical missionary Henry William Boone. Organized baseball games were established with a game between the St. Johns University and the Shanghai MCA baseball club in 1905. However, in 1959 Mao Zedong disbanded all the teams and outlawed baseball. After the Cultural Revolution ended, baseball activities restarted, and the China Baseball Association formed in 1974. In 2002, the China Baseball League was formed, and China participates in the World Baseball Classic.

title: Tennis in China

text: and Wimbledon. At the, Zheng and Yan got a bronze medal in the women’s doubles. China now has three women inside the top 50. On the men's side, currently only Zhang Ze (154), Wu Di (176), and Zeng Shaoxuan (299) occupy positions inside the top 500 in the singles rankings. Tennis in China Tennis in China is a rapidly growing sport that has received much private and public support, and has today become firmly entrenched in the Chinese consciousness as one of the most popular. Tennis is now the third-most popular sport on television in China, behind Association football and

title: Sport in China

text: Communist party officials are banned from playing. Ice hockey is a minority sport but growing in popularity. Kickboxing promotions such as Kunlun Fight have been started in recent years. Wu Lin Feng is also a long running promotion. The Macau Grand Prix is held since 1954, known for its Formula 3, touring car and superbikes races. Macau was transferred to China in 1999. The first international motor race in mainland China was the 1994 edition of the 3 Hours of Zhuhai, held at the Zhuhai Street Circuit as a round of the 1994 BPR Global GT Series. The Chinese Grand

title: Sport in China

text: sport in Hong Kong, a former British Colony. The Chinese cricket team is the team that represents the country of the People's Republic of China in international cricket. The Chinese Cricket Association became an International Cricket Council affiliate member in 2004. It should be noted that the Special administrative region of Hong Kong is a member of the ICC in their own right, becoming an ICC associate member in 1969. Hence, players from Hong Kong are not eligible to represent China in international competition. Prior to the establishment of a recognized national side, the Shanghai Cricket Club, the largest club

title: Sport in China

text: selected athletic individuals to play curling for China. The Chinese teams both Men and Women have improved at the international level. At the 2008 Ford World Women's Championships, the Chinese curling team consisting of Zhou Yan, Liu Yin, Wang Bingyu, and Yue Qingshuang won a surprising silver medal finish. At the 2008 World Men's Curling Championship, the Chinese didn't have as much success, but they also did very well, finishing 4th. The government is also hoping to promote the sport through Universities and Colleges. In March 2009, China became the first Asian team to win a curling world championship by

title: Sport in China

text: that Cuju, the prototype to football, was invented in China during the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC before it spread all over the world to form the modern game. From the Song Dynasty on T'ai chi ch'uan and similar qigong martial arts activities became popular in China. The influx of modern sports appeared in China since the beginning of the 20th century. The People's Republic of China emphasizes sports and the government funds and trains talented youngsters into professional players, especially beginning in the mid-20th century. Ping pong is one of the biggest amateur recreational sports with an estimated 200

title: Sport in China

text: in the country, played games against many touring sides but they do not receive official recognition from the Chinese Cricket Association. Since September 2005, the Chinese Cricket Association has conducted 8 coaching/umpiring training courses under the assistance from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). They're promoted in 9 cities in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Dalian, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Tianjin and Jinan. More than 150 schools were involved. In 2006 the Chinese Cricket Association set itself ambitious goals over the next 14 years: Although generally unheard of and unpopular, curling has been an improving sport for China to play. The government

title: Sport in China

text: basketball has become increasingly more popular. According to the Chinese Basketball Association, there is a record number of around 300 million active basketball players in China. The largest audience for an event outside of China was drawn at the Yao Ming & Yi Jianlian matchup when 100–200 million Chinese watched live. China's first professional team was started in Shenyang and sponsored by the Anshan Steel Company. The CBA was established in 1995, and by 2008 it had expanded to 18 teams. The fact that the United States is starting to notice Chinese players after Yao Ming's success (compared to Wang

title: Sport in China

text: 3 group matches. Conversely, the women's national team has finished second at both the World Championships and the Olympic Games. Despite the Chinese women's team's success at international competitions, however, women's football in China does not receive nearly as much attention as their counterparts in Canada and the United States, therefore China's good trend in women's football may well come to an end in the near future. In 1991, China hosted the inaugural Women's World Cup in Guangzhou; in 2004, it hosted AFC Asian Cup. Football has always been among the more popular amateur team sports for recreation in China.

title: Sport in Croatia

text: to some extent table tennis and chess. Various amateur sport games are popular in Croatia, notably picigin. Franjo Bučar (1866–1946) is widely considered to be the father of modern Croatian sport. He founded the Croatian Sports Federation in 1909 within what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Bučar introduced a multitude of mainstream sports in Croatia, such as football, alpine skiing, ice skating and ice hockey, as well as gymnastics and fencing. The Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport, the Republic of Croatia's highest award in the development of sport, is named in his honor. With the exception of the years

title: Sport in China

text: and children, encourages everyone to engage in at least one sporting activity every day, learn at least two ways of keeping fit and have a health examination every year. In this 15-year-long program, the government aims to build a sport and health-building service system for the general public. There are about 620,000 gymnasiums and stadiums across China, open to and widely used by the public. Outdoor fitness centers have been installed in urban communities in public parks, squares, schoolyards, and other convenient locations. All communities and neighborhoods in Beijing are equipped with fitness facilities that meet the national standard. Building

title: Sport in Oceania

text: Sport in Oceania The most popular sport in Oceania varies from country to country. The most popular sport in Australia is cricket, the most popular sport among Australian women is netball, while Australian rules football is the most popular sport in terms of spectatorship and television ratings. Rugby is the most popular sport among New Zealanders. In Papua New Guinea, the most popular sport is the Rugby league. Australia has hosted two Summer Olympics: Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000. Also, Australia has hosted five editions of the Commonwealth Games (Sydney 1938, Perth 1962, Brisbane 1982, Melbourne 2006), and (Gold Coast

title: Sport in Australia

text: of the Newtown Jets football team in the early 1980s and his determination to stand for what rugby league traditionally stood for while dealing with his own identity crisis. Other Australian sport films include "Australian Rules" and "Footy Legends". Sport is popular on the radio. "This Sporting Life" was a culturally iconic Triple J radio comedy program created by actor-writer comedians John Doyle and Greig Pickhaver, who performed as their characters Roy and HG. Broadcast from 1986 to 2008, it was one of the longest-running, most popular and most successful radio comedy programs of the post-television era in Australia. It

title: Sport in Oceania

text: Patty Mills. New Zealand has also helped to create some NBA players as well, such as Kirk Penney, Steven Adams, and Sean Marks. Australian rules football is the national sport in Nauru and is the most popular football code in Australia in terms of attendance. It has a large following in Papua New Guinea, where it is the second most popular sport after Rugby League. Sport in Oceania The most popular sport in Oceania varies from country to country. The most popular sport in Australia is cricket, the most popular sport among Australian women is netball, while Australian rules football

title: Rugby union in China

text: Rugby union in China Rugby union in China is a growing sport; however, it is still not overly popular. China became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1997 and as of 28 May 2018, its women's XV side was ranked 24th and its men's XV side 87th in the world. Neither the women's team nor the men's team has yet qualified for a Women's Rugby World Cup or a men's Rugby World Cup. However, China has hopes of one day hosting the men's event. Early rugby union in China was often played by expatriates of various rugby playing nations,

title: Rugby union in China

text: to the sport by a Japanese businessman, and set up a couple of sides. Professor Zheng Hongjun is also credited with the early development of rugby in the 1990s. The growth of the sport has been massive. For example, in 1991, there were a mere 30 registered players in China. By 1996, there were over a thousand "instructors" alone. Today, one segment of Chinese society where rugby is particularly popular is the military. Rugby is an official sport of the People's Liberation Army, with the PLA Sports Institute participating in the highly competitive Hong Kong leagues. Notable Chinese rugby players

title: Sport in Jamaica

text: since their inception in 1963.. Rugby union in Jamaica is a minor but growing sport, with 2,090 registered players. The sport is governed by the Jamaica Rugby Union. The Jamaica national rugby union team is ranked 84th in the world by the IRB rankings. Sport in Jamaica Sport in Jamaica is a significant part of Jamaican culture. The most popular sports are mostly imported from Britain. The most popular sport are athletics and association football; other popular sports include cricket, basketball and netball (usually for women). Out of all the top five sports, basketball is the island's fastest growing sport.

title: Sport in Paraguay

text: Sport in Paraguay Sport in Paraguay is an important part of Paraguayan national culture. Football is the most popular sport, while basketball is also very popular. Other sports such as volleyball, futsal, swimming and tennis are popular as well. Other Paraguayan sports and pastimes are rugby union, chess, motorsport, golf and rowing. Football, also known as Futbol, is by far the most popular sport in Paraguay to the point that it is part of the nation's culture. Football was first introduced in Paraguay by Dutchman William Paats, who moved from the Netherlands to Asunción in 1888. In 1900, small tournaments

title: Sport in Lima

text: Sport in Lima Sport in Lima is well supported by venues and clubs. The city of Lima has varied sports venues for association football, volleyball and basketball, many of which are located within private clubs. A popular sport among Limeans is "fronton", a racquet sport similar to squash invented in Lima. The city is home to seven international-class golf courses. Equestrian is popular in Lima for which there are private clubs as well as horse racing which is centered on the Hipódromo de Monterrico. The most popular sport in Lima by far is association football with many club teams being

title: Sport in India

text: Sport in India India is home to a diverse population playing many different kinds of sports across the country. Cricket is the most popular sport in India. Field hockey is the most successful sport for India at Olympics in which India has won eight Olympic gold medals. Kabaddi is the most popular indigenous sport in the country. Other popular sports in India are badminton, football, basketball, chess, shooting, wrestling, boxing, tennis, squash, weightlifting, gymnastics, athletics and table tennis. Some indigenous sports are also popular in India such as Kho-kho, Kabaddi, Fighter kite, Polo and Gillidanda among others. There are some

title: Rugby union in China

text: history in Taiwan, but the Chinese Civil War and souring of relations with the mainland has meant that it was effectively cut off. Nonetheless, Taiwan, playing as Chinese Taipei, has a very successful rugby sevens side, and it is ranked in fourth position in East Asia, after Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea. Rugby union in China Rugby union in China is a growing sport; however, it is still not overly popular. China became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1997 and as of 28 May 2018, its women's XV side was ranked 24th and its men's XV side

title: Sport in China

text: Badminton and table tennis are also popular sports in China. Prior to the 1990s, sports were entirely funded by the government. Top athletes have quit at the height of their careers due to uncertainty about their livelihoods after retirement, but this situation began to change in 1994 when Chinese football was professionalized, followed by basketball, volleyball, ping pong, and weiqi. Professionalization led to commercialization; this meant that sports associations became profit-making entities and that a club system and professional sports leagues were formed. Sports club operations now cover ticket sales, advertising, club transfers, commercial matches, and television broadcasting. Chinese athletes

title: Sport in Manawatu

text: Golf Club. One of New Zealand's most successful clubs, Manawatu Showgrounds is based in the city and has several national representatives in the sport. Sport in Manawatu Participating in sports is a popular pastime in the Manawatu region of New Zealand, with many local clubs and venues catering for sports such as those listed below and other sports including athletics, archery, badminton, croquet, lawn bowls, squash, tennis and other minority sports. Secondary school and age-group sport is popular and actively encouraged. Like the rest of New Zealand, rugby union is a popular sport in the winter. The men's representative team

title: Sport in Jamaica

text: Sport in Jamaica Sport in Jamaica is a significant part of Jamaican culture. The most popular sports are mostly imported from Britain. The most popular sport are athletics and association football; other popular sports include cricket, basketball and netball (usually for women). Out of all the top five sports, basketball is the island's fastest growing sport. Other sports such as rugby league and rugby union are also considered growing sports. Jamaica is one of the leading countries in sprinting with the current world record holder for 100m and 200m, Usain Bolt and the former 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell,

title: Sport in Australia

text: 16%. Participation rates for adults in Australia were much lower than that of Australian children. For adult women in Australia, the number one sport activity they participate in is walking with 30% having done this in 2009 and 2010. The second most popular form of exercise and sport was Aerobics/fitness/gym with a rate of 16.7%. The third most popular for adult women was swimming and diving with 8.4%. For men, the most popular sport activity was also walking with a participation rate of 15.6%. This was followed by Aerobics/fitness/gym with 11.2%. The third most popular sport for adult males was

title: Sport in China

text: on what it already had, Tianjin has instituted large-scale expansion of its outdoor and indoor fitness facilities and stadiums. 2004 saw the completion of China's first large fitness arena with a floor area in excess of 10,000 m. Starting in 2001, the State Physical Culture Administration has set aside the proceeds of the sports lottery as pilot funds, in order to build "China Sports Lottery Nationwide Physical Fitness Centers" as pilot projects in 31 large and medium-sized cities throughout the country, including Dalian, Beijing and Changchun. Some of these centers have already been built. Meanwhile, some 196 million yuan of

title: Sport in China

text: the country and has been one of the most well supported sports in China ever since it was introduced in the 1900s. There is also written evidence that a game similar to football was first played in China around 50 BC. The current Chinese Football Association was founded in the People's Republic of China after 1949. Its headquarters is located in Beijing, and the current chairman is Nan Yong. From 1994 to 2004, CFA established first professional football league, which was "Jia A". The Chinese Super League is the premier football league in China, which was changed from "jia A"

title: Sport in India

text: or four-inch blades are attached to the cocks' feet and the winner is decided after three or four rounds of no hold barred fighting. The sport involves major gambling in recent times. Jallikattu is a popular bull taming sport practiced particularly during Pongal festival. Jallikattu was a popular sport since the Tamil classical period. Rekla race is an associated sport which is a form of bullock cart racing. In May 2014, the Supreme Court of India banned both the sports citing animal welfare issues. Gilli-danda is a sport played by using one small stick ("gilli") and a large stick ("danda")

title: Sport in Mexico

text: in the United States. The two most popular lucha libre promotions are Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), and Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA). Notable wrestling stars include El Santo, Blue Demon, and Mil Máscaras. Sport in Mexico The most popular sport in Mexico is association football, followed by boxing. However, there are regional variations: for example, baseball is the most popular sport in the northwest and the southeast of the country. Basketball, American football and bull riding (called "") are also popular. Mexico City hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics, the first time that the event was held in

title: Sport in Zimbabwe

text: Sport in Zimbabwe Sport in Zimbabwe has a long tradition and has produced many world recognized sports names and personalities. Football is the most popular sport, although rugby union, cricket and netball also have a following, traditionally among the white minority. Field hockey is also played widely. Although Zimbabwe has produced many athletes that have competed for Zimbabwe, there are also a large number of athletes who learned their sport in Zimbabwe, but have chosen to represent other countries. Cricket is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe after football. Its national team is one of 12 elite Full Members that

title: Sport in France

text: Sport in France Sport in France plays an important role in French society, which is reflected in its popularity among the French people and the nation's strong sporting history. Various types of sports are played and followed in France, the most popular of which is association football. Association football is the most popular sport in France, with 1,973,270 licensed players in the leagues. The sport was imported from England at the end of the 19th century, under the name of association football. In its early days, the sport gained followers mainly in the Paris area and the Northern part of

title: Sport Science College of Beijing Sport University

text: national high education system. It is the only sport science college which has such an honor in China. The SSC is the cradle of sport scientists of China. It is the first university that is authorized by the National Ministry of Education to confer a doctoral degree of sport science in China. There are three bachelor's degree programs (Sport Science, Sport Rehabilitation and Health, Sport Psychology), three master's degree programs (Sport Science, Sport Rehabilitation and Health, Sport Psychology) and one doctoral program (Sport Science). The Sport Science program ranks No.1 in the counterpart universities of China. The SSC is one

title: Sport in Finland

text: Sport in Finland Sport is considered a national pastime in Finland and many Finns visit different sporting events regularly. Pesäpallo is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular forms of sport in terms of television viewers and media coverage are ice hockey and Formula One. In spectator attendance, harness racing comes right after ice hockey in popularity. The most popular recreational sports and activities include floorball, nordic walking, running and skiing. The sport of athletics has historically been an important part of both Finnish sports history and national identity. Hannes Kolehmainen has been said to "run Finland onto

title: Sport in Tunisia

text: In tennis, Tunisia holds a tournament called Tunis Open. Cycling is a popular recreational sport, with the Tour de Tunisia, being the main annual competition of Cycling in Tunisia. Pétanque is mostly played in the north of Tunisia. Tunisia has won the world championship many times. Sport in Tunisia Football is the most popular sport in Tunisia. The most watched sports in Tunisia are football, handball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and rugby union. Sport is encouraged in school, and local sports clubs receive financial support from the local governments. The national stadium is the Stade Olympique de Radès. Football is the

title: Sport in England

text: more prominent. There are four sports in England which operate high-profile professional leagues. Association football is by far the most popular sport and is played from August to May. Rugby union is also a winter sport. Cricket is played in the Summer, from April to September. Rugby league is traditionally a winter sport, but since the late 1990s the elite competition has been played in the summer to appeal to the family market, and take advantage of the faster pitches. Big Four' The most popular sport in the UK, association football was first codified in 1863 in London. It is

title: Sport in Manawatu

text: Sport in Manawatu Participating in sports is a popular pastime in the Manawatu region of New Zealand, with many local clubs and venues catering for sports such as those listed below and other sports including athletics, archery, badminton, croquet, lawn bowls, squash, tennis and other minority sports. Secondary school and age-group sport is popular and actively encouraged. Like the rest of New Zealand, rugby union is a popular sport in the winter. The men's representative team from Manawatu are the Turbos. The Turbos play in the Mitre 10 Cup, the premier competition in New Zealand provincial rugby. Their home ground

title: Sport in Chennai

text: Sport in Chennai Cricket is the most popular sport in Chennai. The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium is one of the oldest cricket stadiums in India and has been the venue for many notable milestones in the history of Indian cricket. Tennis, field hockey, football and formula racing and squash are the other popular sports. The city hosts an ATP tennis event, the Chennai Open. Chennai has a rich legacy in chess and has produced many well-known chess players, the most notable of them being Viswanathan Anand, the former multiple World Chess Champion. Cricket is the most popular sport in Chennai.

title: Sport in Tasmania

text: Sport in Tasmania Sport in Tasmania is participation in and attendance at organised sports events in the state of Tasmania in Australia. Sport is an important part of Tasmanian culture; though, while spectator sports have grown in recent decades, overall participation in sports has declined and is currently lower than the national average. The most popular spectator sports are Cricket (summer) and Australian rules football (winter). Both sports have very long histories in the state and important roles in the culture and are widely covered by the media. In participation Tasmania's most popular sport for men is Association football (known

title: Sport in Tunisia

text: Sport in Tunisia Football is the most popular sport in Tunisia. The most watched sports in Tunisia are football, handball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and rugby union. Sport is encouraged in school, and local sports clubs receive financial support from the local governments. The national stadium is the Stade Olympique de Radès. Football is the most popular sport in Tunisia. The Tunisia national football team, also known as ""The Eagles of Carthage"", won the 2004 African Cup of Nations (CAN) which was held in Tunisia. They also represented Africa in the 2005 Confederations Cup which was held in Germany, but they

title: Sport in Bangladesh

text: Sport in Bangladesh Sport in Bangladesh is a popular form of entertainment as well as an essential part of Bangladeshi culture. Cricket is the most popular sport in Bangladesh. Kabaddi is the national sport of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the top 10 cricketing nation of the world and have regularly qualified for World cup since 1999, the Country achieved arguably their greatest heights in Cricket when they defeated three of top-rated teams in 2015 Cricket World Cup to qualify for the quarterfinals. In 2015, they white-washed Pakistan and clinched the series by 3-0 and in another major achievement they

title: Sport in Bangladesh

text: some gold medals at the South Asian games. Sport in Bangladesh Sport in Bangladesh is a popular form of entertainment as well as an essential part of Bangladeshi culture. Cricket is the most popular sport in Bangladesh. Kabaddi is the national sport of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the top 10 cricketing nation of the world and have regularly qualified for World cup since 1999, the Country achieved arguably their greatest heights in Cricket when they defeated three of top-rated teams in 2015 Cricket World Cup to qualify for the quarterfinals. In 2015, they white-washed Pakistan and clinched the series

title: Sport in Mexico

text: Sport in Mexico The most popular sport in Mexico is association football, followed by boxing. However, there are regional variations: for example, baseball is the most popular sport in the northwest and the southeast of the country. Basketball, American football and bull riding (called "") are also popular. Mexico City hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics, the first time that the event was held in Latin America. Since then, the only edition of the Olympic Games held in the region was in 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mexico first participated at the Olympic Games in 1900 and has sent athletes

title: Sport in Brazil

text: Sport in Brazil Sports in Brazil are those that are widely practiced and popular in the country, as well as others which originated there or have some cultural significance. Brazilians are heavily involved in sports. Association football is the most popular sport in Brazil. Other than football, sports like volleyball, mixed martial arts, basketball, and motor sports, especially Formula One, enjoy high levels of popularity. Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazil national football team, governed by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, has won the FIFA World Cup a record 5 times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994,

title: Sport in Iraq

text: Sport in Iraq Sports in Iraq There are a wide variety of sports played and followed in Iraq. Football is the most popular sport and hobbies in Iraq. Football is a considerable uniting factor, following years of war and unrest. Basketball, swimming, weightlifting, bodybuilding, taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, and tennis are also popular sports and hobbies. Sport was only recently popular in Iraq and this was the case due to the Baath regime, which assumed power in 1968. It was primarily focused on establishing its authority by forcing society to adopt its ideology and sports did not reflect this radical orientation.

title: Sport in Saudi Arabia

text: Sport in Saudi Arabia Sport in Saudi Arabia is an important part of Saudi Arabian culture and the country participates in many international sporting competitions. Football is a particularly popular sport and Saudi Arabia has won the Asian Cup on three occasions, while other sports such as cricket and basketball are also widely followed. Restrictions on women's sport in Saudi Arabia have been eased slightly in the 2010s but female participation in sport remains controversial. Football is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia. In recent years, the sport has grown in popularity, and some Saudi players currently play in

title: Sport in Indonesia

text: Sport in Indonesia Sports in Indonesia are popular from both the participation and spectating aspect. Some popular sports in Indonesia are badminton, football, and the native Indonesian martial art Pencak Silat. Badminton is arguably Indonesia's most successful sport. Indonesia has won gold medals in badminton in every Olympic Games since the sport was first introduced to the Olympics in 1992 except in 2012 Summer Olympics. Indonesia is regularly a participating in Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, and Sudirman Cup Badminton championships. Indonesia is regularly participating in regional multi-events sport, such as Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and Olympic Games. In Southeast

title: Sport in Indonesia

text: the first Indonesians getting the title of the Seven Summiteers. Sport in Indonesia Sports in Indonesia are popular from both the participation and spectating aspect. Some popular sports in Indonesia are badminton, football, and the native Indonesian martial art Pencak Silat. Badminton is arguably Indonesia's most successful sport. Indonesia has won gold medals in badminton in every Olympic Games since the sport was first introduced to the Olympics in 1992 except in 2012 Summer Olympics. Indonesia is regularly a participating in Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, and Sudirman Cup Badminton championships. Indonesia is regularly participating in regional multi-events sport, such as

title: Sport in Croatia

text: Sport in Croatia Sport in Croatia has significant role in Croatian culture, and many local sports clubs as well as the Croatian national squads enjoy strong followings in the country. The most enduring sport by far in Croatia is football, and is played on amateur and professional levels amongst all age groups across the entire country. Several other major team sports are handball, basketball and water polo, with clubs in all parts of Croatia. Ice hockey is another popular team sport, namely in the Croatian interior. The most popular individual sports in Croatia are tennis, alpine skiing, and swimming, and

title: Sport in Slovakia

text: Sport in Slovakia Sport in Slovakia is influenced by its climate and geography; popular summer sports include football, tennis, volleyball, swimming, cycling and hiking, popular winter sports include skiing and snowboarding. The most watched sports in Slovakia are football, ice hockey and tennis. Internationally, the most successful sport in Slovakia is ice hockey where currently, as of 2017, the country is ranked as the tenth best team in the world by the IIHF World Ranking. Until revolution in 1989, the sport sector was highly centralized, oriented on a unified, nationwide programme of sports. In 1990 the Act No.173/1990 was adopted

title: Sport in China

text: Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer), and young CBA players such as Yi Jianlian and Sun Yue entering the NBA are a testament to basketball's increasing popularity. In 2008, Sun Yue became the latest Chinese to join the NBA by signing with the Los Angeles Lakers to a two-year contract. Bodybuilding was introduced to China in the 1930s, before being banned in 1953 and making a reappearance in 1983 when the ban was officially lifted. Boxing in China first appeared in the 1920s. Professional boxing is followed by some fans in China. China had a good result in the 2006 37th Chess

title: Sport in China

text: throughout the country. China started a bandy development programme by organising educational days in Ürümqi in June 2009. They did not come as planned to the 2011 Asian Winter Games. However, China national bandy team debuted in the 2015 Bandy World Championship. Harbin will host Division B of the 2018 tournament. A picture of the team based in Harbin is available online. The China women's national bandy team made its World Championship debut in 2016. Chengde hosted the 2018 tournament. China has announced its intention to participate in both the men's and women's tournament of the 2019 Winter Universiade. In

title: Sport in Latvia

text: for the Latvian national football team is Māris Verpakovskis. A sports marketing study conducted by international company Mediacom has concluded that football is Latvia’s most popular sport – a title it has now held for three consecutive years. The annual study takes into consideration 65 sports activities in Latvia, calculating their popularity by taking into account the amount of active and passive participants in each sport at both a social and competitive level, as well as tracking the amount of coverage each sport receives in the media and attendance at events. Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Latvia.

title: Sport in India

text: India governs the sport. Though cycling is unknown as a professional sport in India, it is popular as a common recreational sport and a way to keep fit. Mountain biking is becoming a popular sport in India. For the last six years, Mtb himachal, a hardcore endurance event, has been organised regularly by Himalayan Adventure Sports & Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO). A number of national and international riders participate, including Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and a number of young and energetic mountain biking individual riders from cities including Pune, Bangalore, Delhi

title: Sport in Sri Lanka

text: Sport in Sri Lanka Sport in Sri Lanka is a significant part of Sri Lankan culture. Although the Sports Ministry named volleyball the national sport, it is cricket that is the most popular sport in Sri Lanka. Rugby union is also popular. Other popular sports are water sports, badminton, athletics, football, basketball and tennis. Sri Lanka's schools and colleges regularly organize sports and athletics teams, competing on provincial and national levels. The Sri Lanka national cricket team achieved considerable success beginning in the 1990s, rising from the underdog status to winning the 1996 Cricket World Cup. The Sri Lankan national

title: Sport in China

text: media coverage during their career; they were three-time world champions and won a gold medal in Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010. Comparatively, China is weak in the other three disciplines (men's singles, ladies' singles, and ice dancing). Golf tournaments in China include the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, TCL Classic in Sanya on Hainan island, the Volvo China Open and the BMW Asian Open, played in the PRC. The most successful Chinese male golfer has been Zhang Lian-wei. The most successful Chinese female golfer is Feng Shanshan. The Mission Hills Golf Club golf course at Guanlan in Shenzhen is said to be

title: Sport in China

text: have also begun joining professional leagues abroad, such as basketball Yao Ming's entry into the United States' NBA in the 2002 draft. China led the gold medal count (48) at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The event was scheduled for August 8 to August 24, 2008 because the number 8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture. China hosted the 2014 Youth Olympic Games from August 16 to 28, 2014. Beijing is hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics. Dragon boat racing dates back about 2000 years ago and remains a traditional event held around China every year. There is evidence

title: Sport in Portugal

text: Sport in Portugal Sports in Portugal are important in Portuguese culture. Football is the most popular sport in Portugal. Other than football, many other professional or semi-professional well organized sport competitions take place every season in Portugal, including basketball, swimming, athletics, tennis, gymnastics, futsal, rink hockey, team handball, volleyball, surfing, canoeing and rugby union championships among the hundreds of sports played in this country. The major Portuguese professional sports leagues, championships and events include: Other popular sport-related recreational outdoor activities with thousands of enthusiasts nationwide include airsoft, golf, hiking, orienteering, and Bull fighting. American football is played in a national

title: Sport in the United Kingdom

text: in 2016 has raised the profile of the sport, the women's side and a number of the team's star players, notably captain Kate Richardson-Walsh and goalkeeper Maddie Hinch. Shinty (or "camanachd") is an amateur sport indigenous to the Scottish Highlands. Although it is mostly restricted to this area it is highly popular within the Highlands, sometimes attracting crowds numbering thousands in what is the most sparsely populated region of the United Kingdom. It is administered by the Camanachd Association. Its main trophies are the Camanachd Cup and the Premier Division. There are clubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London however and

title: Sport in Europe

text: Sport in Europe Sport in Europe tends to be highly organized with many sports having professional leagues. The origins of many of the world's most popular sports today lie in the codification of many traditional games, especially in Great Britain. However, a paradoxical feature of European sport is the remarkable extent to which local, regional and national variations continue to exist, and even in some instances to predominate. Association football is the most popular sport in almost all countries of Europe. European national teams have won 12 of 21 editions of the FIFA World Cup. UEFA, the governing body for

title: Combat sport

text: included several combat-related sports: armored foot races, boxing, wrestling, and pankration, which was introduced in the Olympic Games of 648 BCE. In ancient China, combat sport appeared in the form of lei tai. It was a no-holds barred combat sport that combined boxing and wrestling. There is evidence of similar combat sports in ancient Egypt, India and Japan. Through the Middle ages and Renaissance, the tournament was popular. Tournaments were competitions that featured several mock combat events, with jousting as a main event. While the tournament was popular among aristocrats, combat sports were practiced by all levels of society. The

title: Sport in Asturias

text: Sport in Asturias Sport in Asturias has always been dominated by football. Other popular sport activities include basketball, cycling, handball, volleyball, roller hockey and rugby union. Asturias has also hosted a number of international events such as group stage games during the 1982 FIFA World Cup, series of the Davis Cup World Group, international roller hockey competitions, several cycling states of La Vuelta and several matches of the Spanish national football team. Asturias is also famous for several traditional sports, being the bowling the most important one. Association football is the most popular sport in Asturias. Sporting Gijón and Oviedo

title: Sport in Papua New Guinea

text: Sport in Papua New Guinea Sport in Papua New Guinea is an important part of the national culture. Rugby league is the most popular sport in Papua New Guinea. Other popular sports include most football codes (like Australian rules football, soccer and rugby union) cricket, volleyball, softball, netball, and basketball. Other Olympic sports are also gaining popularity, such as boxing and weightlifting. Rugby league is the most popular sport in Papua New Guinea. Rugby league also holds the title as the "national sport". About 50% of the population under-20 play rugby league. Since 2010, the sport has been a mandatory

title: Sport in Cambodia

text: and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) since 1957. Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium is the national stadium, with a capacity of 48,529 to 70,000. The Cambodian Basketball League or CBL is the official Basketball League of Cambodia. It was founded in 2013. The top basketball players and teams from Cambodia compete for the CBL title every year at the Beeline Arena. Sepak takraw is a "kick-volleyball" sport, that is popular in Southeast Asia. It may also be known as "si" or "chinlon" in Cambodia. This sport is featured in the Southeast Asian Games. Traditional boat racing is a popular sport in

title: Sport in the Cook Islands

text: similar to the sport of Samoan cricket or kirikiti). Most villages have teams and they compete in a league, following the end of the soccer season. It is popular among the older generation. Women's netball is a very popular sport in the Cook Islands, and the country has one of the world's top 10 teams, which competed in the 2007 Netball World Cup. Sport in the Cook Islands Rugby league is the most popular sport in the Cook Islands, with soccer and rugby union as the next most popular/played sports. In September 2009, the country hosted the 2009 Pacific Mini

title: Sport in India

text: The team has several internationally known players including Geethu Anna Jose, who was invited to tryouts for the WNBA in 2011. Table tennis is a popular indoor recreation sport in India, which has caught on in states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The Table Tennis Federation of India is the official governing body of the sport. India, which is ranked 30th in the world, has produced a single player ranked in the top 50, Sharat Kamal. Golf is a growing sport in India. It is especially popular among the wealthier classes, but has not yet caught on with others

title: Sport in Cambodia

text: Sport in Cambodia Cambodia has in creasingly become involved in sports over the last 30 years. Football is popular as are martial arts in particular. Sepak takraw, which looks like volleyball, is also a very popular sport in Cambodia. The martial arts of Bokator, pradal serey (Khmer kickboxing) and Khmer traditional wrestling are all practiced in the country. 'Bokator"/"boxkator", or more formally, "Labok Katao" (which means wielding a wooden stick to fight lions), is an ancient Khmer martial art that is based on animal forms. It has ground fighting, close combat techniques and weaponry. Unlike kickboxing, which is a sport

title: Sport in Tasmania

text: Year every year since 1945. The race finishes at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart. Another popular annual race is the Australian Three Peaks Race. Sport in Tasmania Sport in Tasmania is participation in and attendance at organised sports events in the state of Tasmania in Australia. Sport is an important part of Tasmanian culture; though, while spectator sports have grown in recent decades, overall participation in sports has declined and is currently lower than the national average. The most popular spectator sports are Cricket (summer) and Australian rules football (winter). Both sports have very long histories in

title: Sport in Victoria

text: in 2001. The city has hosted FIFA World Cup qualifiers in both 1997 2001 and 2009 Sport in Victoria The state of Victoria, Australia, has a strong sporting culture and includes many popular sports. The most popular sports played in the state are basketball, Australian rules football, cricket, shooting, soccer, and netball. Horse Racing joins that list as the most popular spectator sports. In terms of both attendance and media coverage, Australian rules football is the most popular sport in the state. The participation rate of 4% is the third highest in the country with 223,999 players counted in 2004.

title: Sport in Victoria

text: Sport in Victoria The state of Victoria, Australia, has a strong sporting culture and includes many popular sports. The most popular sports played in the state are basketball, Australian rules football, cricket, shooting, soccer, and netball. Horse Racing joins that list as the most popular spectator sports. In terms of both attendance and media coverage, Australian rules football is the most popular sport in the state. The participation rate of 4% is the third highest in the country with 223,999 players counted in 2004. Australian rules football originated in Melbourne in 1858. Ten of the eighteen Australian Football League clubs

title: Sport in Queensland

text: major award is the Sport Star of the Year: Sport in Queensland Sport is an important part of the culture of the Australian state of Queensland. Golf is the most played organised sport and touch football the most played team sport. Netball is the most popular female sport, while rugby league is the most watched sport. The largest sporting event held in Queensland annually of the Gold Coast 600 motor race. Australian Football has a long history in Queensland. The first foray made by the then VFL came in the form of the Brisbane Bears, who began playing Premiership matches

title: Sport in China

text: Defeats of the national team to Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea may help change the trend as Chinese become more aware of the game's internationalization. American football leagues such as the American Football League of China and the China Arena Football League have been launched in recent years. China will host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The game was introduced to China by American YMCA workers in 1896, just five years after Canadian-American James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 while working for the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Since Yao Ming's 2002 arrival in the NBA,

title: Sport in Pakistan

text: 28 National Games in 2001. Pakistan Swimming Federation is the governing body of swimming in the Pakistan The Pakistan Game Fishing Association organizes angling and fishing in Pakistan. Sport in Pakistan Sport in Pakistan is a significant part of Pakistan culture. Cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan, while field hockey, polo, and squash are also popular. Traditional sports like kabaddi and other well-known games are also played. The Pakistan Sports Board was created in 1962 by the Ministry of Education as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in

title: Sport in Honduras

text: Sport in Honduras The most popular sport in Honduras is Association soccer. The governing body of football in Honduras is the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras. Honduras has taken part in the Summer Olympics eight times, and the Winter Olympics in 1992. Soccer is the most popular sport between the Hondurans, the country arrived as in many others at the beginning of the 20th century, until was properly organized and Honduras national football team was created in the early 1960s. Honduras have played in three world cups, Spain 82, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014. Chess has been played

title: Sport in Iraq

text: Iraq Basketball Association, the country's professional organization, runs a number of adult and youth leagues, and the Iraqi Premier League, for elite players. Iraq has a world-champion kickboxer in Riyadh Al-Azzawi. Iraqi professional wrestler Adnan Al-Kaissie is known as General Adnan. Sport in Iraq Sports in Iraq There are a wide variety of sports played and followed in Iraq. Football is the most popular sport and hobbies in Iraq. Football is a considerable uniting factor, following years of war and unrest. Basketball, swimming, weightlifting, bodybuilding, taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, and tennis are also popular sports and hobbies. Sport was only recently

title: Sport in Eritrea

text: Sport in Eritrea Football is the most popular sport in Eritrea. In recent years, Eritrean athletes have seen increasing success in the international arena. Cycling is also a popular sport, and Eritrean riders have enjoyed success in local and world championships. The Tour of Eritrea, a multi-stage international cycling event, is held annually throughout the country. Eritrea has produced a number of professional road racing cyclists. As of 2013, there were five Eritrean cyclists competing professionally: Daniel Teklehaymanot, Natnael Berhane, Ferekalsi Debesay, Meron Russom, and Jani Tewelde. Teklehaymanot and fellow Eritrean Merhawi Kudus became the first black African riders to

title: Sport in Macau

text: easier to build and maintain smaller artificial pitches. Basketball is another popular sport in Macau. The game is generally played under FIBA rules and basketball courts (both outdoor and indoor) are widely available to the public. Non-professional basketball leagues are held each year and players who have decent performance in these leagues are generally selected for the Macau SAR Team. Dragon Boating is a very popular sport in Macau due to its Chinese heritage. In 1979, the Macau Sport Bureau organised the first Macau Dragon Boat festival - an annual international dragon boating regatta held during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

title: Football in China

text: although it is universally accepted that football was officially formalised in England in 1863, originating from a simple game that had been played for many centuries between villages in England. . The national governing body is the Chinese Football Association (CFA). Hong Kong and Macau have separate national teams and leagues. Association football is the most popular spectator sport in China, followed by basketball. According to FIFA ranking on 10/08/2017, the Men's National Team is ranked 77th in the world, and according to FIFA women's world rankings on 23/6/2017, the Women's National Team is ranked 14th. The Chinese Football Association

title: Sport

text: recreation. The singular term "sport" is used in most English dialects to describe the overall concept (e.g. "children taking part in sport"), with "sports" used to describe multiple activities (e.g. "football and rugby are the most popular sports in England"). American English uses "sports" for both terms. The precise definition of what separates a sport from other leisure activities varies between sources. The closest to an international agreement on a definition is provided by SportAccord, which is the association for all the largest international sports federations (including association football, athletics, cycling, tennis, equestrian sports, and more), and is therefore the

title: Sport in South Africa

text: Sport in South Africa South Africans have a passionate following, although they remain divided along ethnic lines. Football, cricket and rugby are the most popular sports. Rugby union has traditionally been the most popular sport in South Africa amongst white South Africans. The national rugby team is nicknamed "The Springboks". South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the first one hosted in Africa. Cricket is traditionally the popular sport among the white British diaspora and Indian South African communities, although it is now followed by members of all races. The national cricket team is nicknamed "The Proteas". Football has

title: Sport in Finland

text: Cup. Tanja Poutiainen won three discipline World Cup titles in Slalom and Giant Slalom in the 2000s. The Finnish Shooting Sport Federation is the umbrella organization for sport shooting in Finland. Arto Halonen made a documentary about doping in sport in Finnish winter sports in 2012. Janne Immonen, Jari Isometsä and Harri Kirvesniemi were convicted in October 2013 by the Helsinki District Court. Sport in Finland Sport is considered a national pastime in Finland and many Finns visit different sporting events regularly. Pesäpallo is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular forms of sport in terms of television

title: Sport in Malta

text: Sport in Malta Sports in Malta include association football, basketball, athletics, rugby, tennis, cycling, and others. Association football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Malta. The national stadium is called Ta' Qali Stadium. The national football team has won several matches over big opponents that reached the final phases in World Cups, such as Belgium and Hungary. Recently a large number of football grounds have been built throughout the island. The top football league in Malta is called the Maltese Premier League, and consists of 14 teams. Futsal is also very popular. Water polo is also very popular in

title: Sport in New Zealand

text: Merriman is a four-time winner of the World Enduro Championship for enduro motorcycling. In 2003 Wade Cunningham become New Zealand's first ever Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile world champion by winning the Karting World Championship. Cunningham now races in the US Indy car series Orienteering is a popular sport in New Zealand, that combines cross-country running with land navigation skills across a range of settings. Variations of the sport popular in New Zealand include bicycle orienteering, ski orienteering, and rogaines. Orienteering is a popular sport for youth and juniors, and New Zealand regularly sends competitors to both the World Orienteering Championships

title: Sport in Italy

text: Sport in Italy Sport in Italy has a long tradition. In several sports, both individual and team, Italy has good representation and many successes. Football is the most popular sport in Italy. Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and is (along with Germany) currently the second most successful football team in World Cup history, after Brazil, having won four FIFA World Cup championships. Basketball, volleyball, and cycling are the next most popular/played sports, with Italy having a rich tradition in all three. Italy also has strong traditions in swimming, water polo, rugby union, tennis, athletics, fencing and Formula One.

title: Sport in Pakistan

text: Sport in Pakistan Sport in Pakistan is a significant part of Pakistan culture. Cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan, while field hockey, polo, and squash are also popular. Traditional sports like kabaddi and other well-known games are also played. The Pakistan Sports Board was created in 1962 by the Ministry of Education as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a national basis. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, now has control

title: Sport in Austria

text: Sport in Austria Sport is widely practiced in Austria both in professional and amateur competitions. The most popular sports are association football, alpine skiing and ice hockey. Due to the mountainous terrain, alpine skiing is a prominent sport in Austria. Similar sports such as snowboarding and ski jumping are also widely popular, and Austrian athletes such as Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Hermann Maier, Toni Sailer and Marcel Hirscher are widely regarded as some of the greatest alpine skiers of all time. Austria has been the number one nation in alpine skiing and leading nation in ski jumping in the Winter Olympics, FIS

title: Sport in Ecuador

text: 2005 World Rafting Championships were held on the Quijos River in Napo Province. Ecuador also hosted the 2007 Youth World Championship for rock climbing, held in Ibarra, becoming the first country outside of Europe or Asia to host the event. Sport in Ecuador Sports in Ecuador influence the culture and its people. Football is the most popular sport, followed by baseball, volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Since 2005, Ecuador has been greatly involved in sports, and hosted the Guayaquil Marathon in Ecuador's largest city. Football is the most popular sport in Ecuador. Its best known professional teams include Barcelona and Emelec

title: Sport in Ecuador

text: Sport in Ecuador Sports in Ecuador influence the culture and its people. Football is the most popular sport, followed by baseball, volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Since 2005, Ecuador has been greatly involved in sports, and hosted the Guayaquil Marathon in Ecuador's largest city. Football is the most popular sport in Ecuador. Its best known professional teams include Barcelona and Emelec from Guayaquil, LDU Quito, Deportivo Quito, and El Nacional from Quito, Olmedo from Riobamba, and Deportivo Cuenca from Cuenca. The national team's matches are the most watched sporting events in the country. In June 2007, FIFA adopted a resolution, prohibiting

title: Nudity in sport

text: Festival has a naked running race, and Camp Gymnasium hosts naked oil wrestling at Burning Man. One of the most popular events in naked sport is the international "Alps Adria Meeting". In 2007, this annual contest will take place for the 35th time in the camping ground "Kažela" close to Medulin/Croatia (June, 7th to June, 10th 2007). About 150 participants are expected. Another popular nudist sport event is the "International Nudist Swimming Gala" held by the International Naturist Federation in a different European city in early November every year. The top event of naturist sport in Europe (and perhaps worldwide)