Sports Around the World...And their cultural significances

Kenyan Track & Field Kalenjin Tribe Runners

Track and field, especially long distance running, has one clear leader in the pack... Kenya. In the 2016 Summer Olympics all 13 medals won for the African country was in track and field.(6 Gold, 6 Silver and 1 Bronze)

What does running offer? What makes the Kenyan people champions at long distance running?

● Most children walk long distances to their schools.● Most come from poor beginnings(no cell phones or video games)● Winning offers financial stability for the family.● 2012 Boston Marathon for Men and Women the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place

winners were all Kenyan.

Brazilian Soccer(Football) Brazilian Futebol Culture

Before soccer came to Brazil the country was still trying to find one common culture to be shared with the entire population. At the turn of the century, once soccer was introduced, this became that unifying force.

What soccer has brought:

● North-South Telecommunications Infrastructure● United all of the many cultures of Brazil● World renowned status● Brazil’s 24 teams earned around $1.4 Billion in 2012(grows 29% per year)● When Brazil hosted the FIFA World Cup schools, public and private, were

cancelled for the inaugural game. For The Love (Brazilian Soccer)

New Zealand Rugby New Zealand Haka

Rugby was officially started in New Zealand in 1892, and has only gained in popularity ever since. Rugby is by far the most popular sport of the island and third most popular sport in the world, but how did it get so popular and how does the culture of New Zealand show through?

● Natives of NZ, the Māori, played a similar style of game when Rugby was introduced to them from Europe and took to the game easily.

● This similarity paved the way to bond both European and New Zealand cultures.

● The All Blacks(NZ Rugby Team Name) are viewed as national heroes and are considered one of the best in the world.

● The Haka is an ancient native war chant that has been shown through NZ’s Rugby team

Chinese Ping PongDeclared the national sport by Chairman Mao in the 1950’s. China has dominated this sport in the Olympics since it was introduced in 1988 winning 28 of the possible 32 Gold medals.

Why are the Chinese so good?

● Massive population that plays. (10 million play competitively and 300 million on occasion)

● China has an intensive training program. Children who test highly in table tennis(Ping Pong) are put in specialized schools as early as 5 years old.

Ping Pong Primary School

Indian CricketCricket was first introduced to India through British colonization. At first only the wealthy played this sport but it soon grew in popularity as it was also used as a political force for Indian Independence from England.

● Cricket is the main sport of the country that is celebrated across the country. ● When the Indian National team plays an estimated 400 Million Indians watch.

(Compare this with USA population of 323 Million)● The sport was reserved mainly for the elite but the

1983 World Cup victory of India sparked its popularity to the masses.

Cricket Explained

Now it’s your turn…You will now be split up into groups and research a country paired with its popular sport and describe what is the cultural significance that sport has for the country selected.

Please select one of the following sports to research:● Car Racing- USA● Car Racing- Italy● Beach Volleyball-United States● Beach Volleyball- Brazil● Tennis- Great Britain ● Tennis- USA ● Basketball- USA● Golf- Scotland● Ice Hockey- Canada● Ice Hockey- Russia● Gymnastics USA● Gymnastics- China● Gymnastics- Romania● Gymnastics- Russia● Gymnastics- Ukraine

● Skiing- Austria● Ice Skating USA● Ice Skating- Canada● Ice Skating- Russia● Cycling- France● Cycling- Italy● Cycling- Great Britain ● Soccer- Germany(Fussball)● Soccer- Italy● Track and Field- Jamaica● Track and Field- USA● Swimming- USA ● Swimming- China● Diving- China● Diving- Great Britain

● Baseball- South Korea● Baseball- Japan● Baseball- Dominican

Republic● Badminton- China● Ping Pong- South Korea● Ping Pong- Sweden● Rugby- South Africa