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arufc
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
288 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Sep 2008 : 17:16:17
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Rugby gets third. Anyone heard of Slamball?
1. Soccer: Although the definitions of "soccer" and "football" in the United States are very different from the rest of the world, the global game is beloved worldwide. Competition between countries can be intense, yet it brings together passionate fans who all hope to hear the announcer declare the well-known cry of "Gooooal!" for their team. The top tournament is the World Cup, next held in South Africa in 2010, where the Italians look to defend their World Champion title.
2. Cricket: An established sport for hundreds of years, cricket is considered the second-most popular sport in the world after soccer. More than 100 countries are in the International Cricket Council, and the game—involving white-clad players wielding wooden bats and balls—is played fervently in England, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, South Africa and other countries. The top tournament is the Cricket World Cup. Australia won the last championship and the next tournament is scheduled for 2011, in four locations: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
3. Rugby: A full-contact sport played professionally in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and France, rugby has also been catching on in other countries like Russia and the U.S., where fans enjoy the speedy play and quick turnarounds. The Rugby World Cup will next be held in 2011 in New Zealand; the current victor is South Africa.
4. Baseball: Once just a US-centered sport, the game has been growing in popularity worldwide, particularly in Japan. Fans love the leisurely pace of game play, mixed with exciting moments of home runs, pop flies and fastballs. It seems that the "7th inning stretch" translates internationally. Currently, the annual, final series match-up is still in the U.S.—the World Series. The location will depend on which two teams in each league come out victorious at the end of the season, and the games are then held in the cities of both contenders.
5. US Football: For half the year, football is one of the major reasons for missed yardwork and ignored chores on Sundays and Monday nights. The rugged sport inspires intense loyalty from its fans culminating in the annual event known as the Super Bowl. The 2009 championship will be held in Tampa, Florida in February.
6. Australian Football: Unlike the American version of the game, Australian players don't wear padding or helmets, and it is played on an oval-shaped grass field. The ball is kicked between goal posts, and players can use any part of their body to advance the ball—even if it means taking down another player in the process. The top tournament is the Australian Football International Cup. Ironically, Australia doesn't participate, but has its own league series at home. The next Cup is planned for late August 2008 in Melbourne.
7. Basketball: A favorite sport in the Olympic Games, international basketball was first started in 1932. Many countries have since held high-profile basketball tournaments that have led to recruitment by U.S. teams. Currently, players in the NBA come from countries like Serbia, Italy, Lithuania, China and France. The top competition, called The Finals, are held every year in a tournament based on which teams make the top two slots.
8. Cycling: Although there are numerous individuals, such as Lance Armstrong, who are recognized for achievement, cycling is very much a team sport. Cyclists cooperate as a unit to advance a single teammate forward in a race. Some work to tire out competitors, while others specialize in "sprinting" ahead and still others work to conquer some of the world's toughest hills. The highly-watched annual competition held in July, the Tour de France, trails through much of the mountainous region of southern France.
9. Curling: Described as "chess on ice," curling also contains elements of darts and shuffleboard as teams work to slide heavy, polished stones down pathways of ice toward a target. To get the rocks to their designated "houses," players use brooms. The action is fast-moving and surprisingly complex. The largest competition is the World Curling Championships, which have been dominated by Canada since its inception in 1959—although, other countries have won occasionally as well. The 2009 matchups will be held in Canada and South Korea.
10. Slamball: One of the newest team sports is exhausting even to watch—but in a good way. The competition throws together elements of football, hockey and even gymnastics. Four players on a team compete in a 20-minute, high-intensity game that features springboards around each basket. Look for this game to catch on fast. There are no major tournaments announced yet, but since more teams started forming in 2008, it may not be long before they have a Slamball World Cup.
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Top 10 Global Team Sports
