Horse polo is considered the most ancient team game in the world, which appeared more than two thousand years ago and was widespread in Persia and India. In India, the English army officers got acquainted with this game, and polo spread throughout Europe thanks to them. The word "polo" also came from India and is translated as "wood." The sticks for this game are made of wood. Interestingly, in India, polo is played not only on horses but also on elephants.
Facts about horse polo
Thanks to the British, polo has become not just a popular folk pastime but a sport with rules that allow competitions, including international ones. The first documented polo game in England took place in 1869. By the way, the British originally called this sport "hockey on horseback." From England, polo spread not only throughout Europe but the world. For example, in 1875, polo began to be played even in distant Argentina.
Polo in the Olympics
Polo was included in the program of the Olympic Games 5 times: in 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, and 1936. Interestingly, the traditional Olympic equestrian disciplines appeared at the Olympics only in 1912. Horse polo was considered more of a team sport (like, for example, football) than equestrian. An interesting fact at the Olympics in Berlin, the polo tournament at the Maifeld arena gathered a record number of spectators in the stands, about 70 thousand - more than any other sport.
It is worth considering that since the early 1930s, polio was considered a disgraced sport in Nazi Germany, against which active propaganda was carried out in the press. And shortly after the end of the Games, Adolf Hitler altogether banned polo as a "Jewish" and "Anglo-American" sport. However, this species was excluded from the Olympic program for another reason. The fact is that the class of the Argentina national team, which won both in 1924 and 1936, was so superior to all other groups that it became apparent: that it was useless to play with it; the Argentines would still win. This trend continues to the present. The king of polo "- the Argentinean Adolfo Cambiaso.
Lefties can play polo
Left-handers play polo but must hold the stick with their “uncomfortable” hands. Horse polo rules state that only the right hand can have the bar. In this case, you can hit the ball on the left. In total, four main types of blows are accepted: offside forehand (strong backhand blow forward or sideways), near side backhand (back blow), near side neck shot (hit from the left side under the horse’s neck), and offside tail shot (hit from under horse's tail). Striking from above or below the opponent's horse is prohibited.
Animals other than horses used for polo
In India, polo on elephants is quite popular; in Arab countries - on camels. An exciting fact In 2000, a polo match on yaks took place in Mongolia for the first time. This action initially pursued the goal of drawing public attention to the preservation of these animals from extermination. However, since 2006, yak polo, or sarlagan polo, has become so popular that it has also begun to be played in Pakistan. In Mongolia itself, the Mongolian Sarlagan Polo Association was even formed.
Among the exotic varieties, polo canoes, segways, golf carts, bicycles, and motorcycles should also be noted. Polo on yaks has taken root in Mongolia. Perhaps the most famous polo player Winston Churchill said: "Polo handicap is your passport to the world." Of course, this aristocratic game is far from accessible to everyone.
Polo field
Spectators watching the match immediately notice that the polo field is much larger than the football field. Its length is 275 meters, and its width is about 180. Each team consists of four riders whose goal is to hit the opponent's goal, which is 7 meters 30 centimeters wide. The players are "armed" with special sticks, and the diameter of the ball is about 8 centimeters. Most often, the game consists of six periods (chukkers), and the duration of each of them is seven minutes.
Even in a short period, the horses manage to pretty much knock out the turf on the field; therefore, during the breaks, you can see a curious sight - the spectators go out onto the lawn and help the workers drive in pieces of turf into their place. For the game, they use a special breed of horses - polo ponies. The leader in their breeding is Argentina. The cost of each horse is about $50,000. At the same time, each athlete has several; you can change them even during the game.
Importance of Argentina in Polo
Horse polo was even included in the program of five Olympics: 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, and 1936. In the post-war years, polo was excluded from the Olympic sports list. Moreover, this was done with a fascinating wording: in 1924 and 1936. The advantage of athletes from Argentina was so evident that the IOC decided why to hold equestrian polo competitions if the winner was known in advance. Since 1987, the World Polo Championships have been saved.
It is in Argentina that the world's most titled polo player lives. His name is Adolfo Cambiaso. For fans of this sport, Cambiaso is an absolute legend. But horse polo is far from the most popular game in the world. Therefore, the stars of Argentine football are known in the sports world much more than Adolfo Cambiaso.
During the match, the teams change goals after each goal is scored. This is explained by the fact that one of the teams has to play against the sun, which blinds the eyes. An exchange of goals is necessary to equalize rivals' chances. In principle, the sun also affects players in other sports, but nowhere else do the plans change so often.
Horse polo sticks
Horse polo sticks are most often made from bamboo. Sometimes willow and combined materials are used. According to the rules of this sport, the bar is only allowed to be held in the right hand. Can lefties play polo? Of course, they can. But no exceptions are made for them either; the stick must be held in an uncomfortable right hand.
Even though horse polo was not included in the program of the Olympic Games for many years, the federation of this sport does not lose hope of returning to the Olympic family. Currently, equestrian polo is cultivated in more than 70 countries worldwide. The leaders are Argentina, England, Australia, the USA, India, and Pakistan.
Homeland of horse polo - Persia
Modern horse polo is a team sport. It is played on horseback, and the ball must be moved across the field by hitting it with clubs. The main goal set for the players is to get into the opponent's goal.
The country where horse polo first appeared in Persia, which happened in the 6th century AD. After that, the game spread to other Asian territories. And all over the world, this sport became known thanks to the British colonialists, who spread it first on their native island - in Great Britain and then in Europe.
The word "polo" comes from the Indian "pulu," which translates as "wood." India still has various versions of polo: on elephants or camels.
The oldest team game
To date, it is horse polo considered the oldest team sport. In the 19th-20th century, it was trendy in India, and in 1869, thanks to the British, it became the way we can see it now.
It is noteworthy that the stiff British liked this unusual sport so much that it became part of the mandatory training of cavalry officers of the British army, so it was introduced into the program of cavalry military schools.
Today, polo is considered a noble sport. Therefore, it is not surprising that all the men of the British royal family should be able to play it well.
The largest horse polo field in team sports
Equestrian polo boasts the largest field of all currently existing team sports. Its dimensions are 275 meters long and 180 meters wide. For example, according to UEFA standards, the size of a football field should be 105 by 68 meters.
At the same time, the player’s virtuosity largely depends not on the characteristics of the field but on the person’s ability to stay in the saddle, since during the match, you need to keep in the saddle with one hand and with the other, using a stick, accurately hit a small ball, trying to score it into the opponent’s goal. In this case, you need to be able to lead the horse at high speed.
Spectators help polo players trample the lawn.
Modern polo is a game in which two teams of four players participate. Players spend 42 minutes on the field (7 chukkers (rounds) of 6 minutes each).
One of the most exciting features of the equestrian floor is the trampling of the earth between chukkers. This is done not only by employees but also by spectators. They go out into the field and press the pieces of turf uprooted by the horses' hooves back to the ground. Given that this sport is secular, such a spectacle looks very interesting.
Horse polo requires special horses.
Not all breeds of horses can be used in polo, but only special ones - polo ponies. Even though they are similar in height to ordinary horses, since the 147 cm height limit for ponies was abolished in 1919, polo ponies have a stable psyche and a bold character. Moreover, such horses can easily pick up speed over a short distance and simultaneously change their speed dramatically.
The leader in breeding horses for equestrian sex in Argentina. And if the polo pony was not raised in this country, its roots are probably from here.
Polo is not a sport for amateurs
Even though this sport is one of the favorite pastimes of aristocrats, not everyone will be able to achieve significant success in it since the rider and horse must act as a single whole. The ability to play horse polo has been honed over the years because it is difficult to imagine a person who knows exactly how to jump to the ball on the field to correctly hit the ball without many years of practice.
In addition, horse polo is one of the most traumatic sports because you need to be able to stay in the saddle so as not to fall off.
Horse polo is an expensive sport
Today, horse polo is not only noble but also very expensive, so it is not available to everyone. You will need to spend about 50 thousand dollars to purchase one polo pony. Moreover, there should be several such horses in the stall since, during the match, the rider changes them (a rare horse can withstand more than two halves because it feels significant stress during the game). But the rules state that a polo player can change no more than six horses per match.
In addition, it is worth considering the funds for the maintenance of stables, veterinary services, and ammunition.
On November 20, 1902, the editor of the newspaper L'Auto, Henri Desgrange, and the journalist Géo Lefebvre, dined in one of the Parisian cafes. Their conversation turned to the then-famous cycling race along the route Paris - Brest - Paris. These competitions were sponsored by the newspaper Le Petit Journal, which gave it good publicity and new subscribers.
Suddenly, Geot Lefebvre asked the editor - why not organize your own bike race? After all, Henri Desgrange was a famous cyclist in his youth, the owner of several records in races of 50 and 100 kilometers, as well as 100 miles. Desgrange liked the idea, and in the summer of next year the first Tour de France cycling race took place, which then became the most prestigious competition for professional cyclists.
Already the first competition brought the newspaper "L'Auto" an unprecedented increase in popularity. During the Tour alone, the number of subscribers grew from 25,000 to 65,000. Moreover, the circulation of the newspaper only increased with each competition. Currently, the history of the Tour de France has more than 100 years. Races were not held only during the First and Second World Wars. Naturally, many interesting events have happened on the Tour de France over the years.
The race consists of 21 stages, each of which takes one day. During this time, participants overcome a total of 3-4 thousand kilometers. The record for the length of the race was set in 1926, when the athletes covered 5745 km. This is approximately equal to the distance from Paris to Omsk.
In the early years of the competition, racers carried with them all the tools and spare parts needed for repairs. They tried to fix the breakdowns right on the highway or went to the nearest settlement in search of, for example, a blacksmith. Indeed, in order for participation in the stage to be counted, the cyclist needs to reach the finish line.
The real legend of the Tour de France was the American cyclist Lance Armstrong, who was able to win a record number of races - seven. But, in 2013, the athlete admitted to doping. Adding at the same time that otherwise it was simply impossible to win such a number of victories. Armstrong was stripped.
Bemorepanda collected more interesting facts below.
1. The Tour de France has been held since 1903. It was originally an advertising project for the newspaper L'Auto (an ancestor of L'Équipe). Another newspaper, Le Petit Journal, had a Paris-Brest-Paris cycle race. Already after the first edition of the race, the number of subscribers increased from 25 thousand to 65, and in 1908 it exceeded 250 thousand. In 1933, a record 854,000 copies a day were sold during the race.
2. At first, the "Great Loop" (the second name of the "Tour de France") was a six-stage race with a length of 2428 km. For more than a century of history, it was not carried out only during the wars - World War I (1915-1918) and World War II (1940-1946).
3. The first winner of the Tour de France was the former chimney sweep Maurice Garin, who won the first stage and the last two. At the finish line in Paris, he was greeted by a cheering crowd, and the fee was 6075 gold francs.
4. Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hino, Miguel Indurain and Eddy Merckx have won the Tour de France more often than others - five times each. Seven victories in a row on account of Lance Armstrong, but he was later disqualified.
5. In 1969, Eddy Merckx set a unique record by winning the general classification, as well as mountain and points.
6. Briton Chris Froome has won the Tour de France four times, but has missed the race for the second year in a row. In June 2019, Froome was seriously injured and took a long time to recover. This year he plans to start in the Vuelta a España.
7. The most prestigious multi-day event has four classifications. Each has its own jersey. Yellow jersey - for the leader of the general classification. It has been used since 1919. The color matches the color of the pages of the newspaper that founded the Tour de France.
8. The green jersey belongs to the rider with the most sprint points. They have been accrued according to the system determined by the organizers since 1953. Points can be earned at the end of the flat stages and intermediate sprint finishes. Each stage has its own coefficient.
9. Only four times in history has a Tour de France winner won the points classification. Eddy Merckx did it three times, and Bernard Hinault once. Peter Sagan won the green jersey more often than others - seven times. Eric Zabel was the top scorer six times.
10. The mountain king wears a pea jersey. It was introduced in 1975, although the best mountain racer has been awarded since 1933. The unusual coloring comes from the T-shirt's first sponsor, a French chocolate manufacturer that sold it in white packaging with red dots.
11. Mountain classification is considered the most difficult to predict on the Tour de France. The winner is the one who scored the most points at the finishes of the mountain stages or intermediate mountain finishes. Mountains have their own categories. The steeper and longer the mountain, the more points are given for it.
12. White jersey - best young rider trophy. It has been played since 1975 among those who, on January 1 of the year of the race, were not 25 years old. There have been five occasions in the history of the Tour de France when one rider has won both the white and yellow jerseys. Such success has been achieved by Laurent Fignon (1983), Jan Ulrich (1997), Alberto Contador (2007), Andy Schleck (2010) and Egan Bernal (2019).
13. Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos) is the youngest winner of the Tour de France in the last 100 years. He won the Big Loop at the age of 22 years 196 days. Younger were only Henri Cornet (19 years and 355 days) in 1904 and Francois Faber (22 years 187 days) in 1909. In addition, Bernal is the first South American winner.
14. Bernal put on the yellow jersey of the leader in the 19th stage, shortened due to weather conditions. It is clear that he also got the white jersey of the best young rider. “My father could not utter a word at first, but when he got over it, he congratulated me, almost crying. For us, this is a dream. We used to watch the Tour de France on TV, we thought it was something unattainable. As a child, you think: "How cool it would be to be there one day." But it looked so far away. And here we are.
15. The winner of the mountain classification was Romain Bardet (France, AG2R), points - Peter Sagan (Slovakia, Bora-Hansgrohe). Ilnur Zakarin took 51st place. Leading 14 days Julian Alaphilippe finished fifth.
16. Due to the pandemic, the 107th start of the Great Loop was postponed by two months. The route, approved back in 2019, passes only through the territory of France. It consists of 9 flat stages, 6 mountain stages, 5 mid-mountain stages and one time trial. The total length of all stages is 3484 kilometers.
17. The 2020 Tour de France has 19 world tour teams and three pro-continental teams. Each has eight cyclists, totaling 176.
18. The most experienced rider in the 2020 Tour de France is Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, who took part in this race 12 times. He is also the oldest - 40 years 127 days.
19. In addition to last year's winner Egan Bernal (Team INEOS Grenadiers), Primož Roglič (Jumbo - Visma), Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-hansgrohe), Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic), Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Merida), Thibault Pino (Groupama - FDJ), Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-First), Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo - Visma), Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), Miguel Lopez (Astana), Tadej Pogacar ( UAE Team Emirates).
20. During one Tour, teams use about 42,000 cycling bottles. It is noteworthy that many of them are thrown to the side of the road, and viewers can get not only a memorable, but also a useful souvenir.
21. Eddy Merckx has been on the podium the most times. 37 times the Belgian became the winner of the stages.
22. The Tour de France is often referred to as "LaGrande Boucle", which means "big loop", and marks the route encircling France around.
23. The average cyclist burns about 124,000 calories during the Tour. 252 double cheeseburgers in a month can be eaten by riders at least without harm to their figure.
24. Based on an average cadence of 90 revolutions per minute, then for 3 weeks of the race the cyclist produces 486 thousand revolutions of the pedals.
25. Up until the 1960s, it was considered normal practice to drink an alcoholic drink after a race to numb muscle pain. Soon alcohol was banned, as it was considered a stimulant.
26. About 12 million spectators line the tracks of the Tour de France to watch the graceful cycling. This makes the "big loop" the biggest sporting event in the world!
27. In 1919, only 10 people reached the finish line - the smallest number for the entire duration of the race.
28. During the Tour, cyclists do not rest a day from the bike. Even on "weekend" days, they pedal for at least 2 hours to disperse the lactic acid and stay focused on the race. They must have really good bike saddles.
29. The smallest gap in the general standings was recorded in 1989. Then the American Greg LeMond was ahead of his French colleague Lauren Fignon by 8 seconds. A journey of 21 days and only 8 seconds of separation. Brutal sport.
30. Five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinolt once said an interesting phrase: “A beginner should think very carefully before attempting to ride one stage of the Tour. Two stages will obviously require a visit to the doctor, and after three you will need a psychiatrist. If more, be sure to make sure that the rider has made a will.”
31. The total prize money of the Tour de France is $4.3 million.
32. Three and a half billion viewers watch the Tour de France at least once on TV each year.
33. The peloton wears out a total of 790 tires in a three-week race.
34. In the early years, riders had 14 rest days instead of the current two. Then the stages very often ended at night, and the cyclists needed a day to recover.
35. The winner of the 1947 Tour, Jen Robick, is famous for stuffing himself full of canteens of water at the top of the mountain in order to descend faster. Cunningly.
36. Eddy Merckx has worn the yellow jersey for the longest time - 96 days over several years.19. The very first Tour de France winner was Maris Garin. In 1904 he repeated his success, but was later disqualified for fraud. At one of the stages, Maris used the train to win in the Alps. About times, about customs. Looks like he didn't use a bike bag.
37. The maximum average speed at the stage was recorded in 2005 - 41.36 km / h. For example, in 1919 the average was only 24 km/h. Although this is a good indicator, you will agree.
38. In the early years of the Tour de France, riders rode bikes without derailleurs. In extreme cases, they were allowed to manipulate the chain, but they did not give much effect. In 1910, when difficult mountainous sections appeared on the track, it became clear that gear shifting was indispensable.
39. At the dawn of the history of the Tour de France, cyclists were "self-service" - namely, they carried all the necessary spare parts and tools for repairs with them (and don't even try to imagine how much all this stuff weighed, which had to be pulled uphill without changing gears ). Of course, they also produced themselves in haste. If the breakdown could not be fixed alone and quickly, the participant dropped out of the race. There is a well-known story of an Englishman by the name of Christophe, who led the races three times, but eventually lost, as he broke his fork and was forced to look for a forge on foot.
40. The heaviest participant in the Tour de France was the Swedish rider Magnus Wakstedt, who weighed 94 kg and received the nickname Big Maggy for this. And the Frenchman Jean Robich, who, due to his slender physique, would have been more suitable for the role of a jockey than a cyclist (with a height of 161 cm, he weighed 60 kg), carried with him two bottles of water, where he added lead. Thus, the rider increased the weight and more or less equalized his chances with his rivals on the descents. He won the Tour de France in 1947. WADA did not exist then, and lead was not considered doping.
41. Speaking of doping. Until the early 1960s, Tour de France participants were allowed to drink alcohol right during the races (ether was also used for pain relief during exertion). Then a law was passed banning stimulants, and the former courage left the race - but not everyone. For example, when the British athlete Tom Simpson in 1967 felt ill at the 13th stage of the competition and died a few hours later, the doctors found that the man was "charged" with a cocktail of alcohol and drugs.
42. By the way, the most titled participant in the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, who won seven victories, lost all awards in 2012 by decision of the US Anti-Doping Agency.
43. The first winner of the Tour de France, Maurice-Francois Garin (1904 champion), was later disqualified for cheating: as it turned out, he ate food from one of the cars, which was against the rules.
44. It has been established that the average Tour de France rider spends 4-5 thousand kcal at each stage and almost 124 thousand kcal in total (that's about 252 double cheeseburgers), and then they lose such a volume of fluid that is equivalent to 39 trips to the toilet. Between rides, cyclists don't rest, riding for about 2 hours a day to flush lactic acid from the muscles and maintain focus.
45. Cyclist Miguel Indurain, who won the Tour de France five times in a row, has unique physiological features: his pulse is 28 beats per minute (at a rate of 60-70 beats), his lung capacity is 8 liters (with an average volume of 6 liters), and the circulatory system pumps 7 liters of oxygen per minute (for an ordinary person - 3-4 liters, and for other professional cyclists - 5-6 liters).
46. During the existence of the "Tour de France" it has acquired organizational traditions. For example, an advertising caravan usually rides in front of cyclists - cars from which food and souvenirs are distributed to the audience (alas, cases of death of freebie hunters under the wheels of these cars are known).
47. The organizers are trying to lay out the route in such a way that it runs through little-known settlements and attracts tourists there, and with them profit for local residents. Every year, among the spectators, "loop hooligans" are hiding - people who, for some reason, cannot stand bicycles, cycling races, and specifically the Tour de France. They try to arrange different antics, interfering with the racers. Every year, up to 100-120 people find themselves behind bars in the police station because of this.
48. Cyclist Miguel Indurain, who won the Tour de France five times in a row, has unique physiological characteristics.
49. If the pulse of an ordinary person is 60-70 beats per minute, Indurain's figure at the peak of his career was 28.
50.His lung capacity is 8 liters, while the average volume is 6 liters. His circulatory system pumped 7 liters of oxygen per minute at a rate of 3-4 liters for an ordinary person and 5-6 liters for professional cyclists.
Los Angeles Lakers. Team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers were founded and have been playing in the NBA since 1947. The first name of the team was the Minneapolis Lakers, the current one has been since 1960. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Los Angeles has reached the NBA Finals thirty-one times and won sixteen league titles.
The Lakers are not just the most successful club in the history of basketball in America, not just the club that managed to shine in all eras, not just the most popular and most hated organization. The Lakers are the only superclub in the NBA because they have always had the unique opportunity to get the best players of the era.
The history of the Lakers is not the story of talented management or wealthy owners, not the ability to draft brilliantly or lay championship rings on the table, not the attractiveness of sunny weather or affordable women.
The history of the Lakers is precisely the history of their endless superstars and the unique paths that have always taken them to the same place.
Bemorepanda collected some more interesting facts.
1. In 1990, the Los Angeles Lakers played a bunch of Predators at the end of Predator 2.
2. LeBron rested in the summer for the first time in a long time and appeared fresh and updated before the 2019/2020 season. With a long-awaited star next to him. Miami (like the Lakers) were in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. A big step forward for both organizations that have not competed in the finals for several years.
3. It's unbelievable, but 75-year-old Miami President Pat Riley has made it to the NBA Finals in each of the past six decades.
4. Old Pat won as a player, and as a coach, and as a club leader. Surprisingly, many of the brightest moments of the Lakers are associated with Riley. Not only did he have some great seasons as a player, but he was a successful manager for the Lakers for a long time. After his departure to Miami, the organization from the east coast rose to a qualitatively new level.
5. It was Riley who managed to create the “Big Trio” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and play in the NBA Finals for four years in a row.
6. LeBron James reached the final for the ninth time in the last ten years. Space! This man just lives in the playoffs and blossoms for the most important matches. This will be his tenth career final. And in this he overtook 27 NBA clubs. LeBron is second only to the Lakers (32 finals), Boston (21 finals), and the Golden State Warriors (11 finals).
7. There is no clear leader in Miami. And this is their feature. The Heat became only the fifth team to reach the finals, replacing the best scorer in each of the series. If in the first round Goran Dragic was the best sniper, then in the games with Milwaukee Jimmy Butler led the team.
8. In the final series, Bam Adebayo became the leader in points scored. So now let the opponent think who to keep more carefully. By the way, four previous examples (twice the Lakers, Detroit and San Antonio) necessarily won the title.
9. Statistics in the NBA is built into a cult. And there is nowhere to hide from her. Especially if you're as big as Shaquille O'Neal. This giant changed so many teams, and his partners were so cool that for 37 years in a row one of his former teammates has been playing in the decisive series.
10. Lakers defenseman JR Smith predicted the finalists in the winter. It is clear that the chances of the Lakers were very high even then. But how did he know about Miami? It is curious that he answered in the stories of his Instagram account, but our American colleagues carefully save all the “moves” of such prominent people as Smith.
11. The Lakers were keen to sign free agent Andre Iguodala. The veteran, who could not be renewed by the Warriors, was badly needed by them in the playoffs. He won the 2015 Finals MVP award for his near-perfect defense against LeBron James. He understands the game, knows everything about it. But he was intercepted by Miami and the same cunning fox Pat Riley. He seemed to already know something.
12. It was Iguodala who became the X-factor of the sixth game in the series with the Celtics. The veteran came out and hit four times from behind the arc without making a single miss. His final "+20" in the usefulness column only says that he is ready for the final and LeBron should keep this in mind.
13. Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Dion Waiters became an NBA champion before the start of the series. Dion will receive the ring even if the team loses to the Heat in the final. Waiters started the season with Miami before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Andre Iguodala.
14. Memphis expelled Waiters, who then signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Dion appeared on the court in just three games with Miami, but this is enough to receive the title of NBA champion. It is reported by "The Rambler".
15. The franchise that would become the Lakers was founded in 1946 as the Detroit Gems and played in the National Basketball League (NBL). The team moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1947 and its name was changed to the Lakers to reflect the state of Minnesota's nickname of "The Land of 10,000 Lakes".
16. That same year, the Lakers acquired George Mikan, who became professional basketball's first dominant "big man" and first in the Lakers' series of great centers. The Lakers joined the BAA (the official predecessor of the NBA) in the 1948–49 season and won the BAA Final Championship. \
17. The NBA was formed in 1949, and Mikan and the Lakers—which also included future Hall of Famers Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, Vern Mikkelsen, and (since 1953) Clyde Lovellett—won four of the first five league titles, creating the first dynasty of professional basketball.
18. The Lakers' game attendance dropped after Mikan's retirement in 1956, and the team moved to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season.
19. The Lakers made the NBA Finals six times in the 1960s but lost to the Celtics in every game, despite the presence of all-time greats Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (who would later assemble a number of Lakers championship teams as the team's general manager).
20. However, in the 1971–72 season, the Lakers—led by West, Gail Goodrich, and Wilt Chamberlain—set NBA records for longest winning streak (33 games) and best regular season record (69–13; broken in 1995–96).
21. The Chicago Bulls are on their way to an NBA championship, the team's first title since the move. to Los Angeles.
22. The Lakers made the Finals again in 1972–73 but lost to the New York Knicks. After that season, Chamberlain retired and the team's fortunes took a turn for the worse as the Lakers missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history in 1974–75 and 1975–76.
23. The Lakers entered the most dominant period in their franchise history when they selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft. Johnson teamed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and (since 1982) James Worthy to lead the Lakers to eight NBA Finals appearances over the next decade, leading to five NBA championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988).
24. This era became known as "Showtime" not only because of the flamboyant, often spectacular style of play hosted by Johnson and the impeccable head coach Pat Riley, but also because of the presence of Hollywood stars, most notably Jack Nicholson, at the courts. In addition, the renewed rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics—two teams that fought for the NBA title in 1984, 1985, and 1987, and more specifically, Johnson's battle with Bostonian Larry Bird—lifted the NBA to new levels of popularity in the 1980s. .
25. After the retirements of Abdul-Jabbar in 1989 and Johnson in 1991, the Lakers' fortunes deteriorated rapidly.
26. The team still made regular playoff appearances—the Lakers only missed a postseason game five times in the team's first 60 seasons—but failed to reach the NBA Finals for the longest period in team history.
27. However, that all changed in the 1999–2000 season when newly hired head coach Phil Jackson led the Lakers, leading Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to the first of three straight titles. O'Neal was traded in 2004, but a redesigned Lakers team with Bryant as coordinator made it to the 2008 NBA Finals, which they lost to Boston in six games.
28. The following season, the Lakers returned to the Finals, where they defeated the Orlando Magic in five games to clinch the 15th seed in the franchise championship. In the 2009–10 season, the Lakers made their third consecutive Finals appearance, where they defeated the Celtics in a dramatic seven-game streak.
29. The Lakers then entered a period of relative lack of success, which peaked in 2012–13. The team added perennial All-Stars Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in the preseason and were considered one of the favorites to win the championship, but in an inconsistent and injury-riddled campaign, the team was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.
30. During the off-season, Howard went free-roaming, and Bryant and Nash missed most of the following season with injuries, which contributed greatly to the Lakers' loss in 2013–14. Bryant missed most of the following season with another injury, and the Lakers struggled to a 21–61 record. The team was even worse in the 2015–16 season, with a franchise-worst record of 17–65 in Bryant's final season before his retirement.
31. The team's record improved by nine wins in 2016–17, but the Lakers' record-breaking playoff drought extended to four seasons and led to a front office reshuffle, including Magic Johnson, who took over as team president of basketball.
32. Johnson helped lure free agent superstar LeBron James to the Lakers during the 2018 offseason, but the team failed to improve significantly and Johnson abruptly resigned at the end of the 2018–19 season. The next season was stormy.
33. In January 2020, Bryant was among those killed in a helicopter crash, and less than two months later, the NBA suspended play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, the season resumed but with a reduced schedule, with players largely isolated in a "bubble". Thanks to a stellar performance from James, who was named Finals MVP, the Lakers eventually defeated the Miami Heat to win the NBA championship.
34. The legendary NBA player got his name from the Japanese Kobe steak, which is made from premium quality beef, namely from bulls of the Japanese black breed of the Tajima variety. A kilogram of such meat can cost more than $500.
35. Kobe Bryant's father, Joe Bryant, is a professional basketball player who played in the NBA and in Europe. Joe spent seven years of his career in Italy, thanks to which Kobe knows Italian perfectly.
36. Kobe started playing basketball at the age of 3 and adored the game number #33, which was used by his father. Under the same number, Bryant performed at school.
37. The legendary NBA player got his name from the Japanese Kobe steak, which is made from premium quality beef, namely from bulls of the Japanese black breed of the Tajima variety. A kilogram of such meat can cost more than $500.
38. Kobe Bryant's father, Joe Bryant, is a professional basketball player who played in the NBA and in Europe. Joe spent seven years of his career in Italy, thanks to which Kobe knows Italian perfectly.
39. Kobe started playing basketball at the age of 3 and adored the game number #33, which was used by his father. Under the same number, Bryant performed at school.
40. Even as a child, Kobe Bryant made a serious bid to pass legendary: during his performances in high school, he scored 2883 points, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's Pennsylvania state record (2252 points).
41. Bryant didn't play at university. In 1996, he became the first defenseman in league history to enter the NBA from high school. According to Bryant, if he still had to go to university, he would have chosen Duke.
42. In 1996, Kobe spent pre-draft training with the Boston Celtics, the nemesis of the Los Angeles Lakers. But the team from Massachusetts, which had the 6th pick in the draft, did not dare to choose a 17-year-old basketball player.
43. The trade of Bryant for Vlad Divac from the Hornets to the Lakers on the day of the draft outraged Los Angeles fans. No one understood why the leadership of the Lakers gave up the starting center team for a schoolboy with dubious prospects. After 20 years, this exchange will be called one of the most successful in the history of the NBA.
44. In his rookie season, Kobe won the dunk contest. Among the defeated rivals were Ray Allen, Chris Carr, Michael Finley, Darwin Ham and Bob Sura.
45. Already at the age of 19, Bryant made his first All-Star Game. Despite the fact that he scored only 15 points per game and only 1 time in the season came out in the starting five of the Lakers.
46. Kobe's parents did not communicate with their son for two whole years, as they did not approve of his marriage to a 19-year-old dancer of Mexican origin. Because of this, Joe and Pam Bryant even missed the 2001 NBA Finals when their son won the championship.
47. Nickname Black Mamba Kobe Bryant came up with himself.
48. Bryant tried his hand at hip-hop and once even sang along with Tyra Banks on the same stage. The track was called "K.O.B.E".
49. From 1999 to 2009, Kobe owned a 50% stake in Milan basketball.
50. Years spent in Italy have taken their toll: Kobe Bryant is a big fan of Milan football as well, and his favorite player of all time is Marco van Basten.
Many people are into sports, including sitting on the couch or podium and watching their favorite team or athlete. But it's one thing to know everything about your favorites, and quite another - about everything that relates to the topic of sports, from the Olympic Games to well-known facts.
Quiz. Questions and answers about sports that will baffle even a school teacher
Bemorepanda has compiled a list of questions that may interest sports fans and provide an opportunity to show off their knowledge in this area. Don't be afraid; we are not going to ask something very complicated, like what is the national sport in Bangladesh. Our questions relate to more widespread sports worldwide, such as basketball, football, and others, or the Olympics. Although, to be honest, some questions will surely make you break your head.
1. What is the length of the marathon distance?
Answer: 42 km 195 m.
2. The French Open is played at the stadium named after which World War I pilot?
Answer: Roland Garros.
3. Who was the first British player to win league titles in four countries?
Answer: David Beckham.
4. What is the only country that has taken part in all the World Cups?
Answer: Brazil.
5. How many disciplines are there in men's gymnastics?
Answer: Six - jump, rings, floor, crossbar, uneven bars, horse.
6. How many rings are on the Olympic flag?
Answer: 5.
7. What is the record for the most red cards in one football match?
Answer: 36.
8. What is the Tour de France?
Answer: Cycling.
9. Which African country was the first to qualify for the World Cup?
Answer: Egypt.
10. Which city was the first to host the Olympics twice?
Answer: Paris.
11. What is the last competition in the decathlon?
Answer: 1500 meter run.
12. What is the national sport in Canada other than hockey?
Answer: Lacrosse.
13. How many dimples are on the average golf ball?
Answer: 336.
14. What does NBA mean?
Answer: National Basketball Association.
15. What part of the body in football cannot touch the ball?
Answer: hands.
16. What sport uses net, racket and shuttlecock?
Answer: badminton.
17. In what year were women allowed to compete in the modern Olympics?
Answer: 1900.
18. What winter sport uses the terms "stale fish" and "mule kick"?
Answer: snowboarding.
19. How long was the longest point draw in tennis history?
Answer: 29 minutes.
20. How many Olympic Games have been held in countries that no longer exist?
Answer: 3 (USSR, Yugoslavia and West Germany).
21. Name the athlete of the century, announced in 1999 by both the prestigious American magazine Sports Illustrated and the BBC?
Answer: Muhammad Ali.
22. At the 1971 Olympics, Nadia Comaneci became the first gymnast to score the highest score. What country did she represent?
Answer: Romania.
23. What is the only city in the US that has won three of the four major professional sports championships in the same year?
Answer: Detroit won the NFL, NBA and NHL.
24. Who is the youngest heavyweight boxing world champion?
Answer: Mike Tyson - 20.
25. The Olympic Games are held once every how many years?
Answer: Technically every 2 years, because the Summer and Winter Olympics are no longer held in the same year, as they used to be after 4 years.
26. Who has won more Grand Slam tennis titles, Venus Williams or Serena Williams?
Answer: Serena Williams.
27. How many medals did China win at the Beijing Olympics?
Answer: 100.
28. How many players are on the baseball team?
Answer: 9.
29. Who was the youngest player to score 10,000 points in the NBA?
Answer: LeBron James.
30. How old was the youngest professional footballer?
Answer: 12.
31. What was the fastest goal in World Cup history?
Answer: 10.8 seconds.
32. What do the rings symbolize at the Olympic Games?
Answer: Continents of the world.
33. Where were the first ancient Olympic Games held?
Answer: In Greece.
34. In which sport is the strongest identified in a circle with a diameter of 4.5-5 meters?
Answer: Sumo wrestling.
35. Who is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as
Answer: Pele is a Brazilian soccer player.
36. Who has won the most heavyweight boxing world title fights?
Answer: Joe Louis.
37. What do Indianapolis 500 winners traditionally drink in the winning circle?
Answer: Milk.
38. How many dogs are in a dog race?
Answer: six.
39. Which sport is best known as the "King of Sports"?
Answer: Football.
40. In car racing, which flag is waved to announce the winner?
Answer: Checkered.
41. How many holes are played in an average round of golf?
Answer: 18.
42. How big is an Olympic size swimming pool in meters?
Answer: 50 meters long and 25 meters wide.
43. What kind of sport is called the "sport of kings"?
Answer: Polo.
44. Who has won the most consecutive Wimbledon singles titles?
Answer: Martina Navratilova - six.
45. How many Olympic Games have been held in Africa?
Answer: Zero.
46. Which country last hosted the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in the same year?
Answer: Germany - 1936.
47. In cricket, how many points are scored if the ball hits the boundary without rebounding?
Answer: Six.
48. What is the only sport in which teams can be seen defending goals of different sizes?
Answer: Water polo.
49. What is the diameter of a basketball hoop?
Answer: 45 cm, and the maximum is 45.7 cm.
50. Which real-life boxer is the classic 1980 movie Raging Bull about?
Answer: About Jake LaMotta.
51. How long is a free program in figure skating?
Answer: Four and a half minutes for men, four minutes for women.
52. During the first modern Olympic Games, what were the first prize winners awarded with?
Answer: Silver medals.
53. Who won the first two FIFA Women's World Player of the Year awards?
Answer: Mia Hamm.
54. What is the name of the very center of the target in archery or darts?
Answer: Apple.
55. What were the first two women's sports included in the program of the modern Olympic Games?
Answer: Tennis and golf - 1900
56. Who is the youngest woman to ever win a tennis Grand Slam in singles?
Answer: Martina Hingis - 16 years 3 months.
57. At what Olympic Games did Mark Spitz win seven gold medals?
Answer: 1972 - Munich.
58. In what sport did famous pediatrician and writer Benjamin Spock win an Olympic gold medal?
Answer: Rowing.
59. What sports equipment is used to hit a tennis ball?
Answer: Tennis racket.
60. When an Olympic athlete wins first place, what color medal does he get?
Answer: Gold.
XI World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama (USA) from 7 to 17 July 2022. The games were originally scheduled to take place from 15 to 25 July 2021.
The decision of the International Association of World Games and the Birmingham Organizing Committee to hold the XI World Games in 2022 was caused by the postponement of the Olympic Games XXXII 2020 in Tokyo (Japan) to 2021. Keeping the original dates of the competitions would have meant the exclusion of many Olympic athletes and officials from the World Games and reduced spectator and media interest in the competition.
Competitions, as planned, will be held at 25 sports grounds located both in Birmingham itself and its environs.
The program will include 34 sports, 58 disciplines, 223 sets of medals will be played. More than 3,600 athletes from over 100 countries will take part in the competition.
Below you can find most interesting facts about World Games.
1. The World Games are held by the International World Games Association (IWGA), established on the initiative of the leaders of 12 sports federations.
2. The inspiration of the idea in 1980 was the President of the World Taekwondo Federation and a member of the International Olympic Committee, South Korean Un Yong Kim.
3. The Games were created to promote non-Olympic sports to the Olympic program and are held every four years.
4. The program of the World Games also includes Olympic sports (rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, rugby-7), but with their own non-Olympic disciplines (the exception is rugby-7, but this discipline has not yet been presented at the Olympic Games).
5. The first World Games were held in 1981 in the American city of Santa Clara, where 1265 athletes competed for 88 sets of awards in 18 sports.
6. The first winners of the Games in the team event were the US athletes, who won 76 medals - 27 gold, 26 silver and 23 bronze.
7. A total of ten World Games were held - Santa Clara 1981 (USA), London 1985 (Great Britain), Karlsruhe 1989 (Germany), The Hague 1993 (Holland), Lahti 1997 (Finland), Akika 2001 (Japan), Duisburg 2005 (Germany) and Kaohsiung 2009 (Taiwan), Cali 2013 (Columbia), Wrocław 2017 (Poland)
8. In 2001, the World Games began to be held under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.
9. Only four teams won victories in the team competitions - Russia (3 times), the USA (2), Italy (2) and Germany (1).
10. Only eight teams managed to get into the top three winners of the team standings. The leaders are Italy (6), Germany (5), USA (4), USSR/Russia (4).
11. Russia has three first team places. In The Hague-1993 was the 24th position, in Lahti-1997 - the fifth.
12. Russia has won the last three World Games - in Akita in 2001, Duisburg in 2005 and Kaohsiung in 2009.
13. In Duisburg, a Russian record was set for the number of gold medals won (27) and awards of all merits (57).
14. The national teams of Russia and the USA are co-authors of the record for the won gold medals for one World Games (27). The Americans installed it in 1981, our compatriots repeated it - in 2005.
15. The record holder for the total number of medals won in one Games is the Italian team, which in 1985 won 77 awards of three denominations.
16. The leader in the total number of gold medals for all seven World Games is the team of Italy (120). The Italians have also won the most medals of all three denominations (353).
17. The 2005 World Games in Duisburg also set a record for the number of sports included in the program (38, including 32 official ones). Akika-2001 still holds the lead in the number of countries participating in the Games (93).
18. Soviet athletes first performed at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara. The most significant success took place in Karlsruhe-1989, where the USSR team took second place, winning 36 medals - 15 gold, 13 silver and 8 bronze.
19. The official program of the Games includes: parachuting, archery, billiards, bowl sports, bowling, canoe polo, dance sports, scuba diving, fistball, frisbee, gymnastics (artistic, acrobatics, aerobics, trampolining), jujitsu, karate, korfball, lifesaving, orienteering, powerlifting, roller hockey, roller skating, artistic roller skating, beach handball, racketball, rugby sevens, rock climbing, squash, sumo, tug of war and water skiing.
20. The demonstration program of the Games included: duathlon, softball, wushu and marathon canoeing.
21. Previously, the program of the World Games included former Olympic sports - Basque pelota, powerboating, cricket, croquet, lacrosse, polo, rocky. In addition, there were American football, golf, casting, roller ski racing, pesapallo, sambo, surfing, and floorball.
22. The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meaning for sports or disciplines or events within a sport that do not compete in the Olympics.
23. The World Games are organized and administered by the International World Games Association (IWGA), recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
24. The World Games are held every four years, one year after the Summer Olympics.
25. A number of sports that were part of the World Games program have been discontinued as they are now included in the Olympic Games programme, such as badminton, beach volleyball, trampolining, rugby 7's, taekwondo, triathlon and women's weightlifting. Other sports have been Olympic sports in the past (such as tug of war).
26. Some of the sports played at the World Games are acrobatic gymnastics, top notch, orienteering, karate, powerlifting, tug of war, fin swimming, squash, korfball, billiards, water skiing, and dancesport.
27. The sports included in the World Games are limited to the facilities available in the host city; no new objects can be built for games.
28. The official program of the World Games includes from 25 to 30 sports. In addition, the IWGA, in consultation with the host city, may invite a sport to participate in the "invitation" program.
29. In order to be part of the World Games program, the sport must become widespread throughout the world, and the specific international sports federation must be a member of the IWGA.
30. Only the best athletes or teams may participate in each sport, as determined by the International Sports Federations. Most classes require you to qualify by placing first in a World Championship or Qualifying Tournament in order to be eligible to participate.
31. Badminton is the fastest racket sport: the speed of a shuttlecock can reach 270 km/h.
32. If you're bowling, don't try to knock down the pins as hard as you can. A bowling pin with a 7.5 degree deflection is enough for a fall.
33. Boxing was only legalized as a sport in 1900. Prior to that, he was considered too cruel and not suitable for the presence of the public. In the 20th century, boxing became the most popular sport in cinema.
34. It is noteworthy that the first hockey puck was a square shape! For a certain period they played hockey with round wooden pucks. A modern hockey puck is made of vulcanized rubber and weighs 200 grams. Before the start of the game, it is frozen so that it does not spring.
35. The first product of the Dassler family - the founders of Adidas - were sleeping slippers.
36. The fastest man in the world - Usain Bolt (Jamaica). Three-time Olympic champion of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing - in the sprint at distances of 100 and 200, he set a record by running these distances in 9.69 and 19.30 seconds, respectively.
37. In a Spanish second league match between San Isidro and Olimpico Carrante, a few minutes before the end of the game, the players of the two teams, dissatisfied with the refereeing, surrounded the referee to explain to him how to referee. And not only with words and gestures. In this critical situation, the referee, keeping complete calm, took out a red card and presented it to all twenty-two participants in the match.
38. Athletes jumping from a springboard on skis should not be wished for a fair wind - it only harms them. A headwind is much better, thanks to which an air cushion is created in front of the skier in flight, and he flies further. To start the jump, athletes are given a certain time, during which the coaches try to choose the optimal start moment, taking into account the wind. The change in wind during the course of the competition can make the conditions for the participants unequal: if the skier got only a tailwind, his chances for medals, even with the best technique, are sharply reduced.
39. The rules of horse racing state that the length of the name of a racing horse should not exceed eighteen letters. Names that are too long are cumbersome to record.
40. There are 336 notches in a standard golf ball.
41. Boxing was legalized as a sport only in 1900.
42. The only country to have participated in every World Cup is Brazil.
43. The most popular sport in cinema is boxing.
44. In ancient Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, all participants set their records naked, naked.
45. Contrary to a well-known misconception, in judo there are not 10, but 12 dans. True, not a single person was awarded the eleventh dan, and the twelfth was awarded to only one person - the founder of judo Dhigaro Kano.
46. In 1936, a hockey goaltender's mask was first used in Berlin by Japanese goaltender Tanaka Hoima.
47. Of the 51 matches held by Mike Tyson in the professional ring, he finished 21 by knockout in the first round (40.8%).
48. The weight of the table tennis ball is 2.5 grams.
49.The most popular simulator for the home is the orbitrek.
50. After being hit by a professional volleyball player, the ball can fly at speeds up to 130 km/h. And with the help of a hockey player, the puck can reach speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.
A sport is an activity of a physical nature and may involve competition. At the same time, sport is an activity that can influence a person's lifestyle, health or personality.
The study of the development of sport in human history can show significant social changes that have occurred over the centuries in different cultures. The concept of sport as an activity involving basic human, physical and mental abilities, aims to improve these skills to be used more effectively and suggests that sport is probably as old as the development of human intelligence. For primitive man, the physical activity of it was just a way to improve their knowledge of nature and, to the same extent, a way to master the environment around it. During the nineteenth century, many objects of prehistoric art were discovered in France (at Lascaux ), in Africa and Australia, which show how in prehistoric times, ritual ceremonies were performed in which physical activity was involved for participants. Some of these discoveries have been established to be at least 30,000 years old.
Sport, by its very nature, encourages diversity in a cultural world. As countries and nations become closer and closer to each other, but still retain their cultural identity, sport is a field in which cultural differences are not only accepted, but a wealth to be cultivated and valued. The concept of sport can become an "indicator of change" of the global society, of anticipation, evolutions and changes through the symbolic opening of interstate relations. Sport thus becomes and must be considered as a mirror of culture and society, as it represents the hopes and prospects of the future.
How do synchronized interpreters hear music underwater and why is a soccer ball black and white?
Each of us is connected with sports in one way or another: someone is engaged at home, someone is at a professional level, and there are those who follow the athletes and their achievements from the outside. Nevertheless, some moments for many still remain a mystery. We analyze the most popular questions about sports.
Why are golf ball notches?
These "dents" on the ball are needed to increase the range of its flight. So the air, flowing around the uneven ball, reduces the vacuum trail created by the speed. And the boundary layer of air at a smooth ball does not have time to go behind its back side, so a zone of reduced pressure is created, which means that the speed decreases.
Why are the Olympic rings these colors?
The closed rings as a whole symbolize the unity of the five continents, the union of all parts of the world and the worldwide character of the Olympic Games. And the colors are symbols of various elements: blue is water, red is fire, yellow is the energy of the earth, black is the energy of metal, green is the energy of wood.
How do synchronized swimmers hear music underwater?
So that during performances the synchronized interpreters do not get lost and hear music even under water, special underwater speakers are built into the pool. Of course, due to the density of the water, the sound is heard much worse, but this helps the swimmers to hear at least the rhythm and perform the elements of the program in time.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo's real surname?
In fact, Ronaldo is not a surname, but a first name. They added the name Cristiano in honor of US President Ronald Reagan, who had previously been an actor. The footballer's father was very fond of films with his participation. That is, Cristiano Ronaldo is a double name, the entire football star is called Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.
How much does a hockey goalkeeper's ammunition weigh?
Hockey is a very traumatic sport. Therefore, the equipment, especially the goalkeeper, who is always under the threat of a blow, must protect most of the body. Hence the weight - about 30 kg. It is made up of shin guards, helmet, gloves, carapace and more.
What is this white powder that gymnasts put on their hands?
Many people mistakenly believe that gymnasts rub flour in their hands before performing, but this is not the case. White magnesium powder removes even the smallest traces of moisture from the hand, helping to improve grip.
What is the most expensive sport?
The most expensive kind of sport is the Formula 1 circuit race. It is known that pilots receive large fees, but before that, the athletes themselves have to invest a lot of effort and money. And not only for the equipment itself, but also for its maintenance.
Who was the youngest Olympic champion?
Marcel Depaye, a boy of 8-10 years old - even his age is not known for sure - accidentally got to the 1900 Olympics. In the final rowing race, the Dutch decided to replace the heavy helmsman with a boy and won the race. Marseille became an Olympic champion, but did not receive any awards and did not even make the list of winners.
Why do swimmers wear two caps at once?
Fans began to notice that swimmers often wear two rubber caps on their heads at once - for what? To keep your hair dry and out of the way? No, the fact is that it is important for swimmers to protect their eyes from water, and so that the glasses are pressed tightly, athletes wear two rubber caps at once.
Why is the football black and white?
In 1970, when televisions were still in black and white, football matches were already broadcast live. Against a background of bright colors that looked gray on the screens, the black and white soccer ball was bright enough to stand out clearly. And then they decided to keep the tradition.
