There are papyrus collections of Egyptian texts which have been preserved for up to three millennia. Today Egyptian writers continue the literary tradition. In 1988 the novelist Naguib Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Egypt has a strong film-making industry dating back to the 1930s. Other sports are basketball, golf, hockey and tennis.
Swimming is a national sport especially long distance swimming.
Egyptian swimmers have swum many of the world's most famous distancessuch as the English Channel. Scuba diving and sailing attract many visitors. There are horse racing courses in Alexandria and Cairo. Sham al-Nassim is the main spring festival. The main Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas are celebrated by the Coptic Church.