Sport in Russia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Russia, is a keen sporting country, successful at a number of sports and continuously finishing in the top rankings at the Olympic games. During the Soviet era the team placed first in the total number of medals won at 14 of its 18 appearances; with these performances, the USSR was the dominant Olympic power of its era. Since the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952 and continuing today, the Soviet and later Russian athletes never went below third place in the world (never below 2nd until the most recent Olympics), in number and gold medals collected at the Summer Olympics.
Among the most played sports are football, ice hockey.[1] and basketball.
Other sports widely played in Russia include weightlifting, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, martial arts, volleyball, rugby union and skiing.
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[edit] Football
- See main: Football in Russia
The 2008 Uefa Champions League Final between Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC were played on May 21st at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.Manchester United FC beat Chelsea FC 6-5 in penalty shots.
[edit] Olympics
- See main: Russia at the Olympics
During the Soviet era the team placed first in the total number of medals won at 14 of its 18 appearances;[2] with these performances, the USSR was the dominant Olympic power of its era.[3] Since the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952 and continuing today, the Soviet and later Russian athletes never went below third place in the world, in number and gold medals collected at the Summer Olympics. The 1980 Summer Olympic Games were held in Moscow while the 2014 Winter Olympics will be hosted by Sochi.
[edit] Basketball
As the Soviet Union, Russia was traditionally very strong in basketball. At the moment they have various players in the NBA, notably Andrei Kirilenko, and they are considered as a worldwide basketball force. In 2007, Russia defeated world champions Spain to win Eurobasket '07.
[edit] Ice hockey
Russia's ice hockey team has a long history of traditions and success, and today more than 70 Russians play in the NHL.
[edit] Winter sports
Figure skating is another popular sport; in the 1960s the Soviet Union rose to become a dominant power in figure skating, especially in pairs skating and ice dancing. At every Winter Olympics from 1964 until the present day, a Soviet or Russian pair has won gold, often considered the longest winning streak in modern sports history. Other winter sports the Soviets or Russia are dominant in are cross country skiing (especially women's), bobsleigh, biathlon, speed skating, skeleton, and luge.
[edit] Tennis
Since the end of the Soviet era tennis has grown in popularity and Russia has produced a number of famous tennis players.
[edit] Chess
Chess is a favourite pastime, and a sport that has been dominated by Russians in the post-war (1945-) era. The winner of the 1948 World Chess Championship, Russian Mikhail Botvinnik, started an era of Soviet dominance in the chess world. Until the end of the Soviet Union, there was only one non-Soviet champion.
[edit] Rugby league
- See main: Rugby league in Russia
Rugby league is a team sport in Russia. Russia competed at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and was knocked out in the group stage. The premier rugby league competition is called the Russian Championship. It is currently ranked 13th in the world by the Rugby League International Federation.[4]
[edit] Rugby union
- See main: Rugby union in Russia
Rugby union is a growing sport in Russia. Russia is ranked 17th worldwide by the International Rugby Board (IRB) [5] with a little over 13,000 players nationally.[6] Russia has a professional domestic competition, the Firepower Professional Rugby League, including teams from Moscow (two clubs), Krasnoyarsk (two clubs), Chita, Krasnodar, Novokuznetsk and Penza. Krasnoyarsk, a large Siberian city, has traditionally been the stronghold of Russian rugby union. Domestic matches are covered in in the local media, and the intra-city derby match between sides Krasny Yar and Enisei-STM can attract large crowds.
[edit] References
- ^ Russian Sport Activities Russia.com
- ^ Summer Olympics Through The Years. Info please.com
- ^ The main game in a dragon's lair Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ RLIF January ranking
- ^ Official IRB Rankings
- ^ Official Russia Playing Numbers
[edit] See also
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