Sports (or physical sports) is any forms of generally competitive physical activity that, through organised or casual competition, attempt to use, develop or maintain athletic ability and abilities while also providing entertainment for participants, and sometimes, spectators. The word “sport” itself can mean a number of things, but is generally used to describe physical contact sports such as soccer, tennis, handball, swimming, rugby, basketball, horse-riding and bowling. These types of sports are widespread throughout the world, with each having dedicated followers and passionate competitors. Some of these are known as ice Hockey ( rink hockey in Canada), American football (American football in the United States), Australian foot-ball (AFL in Australia), rugby league (rugby league in England, New Zealand and South Africa) and motor racing.
Over the years, the number of people participating in various types of sport has been on the rise, with research indicating that nearly 75% of the population in the United States alone plays some type of sport. Some popular sport categories include American football, baseball, basketball, softball, golf, hockey, Australian football, motor vehicle racing, rugby and cricket. Most countries have their own national sport festival, including the Investec Australia Grand Prix, which is an international motorsport event. In some countries, like India for example, cricket is seen as a more serious form of sport than other sports like soccer.
With so many different types of games and activities available, it is little wonder that there has been an increase in the number of people competing in sport activities. Participating in a sport requires a certain degree of physical dexterity, as well as mental acuity. Athletes need to be able to train rigorously and should be physically capable of performing the physical activities involved in the sport they are preparing for.
In recent decades, football has become one of the most popular sports in the United States. The National Football League (NFL) has been around since the NFL Super Bowl was first held in 1970. The NFL has been a driving force behind the growth of professional sport in the United States. Pro sport leagues include the NBA, the NHL, the WNBA, the MAHL and the German leagues. Professional sportswear companies are huge business interests, making huge contracts with national and international teams and organizing different sports events. All these factors have made the NFL one of the most popular sports in the world.
Cricket is another sport that has grown in the United States, from a small league in the mid nineteen hundreds to a fully professional league with millions of followers. Cricket is played all around the world in a variety of countries, but it is especially popular in the United States. Cricket players need to be agile and have excellent hand-eye coordination, stamina and agility, since their game requires them to cover a lot of distance while picking up a few hits. Cricket has proved to be a great fit for athletes looking to improve their physical health and as a recreational sport.
Extreme sports, such as surfing, skydiving, rock climbing and skiing, have gained in popularity over the past few years, as more people have become interested in trying them out. These extreme sports are all about overcoming obstacles and making difficult tasks look easy. Surfing, skydiving and mountain climbing are all about physical strength and endurance. Other sports, such as horseback riding, are also proving to be a great source of physical exercises.