Sports in England are incredibly popular, despite the sometimes cold, rainy weather. Let’s take a look at the top sports the English love to engage in, whether as members of a club, via private tuition, or in organised competitions. The British are a physically fit bunch!
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Photo Credit: Josh Dobson on Flickr
1. Swimming
According to the England Active People survey, over 2.5 million people take part in swimming, making it the most popular sport by a significant degree. The Brits are certainly shining in swimming-related sports at an international level, with athletes taking home medals in everything from swimming to water polo, diving, and synchronised swimming. Some of the many benefits of swimming include improved strength and flexibility, increased heart strength, improved circulation, better muscular balance and flexibility, and greater endurance.
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2. Athletics
Over 2.3 million people are involved in athletic events in England – almost a million more than 10 years ago. It makes sense that this sport is so high up on the list, since it comprises a plethora of events that includes running race walking, jumping, acrobatic athletics and throwing, to name just a few. Athletes reap a host of benefits, including cardiovascular, muscular and mental benefits. Athletics are an ideal way to battle stress, which is related to two of the most common mental conditions plaguing people in the UK: anxiety, and depression.
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Photo Credit: Nick Page on Flickr
3. Cycling
Some 2 million people in England call cycling their sport, and indeed, the UK is home to some of the most visited cycling routes in Europe, considered as safe as they are scenic. One of the reasons for the burgeoning popularity of this Olympic sport is its low cost – just about anyone can afford to purchase a bike, and savings on transport are also considerable when riders use their bike to get to work or school. Of course, cycling is also an excellent way to burn excess calories, strengthen muscles and improve circulation.
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Photo Credit: Ronnie Macdonald on Flickr
4. Football
Celebrity footballers like David Beckham have done plenty to consolidate football as one of the most well-loved sports in England. Some 1.8 million play this game at least once a week, improving their fitness levels, strength, endurance, and general health. Football is a long game and players have to be at peak condition to last until the final whistle; they need to be prepared to change from slow running to sprints in a flash. Teamwork is also an important skill in this game; players are required to respect their teammates and work together to score a coveted goal. As an international sport, football provides players with the chance to battle it out against players from other countries. The good news for English footballers is that the football bug is biting hard in the United States too, with a record number of Americans showing an interest in international events such as the World Cup.
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Photo Credit: Son of Groucho on Flickr
5. Golf
A little under 1 million people play golf in the UK, and most are aged between 35 and 50 years. Winnie the Pooh author, AA Milne, once said that golf was so popular “simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad,” yet there are many more reasons why players flock to England’s top greens, including the chance to socialise, be out in nature and burn calories through walking. We wonder how long golf will remain on England’s Top Sports lists, since the industry is apparently going through a crisis. Time, cost and accessibility are just a few barriers to be overcome and England Golf is rising to the challenge, having launched a strategic plan for the 2014-2017 period. The plan includes stabilising club memberships and changing the game’s image (à la Happy Gilmore, perhaps?).
In addition to the Top Five, other sports are also proving popular among Brits, including tennis (Wimbledon is, after all, one of the most prestigious events on the tennis circuit), cricket (regarded as ‘the gentleman’s game’), rugby union and rugby league, and boxing.
Brit-Fact: If you ever wondered what the difference between rugby union and league is, the answer is: plenty. Rugby league football uses some styles and rules from rugby union, though it is an entirely different (yet equally exciting) game.
—Guest post submitted by Sally Blunt
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