776 BC First recorded Olympic Games held at Olympia in Greece.
330/329 BC Lykourgos (an Athenian politician) transformed a natural hollow between two hills (Agra and Ardettos) into the Panathenian stadium for the athletic competitions that were part of the greater Panathenian festivities.
393 AD Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned all pagan rituals and events including the Olympic Games.
1821 Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire begins.
1822 Athens was liberated and 12 years later became the capital of Greece.
1833 Panagiotis Soutsos wrote about the revival of the Olympic Games in his poetry 'Dialogue of the Dead'.
1835 Panagiotis Soutsos wrote a memo to John Kolletis, the Greek Minister of the Interior, proposing that March 25th be made a national holiday celebrating the start of the Greek War of Independence and that the celebration should include a revival of the Olympic Games. Kolletis approved and recommended these proposals to King Otto. (Note that the Athens 1896 Olympic Games opened on March 25th.)
1850 Dr William Penny Brookes founded an annual games that was part of an Olympian Class, for the physical education of local citizens, in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, United Kingdom. The Games was not called Wenlock Olympian Games before 1859.
1856 Evangelis Zappas wrote to King Otto of Greece offering to fund the revival of the Olympic Games. Zappas offered 400 shares of the Greek Steamship Company (aka Hellenic Steam Navigation Company) and wrote that their dividends could be used to fund Olympic Games every four years and for prizes to be awarded to the winning athletes.
1859 Dr William Penny Brookes named annual games Wenlock Olympian Games. Brookes was clearly inspired by the coming Athens Olympic Games since he incorporated some of the events from the Greek programme into future programmes of the Wenlock Olympian Games.
1859 First modern international Olympic Games held in an Athens (Greece) city square, sponsored by Evangelis Zappas. These Olympic Games welcomed participants from the Ottoman Empire as well as Greece making the Games international from 1859. Dr William Penny Brookes donated prize money for one of the events that was won by Petros Velissariou (from Smyrna, Asia Minor, and citizen of the Ottoman Empire). Medals were awarded with the portrait of King Otto.
1860 Dr William Penny Brookes founded the Wenlock Olympian Society. Petros Velissariou was the first person to be listed on the honorary roll of the Wenlock Olympian Society.
1863 Birth of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, in Paris (France), on January 1st (note: born after revival initiated by Soutsos, Brookes and Zappas).
1866 National Olympic Games held in London (United Kingdom) and first modern Olympic Games to be held outside of Greece that actually looked like an Olympic Games. Dr William Penny Brookes was the President of the Olympic organizing committee. Athletics events took place inside the original Crystal Palace (no stadium yet and no Greek competitors, but the Crystal Palace was used as an indoor sports arena, and although not purposely built for the Games, it was the first indoor arena used for an Olympic Games). The programme of events started to look very much like the events in a modern Olympic Games. W.G. Grace, at the age of only 18, won the 440 yards hurdles at these Games, before he became a famous cricketer.
1870 First modern international Olympic Games to be held in a stadium, at the Panathenian stadium in Athens, Greece (second 'Zappas Games'). Evangelis Zappas paid for the refurbishment of the ancient Panathenian stadium. K. Kardamylakis (from the island of Crete and citizen of the Ottoman Empire) came first in two events: wrestling and the pole-vault. G. Akestorides (from Constantinople and citizen of the Ottoman Empire) came first in the rope-climbing event.
1875 Elite international Olympic Games held in the Panathenian stadium (third 'Zappas Games'). Elite, in this context, means that only wealthy, upper-class men could compete. Z. Saropoulos of Macedonia (a citizen of the Ottoman Empire) came first in discus and K. Molskidis from Smyrna (another citizen of the Ottoman Empire) came first in the rope-climbing event. Mark Joseph Mindler, a Bavarian-Hellene born in Athens (his parents were Bavarian), participated in these Games and went on to establish the first Hellenic scout group, became the President of the Panhellenic Gymnastics Association, and the Hellenic Philotelic Society.
1889 Elite and private 'Olympic Games' (not organized by the Zappas Olympic Committee) held in a gym managed by Ioannis Phokianos. This event was too small to be witnessed by the general public (failed attempt to open to the public resulted in overcrowding of the gym and chaos). However, Phokianos had been appointed as a coach and organizer of events for the earlier Games held in the Panathenian stadium.
1890 Baron Pierre de Coubertin visited Much Wenlock and was inspired by Dr William Penny Brookes. The Baron published, in his new journal on Christmas Day, his experiences in Much Wenlock with the title "The Olympic Games at Much Wenlock - A page in the history of athletics" (translated from French) and mentioned the part that Dr Brookes had played in reviving the ancient Olympics. But does not say when the ancient Olympics were revived nor makes any reference or comparison with the Olympic Games held in Athens (and it appears that he might have only known about the first Zappas Games and did not appreciate its significance).
1892 Both Dr William Penny Brookes and Baron Pierre de Coubertin publicly proposed the revival of the Olympic Games for the first time. Dr Brookes' proposal came first and was focussed on witnessing a future "international" Games in Greece and the Baron proposed "the re-establishment of the Olympic Games". The Baron did not give any credit for his proposal to Dr Brookes. Brookes mentions the 1859 Games but fails to note that Velissariou, the first man on the honor roll of the Wenlock Olympian Society, was born in the Ottoman Empire and was the first international Olympian victor. Coubertin does not mention the 1859 Games. Neither mention the 1870 or 1875 Games.
1894 Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 23rd June 1894. Dimitris Vikelas (also spelt Demetrius Vikelas, and Demetris Bikelas) was made the first President of the IOC.
1894 Baron Pierre de Coubertin mentions Zappas in a speech at the Literary Society of Parnassos, in Greece on 16th November 1894.
1896 Fourth modern international Olympic Games and the first IOC Olympic Games held at the Panathenian stadium, in Athens. The Panathenian stadium was once again refurbished from the legacy of Evangelis Zappas and new monies from George Averoff. Athletes from 14 countries participated (according to the official Olympic.org website) and seven times more countries than in 1859 (note that athletes from two nations are enough to make an event international).
1896 First modern Olympic building (called the 'Zappeion') built specifically for the Olympic Games, from the legacy of Evangelis Zappas, was used for the Olympic fencing events. This building received formal planning permission to be built on 30th November 1869 (almost 25 years before the founding of the IOC).
1900 First side-show 'Olympics' held in Paris (France), at the Univeral Exposition, without a stadium and under the auspices of the organising committee of the Exposition and not the IOC.
1901 At the 4th IOC Session in Paris a decision was made for the IOC's 2nd International Olympic Games to be held in Athens in 1906. Confirming that an IOC Olympic Games had not taken place in an official capacity in Paris in 1900 after the event. Later efforts to label the Athens 1906 Games as 'Interim Games' and to legitimize the side-show events in Paris were an afterthought.
1904 Second side-show 'Olympics' held in St Louis (United States) at the World's Fair.
1906 2nd IOC Olympic Games held in Athens (Greece) at the Panathenian stadium. Called 'Interim Games', well after the event, because it was held only two years after the 1904 St Louis Games and because the ancient Hellenes held Olympic Games once every four years (this four year period is called an 'Olympiad'). The Zappeion was used to accommodate the Hungarian Olympic team.
1908 Third side-show 'Olympics' held in London (United Kingdom) at the Franco-British Exhibition.
2004 The Panathenian stadium was reused for events at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games including archery and the finish of the Marathon. The Zappeion, the first indoor Olympic arena, was utilised as the Olympic Press Centre.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Histrory of the Olympic games
The Olympic Games begun at Olympia in Greece in 776 BC. The Greek calendar was based on the Olympiad, the four-year period between games. The games were staged in the wooded valley of Olympia in Elis. Here the Greeks erected statues and built temples in a grove dedicated to Zeus, supreme among the gods. The greatest shrine was an ivory and gold statue of Zeus. Created by the sculptor Phidias, it was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Scholars have speculated that the games in 776 BC were not the first games, but rather the first games held after they were organized into festivals held every four years as a result of a peace agreement between the city-states of Elis and Pisa. The Eleans traced the founding of the Olympic games to their King Iphitos, who was told by the Delphi Oracle to plant the olive tree from which the victors' wreaths were made.
According to Hippias of Elis, who compiled a list of Olympic victors c.400 BC, at first the only Olympic event was a 200-yard dash, called a stadium. This was the only event until 724 BC, when a two-stadia race was added. Two years later the 24-stadia event began, and in 708 the pentathlon was added and wrestling became part of the games. This pentathlon, a five-event match consisted of running, wrestling, leaping, throwing the discus, and hurling the javelin. In time boxing, a chariot race, and other events were included.
The victors of these early games were crowned with wreaths from a sacred olive tree that grew behind the temple of Zeus. According to tradition this tree was planted by Hercules (Heracles), founder of the games. The winners marched around the grove to the accompaniment of a flute while admirers chanted songs written by a prominent poet.
The Olympic Games were held without interruptions in ancient Greece. The games were even held in 480 BC during the Persian Wars, and coincided with the Battle of Thermopylae. Although the Olympic games were never suspended, the games of 364 BC were not considered Olympic since the Arkadians had captured the sanctuary and reorganized the games.
After the Battle of Chaironeia in 338 BC, Philip of Makedon and his son Alexander gained control over the Greek city-states. They erected the Philippeion (a family memorial) in the sanctuary, and held political meetings at Olympia during each Olympiad. In 146 BC, the Romans gained control of Greece and, therefore, of the Olympic games. In 85 BC, the Roman general Sulla plundered the sanctuary to finance his campaign against Mithridates. Sulla also moved the 175th Olympiad (80 BC) to Rome.
The games were held every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD, when they were abolished by the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I. The ancient Olympic Games lasted for 1170 years.
The successful campaign to revive the Olympics was started in France by Baron Pierre de Coubertin late in the 19th century. The first of the modern Summer Games opened on Sunday, March 24, 1896, in Athens, Greece. The first race was won by an American college student named James Connolly.
According to Hippias of Elis, who compiled a list of Olympic victors c.400 BC, at first the only Olympic event was a 200-yard dash, called a stadium. This was the only event until 724 BC, when a two-stadia race was added. Two years later the 24-stadia event began, and in 708 the pentathlon was added and wrestling became part of the games. This pentathlon, a five-event match consisted of running, wrestling, leaping, throwing the discus, and hurling the javelin. In time boxing, a chariot race, and other events were included.
The victors of these early games were crowned with wreaths from a sacred olive tree that grew behind the temple of Zeus. According to tradition this tree was planted by Hercules (Heracles), founder of the games. The winners marched around the grove to the accompaniment of a flute while admirers chanted songs written by a prominent poet.
The Olympic Games were held without interruptions in ancient Greece. The games were even held in 480 BC during the Persian Wars, and coincided with the Battle of Thermopylae. Although the Olympic games were never suspended, the games of 364 BC were not considered Olympic since the Arkadians had captured the sanctuary and reorganized the games.
After the Battle of Chaironeia in 338 BC, Philip of Makedon and his son Alexander gained control over the Greek city-states. They erected the Philippeion (a family memorial) in the sanctuary, and held political meetings at Olympia during each Olympiad. In 146 BC, the Romans gained control of Greece and, therefore, of the Olympic games. In 85 BC, the Roman general Sulla plundered the sanctuary to finance his campaign against Mithridates. Sulla also moved the 175th Olympiad (80 BC) to Rome.
The games were held every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD, when they were abolished by the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I. The ancient Olympic Games lasted for 1170 years.
The successful campaign to revive the Olympics was started in France by Baron Pierre de Coubertin late in the 19th century. The first of the modern Summer Games opened on Sunday, March 24, 1896, in Athens, Greece. The first race was won by an American college student named James Connolly.
Athletics
The Erskine College Board of Trustees had a difficult decision on their hands as they met in October 1896. Competition between class teams in the sports of baseball and football had grown extremely popular and now the Erskine students wanted to play "outside" teams. The Board agreed that day to allow the two teams to play one game each against "outside" competition that season, launching what has become a proud 104-year history of intercollegiate athletics at Erskine College.
The Erskine football team traveled to Charlotte in November 1896, where it was defeated 34-4 by the Charlotte YMCA. The baseball team met Presbyterian College in Greenwood, South Carolina in April 1897 and defeated the Blue Stockings 21-5 in Erskine's first game against an intercollegiate opponent. Erskine has fielded a baseball team in every year since, except for the war years of 1943-45. Spring 2000 saw our 102nd season of intercollegiate baseball.
After 1896, the Board of Trustees had second thoughts about football and did not allow the college to field another intercollegiate team until 1915, though class football continued during many of the intervening years. In 1900, men�s tennis joined baseball as an intercollegiate sport, and Erskine dominated both sports during the first decade of the 20th century. Erskine won state baseball championships in 1903, 1907, 1909, 1910, and retired the State Intercollegiate Tennis Trophy with victories in 1906, 1907, and 1910. Erskine�s 104 years of athletics have been marked by one of the state�s greatest athletes and great coaching.
The athlete, David G. "Dode" Phillips, led Erskine to football victories over South Carolina, Clemson, and The Citadel between 1917-1921, scoring on every opponent during a 1921 season culminated by a 13-0 victory over Clemson. A baseball third baseman, he also hit 17 home runs his senior season and later played several seasons of professional baseball. In 1939, he was voted South Carolina�s all-time greatest athlete.
The coaches include South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame members Billy Laval, Phillips, Jake Todd, Gene Alexander, and Red Myers. Laval, who went on to coaching fame at Furman, South Carolina, and Newberry, coached Erskine to three South Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Association baseball championships in his four years at the helm between 1907-11.
Basketball was started in 1915, and Erskine played outdoors until Alumni Gym was built in 1924. In 1926, Jake Todd took over the program and coached four teams to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament, leading the team until 1941. Coach Gene Alexander coached Erskine Basketball until 1957, and brought national attention with his fast break, high scoring style. Alexander later went on to great success at Wofford.
Red Myers took over the basketball program for Alexander in 1958 and won 413 games over the next 25 years, taking three Erskine teams to the NAIA National Tournament. During the same period Harry Stille was leading the Erskine baseball program back to a place of prominence in the NAIA, winning three district titles as well. For their accomplishments, both Myers and Stille were elected into the NAIA National Hall of Fame.
Erskine was one of the first southern colleges to have a soccer team, starting the program in 1966. The men's team enjoyed national success in the NAIA during the 70's and 80's. Coach Ralph Lundy led Erskine to five NAIA National appearances during 16 seasons, winning 184 matches. The women's soccer program was started in 1984, and this team earned Erskine it�s highest national finish ever, losing 1-0 to Berry College in the 1987 NAIA National Championship game.
The 1990's were highlighted by the men�s basketball team 1991-1992 season. The team was coached by the late Robbie Hicklin, and reached the NAIA National Quarterfinals. The team finished the season 27-7. Hicklin spent the season battling stomach cancer and lost his battle in July 1992.
Since 1992, Erskine has been a member of NCAA Division II, after previously participating under the auspices of the South Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SCIAA), Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Association (SIAA), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In 1995, Erskine became a charter member of the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC), a NCAA Division II conference with 12 members from the Carolinas and Virginia.
Our Men's Tennis program has enjoyed great success since moving to Division II and the CVAC. Under the direction of 33-year head coach Vardon Cox, the team has enjoyed three NCAA Regional appearances and a trip to the Division II Nationals in 1998.
Over the past century Erskine has played a role in South Carolina athletics far exceeding its size. The quality of South Carolina athletics bears the imprint of Erskine's great coaches and their players who have gone on to coach and teach thousands of other young people. The current popularity of such sports as soccer owes much to the vision of Erskine College and to its coaches and players.
As Erskine enters its 104th year of athletic competition, it continues to serve as a model of what an intercollegiate athletic program can be.
The Erskine football team traveled to Charlotte in November 1896, where it was defeated 34-4 by the Charlotte YMCA. The baseball team met Presbyterian College in Greenwood, South Carolina in April 1897 and defeated the Blue Stockings 21-5 in Erskine's first game against an intercollegiate opponent. Erskine has fielded a baseball team in every year since, except for the war years of 1943-45. Spring 2000 saw our 102nd season of intercollegiate baseball.
After 1896, the Board of Trustees had second thoughts about football and did not allow the college to field another intercollegiate team until 1915, though class football continued during many of the intervening years. In 1900, men�s tennis joined baseball as an intercollegiate sport, and Erskine dominated both sports during the first decade of the 20th century. Erskine won state baseball championships in 1903, 1907, 1909, 1910, and retired the State Intercollegiate Tennis Trophy with victories in 1906, 1907, and 1910. Erskine�s 104 years of athletics have been marked by one of the state�s greatest athletes and great coaching.
The athlete, David G. "Dode" Phillips, led Erskine to football victories over South Carolina, Clemson, and The Citadel between 1917-1921, scoring on every opponent during a 1921 season culminated by a 13-0 victory over Clemson. A baseball third baseman, he also hit 17 home runs his senior season and later played several seasons of professional baseball. In 1939, he was voted South Carolina�s all-time greatest athlete.
The coaches include South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame members Billy Laval, Phillips, Jake Todd, Gene Alexander, and Red Myers. Laval, who went on to coaching fame at Furman, South Carolina, and Newberry, coached Erskine to three South Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Association baseball championships in his four years at the helm between 1907-11.
Basketball was started in 1915, and Erskine played outdoors until Alumni Gym was built in 1924. In 1926, Jake Todd took over the program and coached four teams to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament, leading the team until 1941. Coach Gene Alexander coached Erskine Basketball until 1957, and brought national attention with his fast break, high scoring style. Alexander later went on to great success at Wofford.
Red Myers took over the basketball program for Alexander in 1958 and won 413 games over the next 25 years, taking three Erskine teams to the NAIA National Tournament. During the same period Harry Stille was leading the Erskine baseball program back to a place of prominence in the NAIA, winning three district titles as well. For their accomplishments, both Myers and Stille were elected into the NAIA National Hall of Fame.
Erskine was one of the first southern colleges to have a soccer team, starting the program in 1966. The men's team enjoyed national success in the NAIA during the 70's and 80's. Coach Ralph Lundy led Erskine to five NAIA National appearances during 16 seasons, winning 184 matches. The women's soccer program was started in 1984, and this team earned Erskine it�s highest national finish ever, losing 1-0 to Berry College in the 1987 NAIA National Championship game.
The 1990's were highlighted by the men�s basketball team 1991-1992 season. The team was coached by the late Robbie Hicklin, and reached the NAIA National Quarterfinals. The team finished the season 27-7. Hicklin spent the season battling stomach cancer and lost his battle in July 1992.
Since 1992, Erskine has been a member of NCAA Division II, after previously participating under the auspices of the South Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SCIAA), Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Association (SIAA), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In 1995, Erskine became a charter member of the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC), a NCAA Division II conference with 12 members from the Carolinas and Virginia.
Our Men's Tennis program has enjoyed great success since moving to Division II and the CVAC. Under the direction of 33-year head coach Vardon Cox, the team has enjoyed three NCAA Regional appearances and a trip to the Division II Nationals in 1998.
Over the past century Erskine has played a role in South Carolina athletics far exceeding its size. The quality of South Carolina athletics bears the imprint of Erskine's great coaches and their players who have gone on to coach and teach thousands of other young people. The current popularity of such sports as soccer owes much to the vision of Erskine College and to its coaches and players.
As Erskine enters its 104th year of athletic competition, it continues to serve as a model of what an intercollegiate athletic program can be.
Wrestling
Wrestling has been popular throughout recorded history. Origins of the sport can be traced back 15,000 years to cave drawings in France. Early Egyptian and Babylonian reliefs depict wrestlers using most of the holds known to the present-day sport. In ancient Greece, wrestling occupied a prominent place in legend and literature; wrestling competition, brutal in many aspects, was the supreme contest of the Olympic Games. The ancient Romans borrowed heavily from Greek wrestling, but eliminated much of its brutality. During the Middle Ages wrestling remained popular and enjoyed the patronage of many royal houses, including those of France, Japan, and England.
Early American settlers brought a strong wrestling tradition with them from England. The colonists also found wrestling quite popular among the Native Americans. Amateur wrestling flourished throughout the early years of the nation, and served as a popular activity at country fairs, holiday celebrations, and in military exercises. Of the early American styles, only the catch-as-catch-can style survives, and it has evolved into the modern form of collegiate wrestling.
The first organized national wrestling tournament was held in New York City in 1888, while the first wrestling competition in the modern Olympic Games was held in 1904 in Saint Louis, Missouri. FILA was founded in 1912 in Antwerp, Belgium. The first NCAA Wrestling Championships were also held in 1912 in Ames, Iowa. USA Wrestling became the national governing body of amateur wrestling in 1983, and conducts competitions for all age levels.
Early American settlers brought a strong wrestling tradition with them from England. The colonists also found wrestling quite popular among the Native Americans. Amateur wrestling flourished throughout the early years of the nation, and served as a popular activity at country fairs, holiday celebrations, and in military exercises. Of the early American styles, only the catch-as-catch-can style survives, and it has evolved into the modern form of collegiate wrestling.
The first organized national wrestling tournament was held in New York City in 1888, while the first wrestling competition in the modern Olympic Games was held in 1904 in Saint Louis, Missouri. FILA was founded in 1912 in Antwerp, Belgium. The first NCAA Wrestling Championships were also held in 1912 in Ames, Iowa. USA Wrestling became the national governing body of amateur wrestling in 1983, and conducts competitions for all age levels.
netball
In 1871 Dr James Naismith, a Canadian immigrant and YMCA instructor in the USA, invented the game of Netball and basketball.
In England in 1895, ladies using broomsticks for posts and wet paper bags for baskets played the game of basketball on grass. Their long skirts, bustle backs, nipped waists and button up shoes impeded running and their leg-of-mutton sleeves restricted arm movement making dribbling and long passes difficult. The ladies decided to adapt the game to accommodate these restrictions.
In 1898 the court was divided into thirds, the number of players increased from five to nine and a smaller ball (a soccer ball) was used. There were two umpires, two scorers and two timekeepers – almost as many officials as players for each match.
In those early days the nets were not open at both ends and after each goal was scored, the umpire had the task of retrieving the ball from the top of the post.
In England in 1901 the first set of rules was published and ‘netball’ officially came into existence in that country. At the turn of the century school teachers from England traveled to many countries of the then British Empire, and the game of netball or "ladies basketball" (if prior to 1901) went with them.
Once established, the game developed locally and soon each country had its own separate rules and distinct methods of play, even its own name for the game. In Australia and New Zealand where the game was established before 1901, it was called Women’s Basketball and the name was changed to Netball in these two countries in 1970.
In 1963, the first World Tournament with 11 teams competing, was held in England and Australia remained undefeated. World Championships are staged every four years.
Netball was a demonstration sport at the Auckland Games in 1990 but was not included in the Commonwealth Games program until 1998 in Kuala Lumpur. Australia won the Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in 1998 and 2002 and New Zealand won the Gold Medal in the 2006 Games.
In England in 1895, ladies using broomsticks for posts and wet paper bags for baskets played the game of basketball on grass. Their long skirts, bustle backs, nipped waists and button up shoes impeded running and their leg-of-mutton sleeves restricted arm movement making dribbling and long passes difficult. The ladies decided to adapt the game to accommodate these restrictions.
In 1898 the court was divided into thirds, the number of players increased from five to nine and a smaller ball (a soccer ball) was used. There were two umpires, two scorers and two timekeepers – almost as many officials as players for each match.
In those early days the nets were not open at both ends and after each goal was scored, the umpire had the task of retrieving the ball from the top of the post.
In England in 1901 the first set of rules was published and ‘netball’ officially came into existence in that country. At the turn of the century school teachers from England traveled to many countries of the then British Empire, and the game of netball or "ladies basketball" (if prior to 1901) went with them.
Once established, the game developed locally and soon each country had its own separate rules and distinct methods of play, even its own name for the game. In Australia and New Zealand where the game was established before 1901, it was called Women’s Basketball and the name was changed to Netball in these two countries in 1970.
In 1963, the first World Tournament with 11 teams competing, was held in England and Australia remained undefeated. World Championships are staged every four years.
Netball was a demonstration sport at the Auckland Games in 1990 but was not included in the Commonwealth Games program until 1998 in Kuala Lumpur. Australia won the Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in 1998 and 2002 and New Zealand won the Gold Medal in the 2006 Games.
swimming
Although humans have been swimming for thousands of years, swimming only became a competitive sport in the early 1800s. Today, swimming is the third most-watched sport in the Olympic Games.
Crossing the English Channel
In 1875, Matthew Webb ignited public interest in swimming when he became the first person to swim across the English Channel. Swimming only breastroke, it took him more than 21 hours to complete this feat. Thirty-one years would pass before another person would successfully swim across the Channel.
The Debut of Modern Olympic Swimming
In the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, men competed in four swimming events, all contested in the choppy open water of the Mediterranean Sea. Four years later at the 1900 Summer Games in Paris, all the swimming events (which included an obstacle course) were contested in the Seine River.
Freestyle Evolves
In the early years of recreational and competitive swimming, breastroke was the only stroke swum. In 1902, Australian Richard Cavill was the first to swim with an up-and-down kick and alternating over-arm recoveries. This stroke, dubbed the “Australian crawl,” was the beginning of modern freestyle. Johnny Weissmuller (who went on greater fame playing Tarzan in the movie of the same name) became the first man to break the one-minute barrier in the 100 Freestyle in 1912.
Women Make Splash Entering Swimming Record Books
For a variety of reasons, women had not been allowed to compete in Olympic swimming (or most other Olympic sports, for that matter) prior to 1912. But that year, women made their Olympic swimming debut, racing in the 100 meter Freestyle and the 4 x 100 meter Freestyle Relay.
In 1926, Gertrude Ederle, at age 19, became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She beat the contemporary men’s record by two hours, and secured her place in history as the first woman in a major sport to best a men’s record.
The next year the Channel Swimming Association was founded. The organization would not only establish rules for “crossing the English channel,” but have tremendous influence over the growth and development of open water swimming as a sport.
Butterfly Emerges as a New Stroke
As the sport of swimming grew, many swimmers and coaches began experimenting with new technique, particularly in an attempt to make breastroke faster. In the 1930s Americans David Armbruster and Jack Sieg came up with the double over-the-water arm recovery and the dolphin kick, respectively, which combined to form butterfly. It was allowed as an alternative form of breastroke until the 1950s, when it was declared a separate stroke. Also in the 1950s, flip turns, or tumbleturns, were first used in Olympic competition.
At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Mark Spitz won a record seven gold medals in one Games, while sporting his famous “drag-reducing” mustache. (Later in life he would admit that the mustache provided no hydrodynamic advantage, and that he had made the claim in an attempt to psych out his Russian competitors.)
The following Olympiad, in 1976, swimmers were finally allowed to wear goggles.
Open Water Swimming Goes Very, Very Cold
Lynne Cox, inspired by Gertrude Ederle and gifted with a unique physiology, swam across the Bering Strait in 1987 without a wetsuit. Her swim was also a feat of international political persuasion, as it took place at a time when Cold War tensions between the United States and the USSR were running high. Later, she would be the first person, man or woman, to swim just over a mile in the icy waters of Antarctica.
Backstroke Goes Underwater, Forcing a Rule Change
In 1988, American David Berkoff and other backstroke swimmers demonstrated that they could go much faster by doing underwater butterfly kicks on their back than by swimming on the surface. As a result, Japanese swimmer David Suzuki and Berkoff, the Olympic gold and silver medalists in the 100 Backstroke, went more than thirty-three meters under water at the Summer Games that year. FINA quickly amended the swimming rules to state that backstrokers must surface at or before the ten meter mark. (FINA later revised the rule to fifteen meters.)
The Most Decorated Swimmers of All-time
Also at the 1988 Games in Seoul , Korea, Kristin Otto of East Germany set the current record for the most gold medals won by a woman in a single Olympic Games, with six.
In 2004 Michael Phelps tied Mark Spitz’ record of seven Olympic gold medals in one Games, and eventually beat it in 2008, when he won eight gold. One of those medals came thanks to an astonishing swim by his teammate Jason Lezak, who caught and ultimately out-touched a French swimmer in the 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay.
Crossing the English Channel
In 1875, Matthew Webb ignited public interest in swimming when he became the first person to swim across the English Channel. Swimming only breastroke, it took him more than 21 hours to complete this feat. Thirty-one years would pass before another person would successfully swim across the Channel.
The Debut of Modern Olympic Swimming
In the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, men competed in four swimming events, all contested in the choppy open water of the Mediterranean Sea. Four years later at the 1900 Summer Games in Paris, all the swimming events (which included an obstacle course) were contested in the Seine River.
Freestyle Evolves
In the early years of recreational and competitive swimming, breastroke was the only stroke swum. In 1902, Australian Richard Cavill was the first to swim with an up-and-down kick and alternating over-arm recoveries. This stroke, dubbed the “Australian crawl,” was the beginning of modern freestyle. Johnny Weissmuller (who went on greater fame playing Tarzan in the movie of the same name) became the first man to break the one-minute barrier in the 100 Freestyle in 1912.
Women Make Splash Entering Swimming Record Books
For a variety of reasons, women had not been allowed to compete in Olympic swimming (or most other Olympic sports, for that matter) prior to 1912. But that year, women made their Olympic swimming debut, racing in the 100 meter Freestyle and the 4 x 100 meter Freestyle Relay.
In 1926, Gertrude Ederle, at age 19, became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She beat the contemporary men’s record by two hours, and secured her place in history as the first woman in a major sport to best a men’s record.
The next year the Channel Swimming Association was founded. The organization would not only establish rules for “crossing the English channel,” but have tremendous influence over the growth and development of open water swimming as a sport.
Butterfly Emerges as a New Stroke
As the sport of swimming grew, many swimmers and coaches began experimenting with new technique, particularly in an attempt to make breastroke faster. In the 1930s Americans David Armbruster and Jack Sieg came up with the double over-the-water arm recovery and the dolphin kick, respectively, which combined to form butterfly. It was allowed as an alternative form of breastroke until the 1950s, when it was declared a separate stroke. Also in the 1950s, flip turns, or tumbleturns, were first used in Olympic competition.
At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Mark Spitz won a record seven gold medals in one Games, while sporting his famous “drag-reducing” mustache. (Later in life he would admit that the mustache provided no hydrodynamic advantage, and that he had made the claim in an attempt to psych out his Russian competitors.)
The following Olympiad, in 1976, swimmers were finally allowed to wear goggles.
Open Water Swimming Goes Very, Very Cold
Lynne Cox, inspired by Gertrude Ederle and gifted with a unique physiology, swam across the Bering Strait in 1987 without a wetsuit. Her swim was also a feat of international political persuasion, as it took place at a time when Cold War tensions between the United States and the USSR were running high. Later, she would be the first person, man or woman, to swim just over a mile in the icy waters of Antarctica.
Backstroke Goes Underwater, Forcing a Rule Change
In 1988, American David Berkoff and other backstroke swimmers demonstrated that they could go much faster by doing underwater butterfly kicks on their back than by swimming on the surface. As a result, Japanese swimmer David Suzuki and Berkoff, the Olympic gold and silver medalists in the 100 Backstroke, went more than thirty-three meters under water at the Summer Games that year. FINA quickly amended the swimming rules to state that backstrokers must surface at or before the ten meter mark. (FINA later revised the rule to fifteen meters.)
The Most Decorated Swimmers of All-time
Also at the 1988 Games in Seoul , Korea, Kristin Otto of East Germany set the current record for the most gold medals won by a woman in a single Olympic Games, with six.
In 2004 Michael Phelps tied Mark Spitz’ record of seven Olympic gold medals in one Games, and eventually beat it in 2008, when he won eight gold. One of those medals came thanks to an astonishing swim by his teammate Jason Lezak, who caught and ultimately out-touched a French swimmer in the 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay.
horse racing
Horse racing is one of the most ancient sports with the nomadic tribesmen of Central Asia racing horses since early domestication and horse racing has long been an organised sport in many countries throughout history.
Horse racing as a professional sport in the UK can be traced back to the 12th Century after the English knights returned from the Crusades with Arab horses. These horses were bred with English horses to produce the Thoroughbred horse that is the breed of horse used in horse racing in the UK today.
During the reign of Charles II from 1660 to 1685 the King held horse races between two horses on private courses or open fields with prizes awarded to the winners and Newmarket was the venue for the first horse racing meetings in Britain.
Under the reign of Queen Anne during the period 1702-1714 horse races involving several horses on which spectators placed bets took over from match racing and horse racing became a professional sport with racecourses founded throughout England, including Ascot which was founded by Queen Anne in 1711.
In 1750 horse racing's elite met at Newmarket to form the Jockey Club to oversee and control English horse racing. The Jockey Club wrote a comprehensive set of rules for horse racing and sanctioned racecourses to conduct horse racing meetings under their rules and in 1814 5 races for three year olds were designated as "classics": The 2000 Guineas, The Epsom Derby and The St Ledger all open to colts and fillies and which make up The Triple Crown, and the 1,000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks open to fillies only.
Steps were also taken to regulate the breeding of race horses and James Weatherby, an accountant of the Jockey Club, was assigned the task to trace the pedigree and compile the family history of all race horses in England. His work resulted in the Introduction to the General Stud Book being published in 1791 and since 1793 Weatherby have recorded the pedigree of every foal born to race horses in the General Stud Book. Thoroughbred horses are so inbred that the pedigree of every horse can be traced back to one of three stallions, Byerley Turk (1680-1696), Darley Arabian (1700-1733) and the Godolphin Arabian (1724-1753), and these are known as the "Foundation sires". From the early 1800s the only horses that could be called "Thoroughbreds" and allowed to race professionally were those listed in the General Stud Book.
The Jockey Club continues to regulate horse racing and point-to-pointing today, but the British Horseracing Board became the governing authority for horse racing in Great Britain in 1993 and The National Hunt Committee was established in 1866.
Horse racing as a professional sport in the UK can be traced back to the 12th Century after the English knights returned from the Crusades with Arab horses. These horses were bred with English horses to produce the Thoroughbred horse that is the breed of horse used in horse racing in the UK today.
During the reign of Charles II from 1660 to 1685 the King held horse races between two horses on private courses or open fields with prizes awarded to the winners and Newmarket was the venue for the first horse racing meetings in Britain.
Under the reign of Queen Anne during the period 1702-1714 horse races involving several horses on which spectators placed bets took over from match racing and horse racing became a professional sport with racecourses founded throughout England, including Ascot which was founded by Queen Anne in 1711.
In 1750 horse racing's elite met at Newmarket to form the Jockey Club to oversee and control English horse racing. The Jockey Club wrote a comprehensive set of rules for horse racing and sanctioned racecourses to conduct horse racing meetings under their rules and in 1814 5 races for three year olds were designated as "classics": The 2000 Guineas, The Epsom Derby and The St Ledger all open to colts and fillies and which make up The Triple Crown, and the 1,000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks open to fillies only.
Steps were also taken to regulate the breeding of race horses and James Weatherby, an accountant of the Jockey Club, was assigned the task to trace the pedigree and compile the family history of all race horses in England. His work resulted in the Introduction to the General Stud Book being published in 1791 and since 1793 Weatherby have recorded the pedigree of every foal born to race horses in the General Stud Book. Thoroughbred horses are so inbred that the pedigree of every horse can be traced back to one of three stallions, Byerley Turk (1680-1696), Darley Arabian (1700-1733) and the Godolphin Arabian (1724-1753), and these are known as the "Foundation sires". From the early 1800s the only horses that could be called "Thoroughbreds" and allowed to race professionally were those listed in the General Stud Book.
The Jockey Club continues to regulate horse racing and point-to-pointing today, but the British Horseracing Board became the governing authority for horse racing in Great Britain in 1993 and The National Hunt Committee was established in 1866.
Boxing
The sport of boxing started when two individuals engaged in a fight using their fists. The Greeks are believed to be the first to formalize the sport during the Olympic Games in 688 BC. During the Roman era, the sport of boxing became increasingly popular and boxers wore leather bands around their fists for protection. Some of these bands contained metal strips that caused significant injuries to either opponent.
After the fall of Rome, the sport was not as popular, but was revived in the 18th century when James Figg held the heavyweight title for over 20 years. In the Industrial Revolution the game was known as the workingman?s sport with matches resembling street fights, rather than an organized event.
In 1773, English born Jack Broughton became the second heavyweight champion. The bouts became more organized at that point and rules and regulations came into play. Hitting below the belt was banned, and matches were decided using the point system. The bouts were held in a ring with spectators sitting around the squared off area - much like today's fights.
Today, boxing competition is divided into a set number of rounds, three minutes long with a one-minute rest period between each round. Championship bouts usually last for 12 rounds, but because there is no real governing body, rules vary from state to state in the US. Judges determine the winner using scorecards as the fight goes on. There is a referee who determines if illegal moves are made or if a fighter is too injured to continue the match. In some cases, the referee calls a "knockout" when an opponent has been knocked down or knocked out.
Boxing provides detailed information on Boxing, Boxing News,
Sri lanka cricket
Sri Lanka Cricket is driven by a single, all encompassing vision:
to make Sri Lanka the best cricket playing nation in the world in both forms of the game. Great progress has been made since Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test against England in 1982, including a World Cup win in 1996, but the fulfillment of our ambition will require dynamic leadership and much hard work over the coming years.
The achievement of excellence at the international level demands that Sri Lanka Cricket employs the best possible support staff and trainers for our players and offers them international standard training facilities.
To this end, Sri Lanka Cricket secured the services of former Australia batsman John Dyson in Sept 2003 as national team coach on an initial 20-month contract. John, a highly qualified assistant coach at New South Wales for two years from 1996 to 1998, brings with him considerable experience of the latest coaching techniques and technological aids.
World cricket has changed dramatically during the past decade. The physical demands on the players are now immense. Sri Lanka Cricket therefore also decided to appoint a team physiotherapist, Paul Klarenaar, and a separate full-time fitness trainer, Shane Duff. Paul was based at the New South Wales Institute of Sport from 1995 to 2003. Shane, a Grade I cricketer and former professional rugby league player, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Movement Studies from the Australian Catholic University, Sydney.
The international team will also be offered support and guidance from Champika Ramanayake, a full-time fast bowling coach, and Oshadee Weerasinghe, a full-time spin bowling coach.
Sri Lanka Cricket is also taking steps to ensure that our players can benefit from world-class training facilities. Five international venues – Premadasa, SSC, Galle, Pallakelle (under construction) and Dambulla – have been identified for special development work over the coming years. A cricket academy and training facility has been developed at Premadasa International Stadium. A special High Performance Training Centre, called The Cricket Campus, is also in the pipeline.
To help bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket, and to speed up the development of our upcoming players, a new intensive program for the A team and Under-19 has been agreed. The A team will undertake a total of 15 tours or series over the coming 5 years, an unprecedented level of international exposure that we hope will better prepare our young players for the highest level.
basketball
This is known as one of the best world-class sport, playing almost at every country whether at International or National level and having lots and lots of fans all over the world. Basketball as the name says it’s a combination of two words basket and ball, where we have to throw the ball under several rules and regulations to the opponent’s basket. Mr. James of YMCA founded basketball sport in 1891.
In the year 1895, it becomes a part of woman high schools. Basketball is a sport played between two teams having five players each side and their aim is to throw the ball to opponent’s basket and save the ball to be thrown in their baskets from the opponents attack.
The team who throws more balls in the opponent’s basket wins the match. In other words, we can also say that Basketball is a game of two teams playing with five players each side and their goal is to score points against the opponent, the team with more points wins the match.
After the basic meaning next we have to go to the popularity section. For the promotion of Basketball sports all over the world an organization was founded in 1932 named as an International Basketball Federation. This is a collaboration of eight countries named as Argentina, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Switzerland, Portugal, Romania, and Czechoslovakia. Though many time this game becomes a part of Olympic games too.
This participation in Olympic makes this famous all over the world. In year 1936, first time Basketball is played as an Olympic sport. US Teams are known as the king of the basketball as it is the motherland of Basketball, many youngsters wants to make their profession as a Basketball player. There is no limit of money when you are a basketball professional. Whether you win or loss the title you get a handsome reward from the sports organizations that organize this sport.
Though, it is not much popular in Asian countries. If we talk about the equipment used in this sport that it is a ball: - from which a player plays, A net or basket, attach with the pole and it’s the place where player has to throwthe ball to earn score, and a basketball court:- a complete place where player plays basketball includes both side poles containing baskets or nets.
beach volleyball
The surface or covering of beach balls and volleyballs is made from synthetic leather. Numerous variations of leather are used in the construction of these balls. Material thickness plays a vital part in the quality of hand-sewn balls. Multiple layers of lining are placed between the cover and the bladder. The bladder of the balls holds the air. Our beach volleyballs and volleyballs have a latex bladder. Indoor volleyballs we manufacture are mostly white in color while beach volleyballs are printed with colorful shades. The ball measures between 25 and 27 inches in circumference and weighs between 9 and 10 ounces. It has 4.5 to 6 pounds of air pressure per square inch.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Football
Football is the game which is played on the rectangular grass. It is played with the ball. In this game, the goalkeeper is the only player who allowed to use their hands and arms to propel the ball. The main purpose of the game is to score by manoeuvring the ball into the opposing goal and the remaining members of the goalkeeper are use their feet to kick the ball into a position. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins.
The width of the fields for the non-international matches is in the range of 50-100 yards and the length is in the range of 100-130 yards. The international adult matches may be 64-75 meters in width and the 100-110 meters in length. In the front of each goal, there is also a one area for the penalty.
Football game has been established with the team sport and it is played by two teams of 11 players. It is one of the most popular game in the world. In this game, the points are scored in a variety of ways, by throwing the ball to another player, including carrying the ball over the goal line or kicking the ball through the goal posts on the opposing side.
The main object of the game is to score a point by just clicking the ball into the goal of the other team. There is also a one referee and the two assistant referees.
The basic equipment for the players are required to wear a footwear, shorts, socks, shirt and adequate shin guards. But the goalkeeper must wear the clothing for the easily distinguishable from that worn by the other players and the match officials.
Cricket
Cricket is a game of two teams between eleven players. It is played with the bat and ball as well as it is divided into six overs. Cricket game is established with the team sport. It is the most popular sport in the world.
In the cricket, there are three types of bawlers like fast bawlers, spin bawlers and medium pace bawler. The ball has bounces only one time before reaching the batsman. In the sport of cricket, the bawling is like a action of propelling the ball towards the wicket defended by a batsman. It is played on the grass field and roughly in the oval shape.
All batsman plays the ball with the wooden type of cricket bat and the remaining members of the bawler's team stand with the different positions. In this game if the batsman not out, then they run between the wickets and exchanging ends with the second batsman.
Two-on fields umpires preside over a match. One empire stands on the behind of the bawler's wicket and the other one stands with a side view of the batsman.
The cricket field consists of the large oval shaped with the grassy ground. Its diameter is usually between 450 feet to 500 feet. The parameter of the field is known as boundary and the boundary is marked with the painted line or with a rope.
The main purpose of the bawler's team is to get the each batsman out and the purpose of the batting team is to score as many runs.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat and ball sport which is contested by a two teams and it is usually of nine players each. Players on one team take the turns into hitting them while the other team members tried to stop the running scores. The goal of a game is scoring more and more points which is called the runs. If you are interested to play the baseball game, then you need a helmet, a ball, bat, a baseball field, catcher's gear if you are a catcher and a uniform.
In the baseball, there are four basic tools such as the mitt, the field, the bat and the ball.
The bat in baseball is an offensive tool which is made up of wood and aluminum, but it is depending on the game being played. It is a long hard stick, which is about 2 inches in the diameter. The ball is about the size of the fist and white with red lacing. The game is played on a field, whose dimensions are depending on the age of the players.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
