Section 3

SECTION 3

Popular Sports

Popular sports in Australia include cricket, rugby league, Australia Rules Football, swimming and netball.

Cricket to me is very popular as it is sort of a tradition, it is also our national sport. It has been played for a long time, it was first played in 1804. It involves technique, clever planning, skill and many other features. It is an intense game to watch, fast, fun and exciting. We also have the top cricket team in the world!

Rugby league and Australian Rules football are both different types of football. These games are fun to watch and play and can be intense to watch.

Swimming is a relaxing sport. It can also be fast and tiring. It is fun and ideal.

Netball, a very popular sport for girls is an exciting game that moves quickly. It requires skill as in every other sport. It is similar to basketball.

Anyone can play these sports and there are not much limitations compared to sports like gymnastic that need a level of skill to be able to perform successfully.

Liu Xiang

Liu Xiang is a Chinese Olympian who specialises in the 110 metre hurdler. Born July 13, Liu Xiang was born in Shanghai.

Liu can be seen as one of China’s cultural icon. He was China’s hope.

He came into the limelight in 2004 when he won China’s first gold medal in track and field at the Olympics. After his immense success, he bought the Chinese great hope and promise that he might repeat his success in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

However, on august 18, Liu walked off the tracks after a false start due to another runner in his first-round heat. The audience was stunned, confused, silent and despaired as their great hope had just walked off.

Later on in the press conference Liu’s coach explained of his Achilles tendon injury that has held him back for 6 to 7 years. Liu had started suffering a recurrence of chronic inflammation in his right Achilles’ tendon.

However, Liu vows to “come back” for the 2012 Olympic Games.

After 13months of recovery, Liu won second place at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, coming behind Terrence Trammell.

Compulsory Sports

There are no compulsory sports in Australia, but a compulsory amount of the time in which the student has to participate in PE.

In China many schools have compulsory running over a long distance.