黃玉茹著

01 Introduction

An Introduction to Sports



The term “sports” has a broad meaning. In its most generic sense, sports are athletic games or contests put on to entertain players and spectators. Sports such as hunting, fishing, running, and swimming are derived from the essential chores of primitive life. Other sports such as riding, shooting, javelin and archery have their roots in the requirements of early military life. And yet even further, other sports such as boxing, wrestling and jumping came from the challenges that grew out of ordinary human interaction.

Every known culture has had sports in one form or another, although the exact origins of many specific sports are unclear. Ancient Egyptians swam, raced, wrestled and had ball games, and ancient Greeks held large sports festivals. One such festival was the Olympic Games, attracting athletes from the far corners of city-states. Much like modern day dog races or F1 racing, the Greeks (and later the Romans) held competitions that used animals, or men behind machines; such competitions required talents more than mere physical prowess.

In modern times, industrialized societies expanded their conviction that sports were not just useful, but an essential, character-building pursuit of man. Sports that were traditionally played in specific regions or areas became important national sports (baseball for the US, bullfighting for Spain, sumo for Japan, etc.), and the rebirth of the Olympic Games in 1896 helped focus the world’s fixation on both sports and athleticism.

Throughout the twentieth century, sports have become increasingly global. The world has seen the creation of global competitions like the Olympic Games, and competitions celebrating one single sport such as the World Cup. However, politics have continued to encroach on this realm of sports, as we saw the 1980 boycott of the Moscow games by Western nations, and the retaliatory boycott by Soviet-bloc states of the 1984 Olympic Games. There is no doubt that the entanglement of sports and politics will continue to agitate the world.

01 Introduction

An Introduction to Sports



The term “sports” has a broad meaning. In its most generic sense, sports are athletic games or contests put on to entertain players and spectators. Sports such as hunting, fishing, running, and swimming are derived from the essential chores of primitive life. Other sports such as riding, shooting, javelin and archery have their roots in the requirements of early military life. And yet even further, other sports such as boxing, wrestling and jumping...

01 –
Introduction 認識運動
“What is Music?” 008
02 –
Olympic Games奧林匹克運動會
“History of the Olympic Games” 014
03 –
Baseball I 棒球(一)
“The Humble Origins of Baseball” 020
04 –
Baseball II 棒球(二)
“Taiwan Baseball Film, Kano” 026
05 –
Basketball 籃球
“ Basketball and Some Famous
NBA Figures” 032
06 –
Badminton 羽毛球
“Getting Started with Badminton” 038
07 –
Table Tennis 桌球
“From High Society to High Speed” 044
08 –
Soccer 足球
“Soccer and David Beckham” 050
09 –
American Football 美式足球
“ The Charm and Controversy of
American Football” 056
10 –
Triathlon 三項全能
“Swimming, Cycling, and Running” 062
11 –
Combat Sports and Weightlifting 格鬥運動與舉重
“ Sports that Center on Bodily Strengths” 068
12 –
Yoga 瑜伽
“The Beauty of Yoga” 074
13 –
New Trends新潮流
“HIIT―High Intensity Interval Training” 080
Answer Keys 解答 086

01 –
Introduction 認識運動
“What is Music?” 008
02 –
Olympic Games奧林匹克運動會
“History of the Olympic Games” 014
03 –
Baseball I 棒球(一)
“The Humble Origins of Baseball” 020
04 –
Baseball II 棒球(二)
“Taiwan Baseball Film, Kano” 026
05 –
Basketball 籃球
“ Basketball and Some Famous
NBA Figures” 032
06 –
Badminton 羽毛球
“Getting Started with Badminton” 038
07 –
Table Tennis 桌球
“From High Society to High Speed” 044
08 –
Soccer 足球
“Soccer and David Beckha...