Sport

• The British team was successful across a wide range of Olympic sports in 2012, finishing third in the medal table.
• The UK hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012. The main Olympic site for the 2012 Games was in Stratford, East London.
• England’s only international football tournament victory was at the World Cup of 1966, hosted in the UK.
• St Andrews in Scotland is known as the home of golf.
• Rugby originated in England in the early 19th century and is very popular in the UK today. There are two different types of rugby, which have different rules: union and league. Both have separate leagues and national teams in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (who play with the Irish Republic).
• There is a long history of horse racing in Britain, with evidence of events taking place as far back as Roman times. The sport has a long association with royalty. There are racecourses all over the UK. Famous horse-racing events include: Royal Ascot, a five-day race meeting in Berkshire attended by members of the Royal Family; the Grand National at Aintree near Liverpool; and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. There is a National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, Suffolk.
• The modern game of golf can be traced back to 15th century Scotland.
• Modern tennis evolved in England in the late 19th century.
• Many sailing events are held throughout the UK, the most famous of which is at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
• Motor-car racing in the UK started in 1902
• There are five ski centres in Scotland, as well as Europe’s longest dry ski slope near Edinburgh.