SPORTS

People have always enjoyed sports. In the early Olympic Games in Greece, about three thousand years ago, men ran in races. Then later, athletes also competed in jumping and throwing. The Romans loved chariot-racing, when men drove chariots with horses. And people crowded the stadium to watch men fighting-not boxing matches like today, but gladiators fighting each other or even wild animals.

Football began early too, perhaps over two thousand years ago in China. It became a popular sport all over the world. In England, hundreds of people played football together in two teams. Even with smaller teams it was a dangerous game. In 1863, rules were made to control the game. Rugby football, with different rules, began in 1823 when it was played at Rugby School in England.

Hockey is another game which began in England. Lacrosse, which was an American Indian game, first became popular in Canada. Cricket, the favorite summer game in England, began in the 16^th century. At the same time, at the court of King Henry VIII, people played a kind of tennis, with racket and ball but indoors.