Sport in Russia

Vocabulary:

description — определение

competitive — сопернический

entertaining — развлекательный

skilful — требующий навыков и умений

integral part — неотъемлемая часть

to be organized — быть организованным

strong-willed — обладать силой воли

outstanding — выдающийся

worthy — достойный, стоящий

championship — чемпионат

figure skating — фигурное катание

young generation — молодое поколение

to train to smth. — приучать к чему-либо

to include — включать

to be specialized in — специализироваться на

various — разнообразный

to admit — принимать

to take part in — принимать участие

numerous — многочисленный

to struggle for a medal — бороться за медаль

to roller-skate — кататься на роликовых коньках

to be crowded — быть переполненным, битком набитым людьми

football lover — любитель футбола

liver — житель

cross-country skis — беговые лыжи

to lay out a ski trail — прокладывать лыжню

to adore — обожать

Alpine skiing — горные лыжи

ski resort — горнолыжный курорт

youth — молодёжь

to surf down — катиться вниз, скатываться с

slide — склон

respected — уважаемый

boarder — сноубордист

stunt — трюк

cool — классный

to chat — болтать

equipment — оборудование

to rent — брать напрокат

outdoor or indoor skating rink — открытый или закрытый каток

ardent — рьяный, горячий

fan — фанат

to occur — появляться

passion — страсть

bungee jumping — прыжки с канатом

to hit — ударяться

rope — канат

skysurfing — скайсёрфинг

board — доска

year ticket — годовой абонемент

to cost — стоить

possibility — возможность

facility — удобство, оборудование

gym — спортзал

equipped — оборудованный

up-to-date — современный

gym apparatus — тренажёры

to be keen on — увлекаться, любить

to attend — посещать

sense of empathy — чувство сопереживания

team spirit — командный дух

to support — поддерживать

compatriot — соотечественник

although — хотя

achievement — достижение

to influence — влиять

attitude — отношение

What is " sport"? Sport is an organized, competitive, entertaining and skilful activity, which requires following some certain rules. It is an integral part of our life. It is very popular among people of all nationalities and different age groups. Sport helps us to be in good form, to keep fit, it makes us more organized, disciplined and strong-willed.

Russia is a country famous for its outstanding brilliant sportsmen, especially in winter kinds of sport. Russian teams take worthy places at world championships in ice hockey as well as in figure skating.

Sport has become very popular among young generation, since from early childhood children are trained to sport life. Russian schools and universities offer students a wide choice of sporting activities. It can be tennis, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, swimming, football, judo, boxing and others. There are a lot of sport clubs in Russia specialized in various sports, which admit children and teenagers. Many members of such clubs take part in numerous competitions, struggle for medals.

Russian people like to do many different sports. In summer they usually swim a lot, roller-skate and ride a bicycle. All sports grounds are crowded with football lovers. But winter sports are closer to Russian people. As soon as the first snow falls, nearly all the livers of the country take their cross-country skis and lay out a ski trail.

Young sportsmen adore snowboarding and Alpine skiing. Ski resorts all around the country become more and more popular, especially among the youth. It's not enough for snowboarders just to be able to surf down the slide. It's a must for every respected boarder to show at least 5 different stunts, otherwise he or she would not be considered " cool". There is nothing more attractive for Russian people in winter than skiing for the whole day and then sitting with friends, chatting and drinking hot tea. The equipment for Alpine skiing and snowboarding is quite expensive, but young sportsmen use the equipment that they rent at the ski resorts.

You can't forget about another favourite winter sport of the Russians — it is skating and particularly figure skating. Nowadays many people attend outdoor or indoor skating-rinks where they can skate even in summer.

Russian people are ardent fans of extreme sports. For the last several years there occurred a new youth passion for elastic bungee jumping. You jump off a bridge or a building and fall down to the ground, but just before the moment you hit the water or the ground, an elastic rope pulls you back. There is a similar kind of sport called skysurfing. In this case, you jump out of an airplane, which is flying at the height of about 5 km, and fall down using a special board to " surf" the air.

There is a great number of fitness centres all over Russia. Having your personal card, you have a possibility to use all offered facilities and attend all the classes included in the program. It may be everything from a simple gym equipped with a lot of up-to-date gym apparatus to some dancing classes or a swimming pool.

But still many people watch sport programmes on TV and are sure that they can be called sport-lovers. Some of them are keen on attending football and hockey matches at the stadium in order to feel a unique atmosphere. There is a huge amount of football fans in Russia. The sense of empathy is very common for Russian people. The team spirit lives in them, that is why they are always ready to support their compatriots at any championship. Although there are many good professionals in such famous football clubs as Zenit, Spartak, Rubin and Locomotive, their achievements are not very great, but even this fact can't influence the fans' attitude to their favourite teams.