Sport for the Life in the UK test: sports, stars and venues

Sports that began in Britain

Many major sports began in Britain, including football, cricket, rugby, golf and lawn tennis.

Football

The UK's most popular sport. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own national team, and professional clubs first appeared in the late 19th century.

The 1966 World Cup

England's men won the football World Cup in 1966, when it was held in England. The handbook says this is their only international tournament win.

The English Premier League

Its matches are watched by a huge international audience.

Cricket and the Ashes

Cricket began in England. Its best-known contest is the Ashes, a series of Test matches between England and Australia.

Rugby

Began in England in the early 19th century. It later split into two codes, union and league, each with its own rules.

The Six Nations Championship

A rugby union competition between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. Northern Ireland plays rugby together with the Irish Republic.

Golf and St Andrews

Golf can be traced back to 15th-century Scotland. St Andrews is known as the home of golf, and The Open is one of the major championships.

Tennis

Modern tennis developed in England in the late 19th century. The first tennis club was set up in Leamington Spa in 1872.

Wimbledon

Held at the All England Club. It is the world's oldest tennis tournament and the only Grand Slam event played on grass.

Other popular sports

Horse racing

A sport with strong royal links. Royal Ascot is a five-day race meeting in Berkshire.

The Grand National

Held at Aintree, near Liverpool. The Scottish Grand National is held at Ayr.

National Horseracing Museum

In Newmarket, in Suffolk.

The Boat Race

A rowing race held every year on the Thames between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Motor sport

The first motor-car races in the UK were held in 1902. A Formula 1 Grand Prix, the British Grand Prix, is held in the UK every year, and the UK is a world leader in motor-sport technology.

Skiing

Skiing is increasingly popular. There are dry ski slopes around the UK, including Europe's longest, near Edinburgh, and skiing on snow in winter at Scotland's five ski centres.

Venues and big events

Wembley Stadium

In London. It hosts many major sporting events.

The Principality Stadium

In Cardiff, formerly called the Millennium Stadium. It hosts many major sporting events and is the home of the Wales rugby union team.

The Olympic Games in London

London has hosted the Olympic Games three times, in 1908, 1948 and 2012. The main site for 2012 was in Stratford, East London.

The Paralympics

Grew from the work of Sir Ludwig Guttmann, a doctor, with spinal-injury patients at Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire.

The London Marathon

The wheelchair athletes Tanni Grey-Thompson and David Weir have both won it several times.

Famous British sportspeople

Sir Roger Bannister

In 1954 he became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes.

Bobby Moore

Captain of England's team that won the football World Cup in 1966.

Sir Jackie Stewart

Won the Formula 1 world championship three times.

Mary Peters

Won Olympic gold in the pentathlon in 1972. She grew up in Northern Ireland and promotes sport there.

Sir Ian Botham

Captained the England cricket team and set many records as an all-rounder.

Torvill and Dean

Won Olympic gold for ice dancing in 1984.

Sir Steve Redgrave

A rower who won gold medals at five Olympic Games in a row.

Dame Kelly Holmes

Won Olympic gold in both the 800 metres and the 1,500 metres in 2004.

Sir Chris Hoy

A Scottish cyclist who won six Olympic gold medals.

Sir Bradley Wiggins

In 2012 he became the first British winner of the Tour de France.

Jessica Ennis

Won Olympic gold in the heptathlon in 2012.

Mo Farah

Born in Somalia. He won Olympic gold in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres in 2012, the first Briton to win Olympic gold over 10,000 metres.

Andy Murray

Won the US Open men's singles in 2012 and the Wimbledon men's singles in 2013 and 2016.

Paralympic champions

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson

A wheelchair athlete who won 16 Paralympic medals, 11 of them gold, over five Games.

David Weir

A wheelchair athlete who won six Paralympic gold medals across 2008 and 2012.

Ellie Simmonds

A swimmer who won Paralympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

Famous sailors

Sir Francis Chichester

In 1966–67 he made the first solo voyage around the world passing both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

In 1969 he became the first person to sail around the world solo and non-stop.

Dame Ellen MacArthur

Set the record for the fastest solo sail around the world, in 2004–05.