A nation of sports enthusiasts is Canada. Canadians value many sports, the most common are Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Basketball, Soccer, Football (football means Canadian football or what is sometimes called Gridiron), Curling and Baseball. Ice Hockey is Canada’s official Winter sport and the most popular spectator sport which brings much success.
Canada’s official Summer sport which is also their oldest sport is Lacrosse and the second most popular spectator sport is Football – the country’s largest annual sports event is Canadian Football League’s Annual Championship which is called The Grey Cup. There is also Association Football, known in Canada as Soccer and actually has the most registered players of any sport in Canada, but unfortunately has never enjoyed popularity as a major professional spectator sport, even though the last few years have showed an improvement in with the media coverage and therefore has become more popular.
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Other popular team sports include Street Hockey, Curling, Ringette, Cricket, Rugby and Softball.
Currently, Cricket is the fastest growing sport in Canada.
Popular individual sports include Ice Skating, Skiing, Snowboarding, Swimming, Auto-Racing, Boxing, Golf, Hiking, Cycling, Horse Racing, Rodeo, Skateboarding, Triathlon, Tennis, Track and Field, Bobsledding and Wrestling.
As a country with a generally cool climate, Canada has enjoyed greater success at the Winter Olympics than at the Summer Olympics.
Canada’s official sport was Lacrosse and was invented by Aboriginal peoples. In 1994, First Nations groups objected to a Government bill that proposed establishing Ice Hockey as the national sport, The House of Commons amended a bill “to recognise Hockey as Canada’s Winter Sport and Lacrosse as Canada’s Summer Sport,” even though Lacrosse is played all year round!
Modern Ice Hockey began in Canada in the late 19th century and is considered a national pastime for Canada’ and is greatly participated by men, women and children at different levels of competition.
Basketball is also a popular sport in parts of Canada, especially in Nova Scotia, Southern Alberta, Southern Ontario.
Cricket in Canada – there are over 40,000 cricketers in the country, the most famous Cricketer is John Davison, who was born in Canada and took part in the Cricket World Cup in 2003 and 2007.
Curling is most popular in the Prairie provinces but is fairly popular across the country.
Rugby League re-launched in Canada in early 2010.
Soccer’s governing body in Canada is the Canadian Soccer Association, which goes back to the 1880s.
Motorsport in Canada – The Canadian Grand Prix Formula One auto race had been conducted every year since 1967 and since 1978 had been held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, apart from 2009, this track was named after Canada’s first Grand Prix driver, the late Gilles Villeneuve, whose son, Jacques, won the Formula One World Championship in 1997.
Golf is a popular recreational sport in Canada and there are some fantastic courses across the country. The Royal Canadian Golf Association is the governing organisation.
Cycling/Biking has increased in more recent years. There are different styles – slope style competition, four cross, downhill racing, dirt jumping and free-ride.
Canadians value many sports, the most common are Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Basketball, Soccer, Football (football means Canadian football or what is sometimes called Gridiron), Curling and Baseball.