Match the headings (A to H) to the paragraphs (1 to 7). There is one extra heading.


A. Sports and money.

B. The riskiest sports.

C. The most popular sport.

D. Sports at school.

E. Young, sporting and rich.

F. Sporting inventions.

G. The fastest-growing sports.

H. Sports to stay healthy.



1. According to recent statistics, the sport that causes most injuries is rugby, and football is a close second. Despite the popularity of these games, and although we teach school children to play them, they injure more people per 1,000 than motor-racing, skiing, or scuba-diving. Of course, people do get hurt in 'adventure sports' and the most dangerous is climbing, which kills eight people a year.

2. Britain does not often produce sportsmen or sportswomen who are successful in world sporting championships, but it has been good at inventing sports and writing the rules of games. Golf was first played in Scotland in the fifteenth century. Cricket was first played in England in the sixteenth century. Nineteenth-century team sports, such as football, rugby and hockey, were first played in British public schools.

3. Sport today means big business for both players and sponsors. Sporting events like the World Cup, which has a TV audience of 35 billion people, make huge amounts of money. Companies like Coca Cola and Adidas have paid more than $20 million to sponsor a sports event. They know that people all over the world will see their names and logos at the sports stadiums and on participants' clothes.

4. Children are encouraged to participate in sports at an early age. There are children's baseball, football, and basketball teams in almost every community. The rivalry between high schools and colleges in sporting events goes right through the school year from football in September to track and field in June. Cheerleaders and bands lead the supporters in rooting for their home team.

5. Many top stars make a fortune during their sporting careers. Tiger Woods, the professional golfer, is only 23 years old. He has already earned more than $5 million. He has won eight tournaments in his career so far, including the US Masters which he won in 1997. He reached the position of the world's top player in the shortest time ever - just 42 weeks. He is sponsored by Nike, the sportswear company.

6. The majority of people live in towns and cities, where space for team sports is limited. Most people take part in individual sports. They usually go walking, swimming, cycling, or do aerobics. Taking part in all these sports is informal and casual. Most people just want to relax. If they do aerobics or go swimming, they usually go to the sports centre, but not many people join a sports club.

7. Britain's national sport is football. During the football season most professional footballers play two matches every week. Many people say this is too many because the players cannot devote enough time and energy to international games. The 22 best English teams play in the Premier League, run by the Football Association. Liverpool is the most successful team and have won the most games in tournaments.