Sport in Russia

The biggest country in the world offers a striking variety of landscapes and weather conditions. Here you can find arctic zones, covered with ice and snow all-year round, huge virgin pine forests, inaccessible rugged mountains, endless plains and sandy beaches with lush subtropical vegetation. This diversity creates opportunities for almost all known sports activities – from swimming and watersports at the seaside through hiking and cycling along the roads that reach the horizon to skiing in all seasons in Siberia and the Caucasus Mountains. Cruising is also very attractive to tourists in Russia, as it allows them to explore some of the most beautiful and important cities and cultural sites in the world.

Hiking
Hiking is an enjoyable activity for both nature lovers and athletes, giving a unique chance to get close to nature and explore the vast country in an incomparable way. Russia has an abundance of hiking trails and paths that will satisfy every taste. Mount Elbrus is one of Russia’s favorite hiking trails, rising to more than 5,500 metres above sea level. The trail has two cable lifts and special permission has been needed since 2004. Due to the difficulty of the terrain, the hike is possible only if tourists are organised by a hiking club that provides an experienced and knowledgeable guide. The Kamchatka Peninsula is another breathtaking destination for hiking trips with Kronotsky Nature Reserve, the Geyser Valley and the active volcano Karymsky being the main points of interest. Other remarkable hiking routes in Russia include the mounts Iremel and Taganai in Southern Ural, the Khibiny Mountains located 150 kilometres north of the Polar Circle and numberless paths in the Siberian taiga.

Cycling
Russia provides a wide range of cycling opportunities for tourists of all tastes and physical conditions. The enormous country has a network of cycling trails, but more common is travelling on two wheels using the roads with less traffic in the countryside - especially east of Ural. Two of the Eurovelo international cycle routes pass through Russian territory. The Capitals Route starts in Moscow and leaves Russia near the town of Smolensk, heading for Galway in Ireland. The Baltic Sea Cycle Route is a closed circuit along the coast of the Baltic Sea and passes through St Petersburg and its surroundings. There are some attractive tours that deserve attention, like the 650 kilometre-long Golden Ring to the northeast of Moscow and the tour of Karelia. Apart from biking pleasure, they provide encounters with Russian culture, history and architecture.

Swimming
Russia has an extremely long coastline, but only a negligible part of it is suitable for swimming or other watersports. The Black Sea coast in the southwestern end of the country has been the leading seaside holiday destination from the time of the USSR, when the elite of the country used it as a place for summer relaxation. Today, the region, with its centre Sochi, is far from its old fame and glamour, but is still the major Russian seaside resort. Swimming conditions are very good with high water temperatures and the saltines being twice lower than in the ocean. Countless swimming opportunities are available in the interior in the country – clean lakes and rivers with sandy beaches and copious public swimming pools and aqua parks in larger cities. Typically, the main Russian activity is ice diving – one of the most extreme activities known. It can be practised in the White Sea, which is always covered with at least a one metre crust of ice. Specialised diving clubs organise the dives and provide everything necessary.

Cruising
Russia is among the most attractive cruising destinations worldwide. Hundreds of different itineraries are available along the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Volga River and the dense network of canals and waterways, especially in the European part of the country. A truly unforgettable experience is the 13-day cruise from Moscow to St Petersburg aboard the luxurious cruise ship "The White Nights” along the Imperial Russian Waterways. The Peter Tchaikovsky Cruise from Moscow to Perm is a great adventure for music experts. Cruises from Moscow to Rostov and around Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands are also worth experiencing.

Rafting
Rafting trips in Russia will give you the chance to explore the landscape along some of the most beautiful waterways to be found in this country. The trips are typically hosted in remote wilderness areas with limited access, including Karelia, the Altai Mountains, parts of Siberia, and the Lake Baikal region. Most of them are suitable for both keen beginners and skilled rafters. Rafting tours are organised by local adventure travel agencies, which often combine rafting with other extreme activities, such as canoeing and canyoning, to provide tourists a never-ending adrenaline rush.

Skiing
Russia has great potential for a skiing holidays. The country boasts more than 100 ski areas of various type and quality. In response to the increasing demand, a few first-class ski centres with modern facilities have been built. Mount Elbrus offers the highest peak and year-around skiing. The peaks can be reached by cable car or helicopter, making easy access to amazing heights. Cheget is another very popular ski resort. Located in the Caucasus Mountains it has five runs that challenge even the most experienced skiers. The Volen Sport Park is also a great place for skiing and is only 60 kilometers from Moscow. There are six slopes catering to different needs, as well as elevators and equipment hire. Southern Ural and the Baikal Lake region offer perfect off-piste and cross-country skiing.

Golf
Golf is a relatively new leisure activity in Russia, but is rapidly gaining popularity. The country has many suitable locations for this game – endless plains and fields, green forests and crystal-clear lakes create an attractive setting for playing golf. There are numerous golf courses where keen golfers can pursue their passion while enjoying the fascinating Russian nature. The most famous clubs that provide excellent courses, equipment, lessons and accommodation are the Moscow City Golf Club, the Le Meridian Moscow Country Club and the Moscow Golf Club in Krylatskoe. Professional golf tournaments are held here, like the Russian Open, as a part of the European Tour.

Sport and healthy living guide

They say, "Health is above wealth." One of the first duties we owe to ourselves is to keep our bodies in perfect health. If your body suffers from any disorder, our mind suffers with it, and we are unable to make much progress in knowledge, and we are unfit to perform those duties, which are required of us in social life.

There are certain laws of health which deserve particular attention and they are so simple that even a child can learn them. A certain amount of exercise is necessary to keep the body in perfect condition. All the powers (mental and bodily) we possess are strengthened by use and weakened by disuse. Moderation in eating and drinking, reasonable hours of labour and study, enough sleeping time (not less than 7-8 hours a day), regularity in exercise, recreation and rest, cleanliness lay the foundations for health and long healthy happy life.

Thousands of people consider sports to be very helpful in gaining good health. That's why every country pays much attention to developing sports. It is sport that helps to bring up physically strong, strong-willed, courageous and energetic people.

In the last ten years recreational sport has become extremely popular, and, according to doctors is absolutely essential for a long and healthy life.

The reasons of this enormous interest in sport of all kinds are varied. When you ask people why they spend so much time, effort, and sometimes money, they will talk about the physical benefits (feeling fit, increasing stamina, sleeping better, the chance of living a more active life), psychological benefits (self-discipline and respect, a sense of personal achievement, relaxation, getting rid of aggression), and the social advantages (meeting people with similar interests, the team spirit). However, the social aspect seems to be more important for men than for women. Very often, enjoying a drink with friends after the match is as important for the former as a physical activity itself. The latter generally see sport as a way of keeping fit rather than anything else.

Of course, some people don't consider sport to be a hobby; it is an everyday work for them. Much is spoken now about problems in professional sport. There is a lot drug taking in sport. There is too much pressure on young sports people. Mountaineering and air sports such as hang-gliding, each kill at least 16 people every year. In one Sports Council study of 28,000 people, football was found responsible for more than a quarter of 2,000 injuries seen every year. But still many people are involved in professional sport and millions of people can not live without it. They prefer watching sporting events rather than taking part in them. They are so-called sport-fans. They pack stadiums during sport matches and competitions, they sit glued to the TV, and they are ready to give every moral support to their favourite sportsmen or teams.

In the meantime thousands of ordinary people devote their spare time to going in for sports. They play indoor and outdoor games: volleyball, basketball, table tennis, hockey, lawn tennis. The number of participants and spectators show that the most popular games are basketball, hockey and, of course, football. A lot of people go in for track-and-field athletics, cycling, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics and so on.

Hockey, figure skating, skiing and skating are among the most popular winter sports. In summer swimming is enjoyed by millions of people. There are also many indoor swimming pools, which makes swimming possible all the year round. Cycling is a useful exercise, too, because it takes you out into the fresh air and gives much work to all the muscles. So if you arrange your day correctly you can find an opportunity for sports.

Physical training is an essential part of young people's development. All pupils and students have regular training at PT lessons. These classes are enjoyed by everybody as they give a lot of energy, develop muscles, make pupils strong, quick and healthy. From time to time different kinds of competitions are organized at school or between schools. The most popular sports at school are basketball, football and volleyball. Besides, pupils and students attend a lot of sports clubs and sports sections after classes, where they take up their favourite kind of sport.

Indeed, sport is a part of everyday life of many generations all other the world. So if you think that physical fitness and health are important you are to go in for sports.

Sport and Games

People all over the world are fond of sports and games. That is one of the things in which people of every nationality and class are united. All kinds of physical exercises are very useful to make our bodies strong enough to keep ourselves fit and healthy. The most popular outdoor winter sports are shooting, hunting, hockey, in the countries where the weather is frosty and there is much snow – skating, skiing and toboggaging. Some people greatly enjoy figure-skating and ski-jumping. It’s so nice to go to the skating-rink or to the forest on a frosty sunny day!

Summer affords excellent opportunities for swimming, boating, yachting, cycling, gliding and many other sports. Among outdoor games football takes the first place in public interest; this game is played in all countries of the world. The other games that have firmly established themselves in favor in different countries are golf, lawn-tennis, cricket, volley-ball, basket-ball, and so on. Badminton is also very popular.

All the year round many people indulge in boxing, wrestling, athletics, gymnastics and track and field events. Scores of young girls and women go in for calisthenics. Over the last few years aerobics has become popular with young girls. It helps them to be slim, healthy and strong. The founder of this kind of sport was a well-known American actress Jane Fonda. Being a great enthusiast of aerobics she has been trying to initiate many young women all over the world into this sport.

Among indoor games the most popular are billiards, table-tennis, draughts and some others, but the great international game is chess, of course. The results of chess tournaments are studied and discussed by thousands of enthusiasts in different countries.

So we may say that sport is one of the things that makes people kin. To cut the long story short, I should admit that everyone must do all he can to be healthy. Physically inactive people get old earlier than those who have plenty of exercises. If you do daily exercises you feel refreshed, have a good posture, and that makes you feel good. I can add that good health is better than the best medicine. You have "A sound mind in a sound body,” as the old Latin saying goes. The English proverb "Sickness in the body brings sickness to the mind” expresses a similar idea, but from a different point of view.

Список слов к топику Sport and Games.

to be fond of smth. – любить, нравиться
to unite – объединять
outdoor winter games – зимние игры на открытом воздухе
shooting – стрельба
hunting – охота
tobogganing – санный спорт
to afford excellent opportunities for smth. – предоставлять прекрасные возможности для чего-то
yachting – парусный спорт
gliding – планерный спорт
golf – гольф
lawn-tennis – теннис
to establish oneself in favor – быть в почете
to be popular with smb. – быть популярным среди кого-то
to indulge in smth. – увлекаться чем-либо, заниматься (спортом)
boxing – бокс
wrestling – борьба
track and field events -  легкая атлетика
calisthenics – ритмическая гимнастика
to go in for smth. – увлекаться чем-либо, заниматься (спортом)
indoor games – игры в закрытом помещении
health – здоровье
enthusiast – энтузиаст
to initiate into smth – приобщать кого-то к чему-то
tournament – турнир
to make smb. kin – делать кого-то близким
inactive – не активный
mind – дух
to feel refreshed – чувствовать себя освеженным
similar – подобный

Топик Sport and Games - Open Air Games. Игры на свежем воздухе.

badminton – бадминтон
basketball – баскетбол
cricket – крикет
football (soccer – am.) – футбол
hockey – хоккей
rugby (ragger) – регби
lawn tennis – теннис (большой)
water polo – водное поло

Indoor Games. Игры в помещении.

chess – шахматы
draughts – шашки
squash – сквош, игра в мяч (вроде тенниса)
table-tennis – настольный теннис

Sport Events. Спортивные события.

amateur (professional sport) – любительский (профессиональный) спорт
championship – чемпионат
competition – соревнование, состязание
cup (final, semi-final) match – матч на кубок (финальный, полуфинальный)
tournament – турнир, спортивное соревнование

Participants. Участники.

team – команда
national (Olympic, college) team – национальная (олимпийская, колледжа) команда
sportsman – спортсмен
sportswoman – спортсменка
official (umpire, referee, judge) – судья
opponent (rival) – противник (соперник)

Audience. Публика.

fan – болельщик
spectator – зритель
sport enthusiast – любитель спорта