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Top Sports History

Many of the Top Sports that we have today originated in the United Kingdom. The most common Sport in Europe is considered to be football. The second Top Sport, according to popularity, is Rugby. Rugby Unions are especially played and bet on in some parts of the UK, the southern part of France, Northern Italy, and Ireland. Another interesting popular Sport is Cricket, It is one of the favorite summer sports in the UK. With time Cricket was exported to other locations of the former British Empire.  The next Top Sport is Tennis. Nowadays it is another famous European Sport played all over the World. On the same level, we can place Boxing, which is considered an ancient popular game. An even older name on the list of Top sports is skiing. From the earliest times, Skiing became more than a famous sport, it has the features of a popular winter holiday activity.

Tennis

The Tennis we know today, also called “Modern Tennis” originated in late 19th century England. Old sources say that the game's origins come from early 12th-century France. In this period of time, the ball was struck not with a racket, it was struck with the palm. In French, today's Top Sports Game called Tennis was initially called ‘jeu de paume’. And it was the favorite game of Louis X of France. This famous King of France was the first person to construct indoor tennis courts in the modern style.

The rackets came into use starting in the 16th century, and the game began to be called ‘tennis’, from the Old French term ‘tenez’. Which translated from French means ‘hold!’, ‘take!’ or ‘receive!’ an interjection used as a call from the server to the opponent.

Cricket

There are indications that Cricket has Flemish Origin, but it is generally seen as an English sport. The earliest reference to cricket being played in England is given at a 1598 court case which mentions that ‘creckett’ was played on common land in Guildford, Surrey, around 1550. English is most commonly thought of as the language of origin of the word ‘cricket’. However, there is also evidence that French, Flemish, and Mostly Dutch words are responsible for the history of how the name of this game appeared.

In the 18th century, Cricket underwent major development and became the national sport of England. In 1707, the game of Cricket was so prominent in London that large crowds flocked to matches on the Artillery Ground in Finsbury.  Starting at that point in time, the single-wicket form of Cricket as a Sports activity attracted huge crowds and wagers to match.

Boxing

Fist-fightings were depicted during the third millennium BC, and Boxing was accepted by the ancient Greeks as an Olympic Sport starting 688 BC. Later the Sport resurfaced in England during the early 16th century in the form of bare-knuckle boxing. It was sometimes referred to as ‘prizefighting’. Boxing, as we know it today, has its roots in the 18th century. The Game started to gain popularity first in Great Britain and later in the United States. In 2004, Boxing was ranked by ESPN as the most difficult Sport in the world.

Rugby

Interestingly enough how Rugby developed from a version of football played at Rugby Schools in the United Kingdom. There is a crucial difference from football, in Rugby players pick up the ball and run with it. Nowadays, we distinguish between two branches of Sport: Rugby Union and Rugby League. The two branches of Rugby according to the classes it was played by. Rugby Union was mostly associated with the middle class, while Rugby League was mostly played by the so-called working class. There are many differences between these two sports today. The most prominent difference is that Rugby League has a system of limited tackles. The Rugby Union keeps the prevalent use of scrums.

Today the Major Rugby Union Tournament in Europe is the Six Nations Championships. The Tournament is held in February/March each year and includes England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Italy. Teams compete for the title of ‘European Champions’.

Skiing

Russia is considered the country of origin of Sky as a Sport. The first skis were found on the territory of Russia and they date from 6300 BC. Alpine ski racing commenced in America and Australia later on as an organized sport. The first Ski Club was formed in 1861 in Australia at Kiandra.

Skiing is divided into two general categories: Nordic Skiing and Alpine Skiing. Nordic Skiing is older and it originated in Scandinavia, it uses free-heel bindings that attach at the toes of the skier's boots but do not attach at the heels. The Nordic styles of Skiing include ski jumping, cross-country, and Telemark. Alpine skiing, frequently called ‘downhill skiing’, originated in the European Alps. It is characterized by fixed-heel bindings that attach at the toe and the heel of the skier's boot.