The Sports Archives – The Positive Effects Of World Sporting Events!

Posted on November 18, 2013 by thesportsarchives

The Olympic Games

How long did it take for the ballyhoo of the Summer 2012 Olympic Games to die down? Days, weeks, months? It seems us Brits were all still talking and reminiscing about it well into 2013, whether we actually went to one of the events or not. The atmosphere was electric enough for the whole country to feel its force.

In a subsequent public government report of the big event, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, called it a “sporting legacy, with 150,000 more Londoners trying some kind of sporting activity since the Games”.

The surprising success, perhaps more so thanks to some excellent Channel 4 TV coverage, was the two weeks towards the end of summer where we witnessed the amazing athletes strut their stuff in the relatively unknown Paralympic Games.

Ellie Simmonds with Oscar Pistorius

Ellie Simmonds with Oscar Pistorius at an International Paralympic Day event in Trafalgar Square, 8 September 2011

The stories behind each of their personal battles to greatness, overcoming debilitating physical and sometimes mental conditions, was truly inspiring. This had an unbelievable domino-style effect on adults and children from all walks of life who took it upon themselves to realise their potential, without fear of failure or embarrassment. The shift from regular household sporting names such as David Beckham or Usain Bolt suddenly changed to the young British swimmer Ellie Simmonds, and South African double-amputee Oscar Pistorius, for their undeniable struggle for ultimate success.

The FIFA World Cup™

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The Sports Archives – China’s Domination of the Electric Bike Market Continues Unabated!

Posted on November 16, 2013 by thesportsarchives

As we grow more environmentally and health conscious as a species, cycling has become a much more attractive potential form of transport. But do you really want to be working up a sweat on your way to work? Of course you don’t, so why not consider an Electric Bike and get the convenience of an electric motor with the form and elegance of a bicycle?

An electric bike is…well…exactly what it says on the tin, namely a bicycle with an electrical motor, which powers or assists the bikes pedals system. Electric bikes have been around in essence since the late 19th century, but it’s only recently that the bikes have seen mainstream use due largely to their affordability and the fact you don’t require a licence in order to drive one.

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The Sports Archives – 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Richmond, Virginia For Your Next Golf Retreat!

Posted on November 15, 2013 by thesportsarchives

When you think of going on a golf retreat, you probably think of the Meccas of the American golf world: Pebble Beach or Augusta, just to name a couple.  If you’re looking for some place that can promise some great golf, however, you should seriously consider Richmond, Virginia.  It may seem like it’s a little off the beaten path, but with a healthy amount of courses in the area and plenty conveniently located to any hotel or corporate housing in Richmond, Virginia, there’s plenty of reasons to choose the capital of the Commonwealth.

So Many Courses to Choose From

Park SportsWhat good is a nice long golf retreat if you are stuck playing the same 18 holes every day?  In Richmond, Virginia, you won’t have to find out the answer to that question.  The region around Richmond has more than 20 golf courses to choose from.  From the lush greens of the Glenwood Golf Club to the reasonably priced fees of Hunting Hawk public course, you may never have to play the same round of golf twice.  Of course, with some of the most beautiful courses around, there’s no blaming you if you find a favorite.

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The Sports Archives – The 5 Most Gorgeous Country Clubs In America!

Posted on November 14, 2013 by thesportsarchives

In the US, there are a number of beautiful country clubs. If you want to explore those clubs which are the best of the best, check out these five locations:

firestone country club1. Firestone Country Club

Originally opened in 1915, this beautifully designed country club is the only place to host tournament golf for a total of 60 consecutive years. The club was created by Harvey Firestone of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Mr. Firestone wanted a place for his friends and family to relax and enjoy themselves in close proximity to his factory which was just north of the property. Today the club is not only one of the premier country clubs in the US, but it is also considered an important historic landmark.

One of the reasons this country club ranks in the top clubs in the US, is the attention to detail in everything the club executes. Designed by AKA Design, Inc. and located in Akron, Ohio, this facility offers patrons exquisite dining, accommodation, and golfing experiences. The 54 hole golf course offers a diverse and enticing game for members. The excellently designed luxury accommodations are sure to help you relax and truly enjoy every moment of your time at the country club. The Firestone Country Club is the club of choice for numerous famous golfers such as Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, and the up and coming Rickie Fowler. If you love golfing while partaking in absolutely world-class accommodations and dining, then Firestone Country Club will not disappoint.

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The Sports Archives – The Paralympics: From Humble Beginnings to Present Day!

Posted on November 13, 2013 by thesportsarchives

The original Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece in ancient times as a tribute to Zeus. Every four years, athletes would come together to show their prowess. However, the Games came to a halt roughly 1600 years ago when Emperor Theodosius I put a stop to pagan ceremonies. Leap ahead to 1896 and the Olympic Games were reborn in Athens, Greece. No disabled athletes participated at that point, but that all changed in 1904. George Eyser, a man born in Germany and raised in America, competed in St. Louis at the Summer Games. He staked his claim to glory when he took six medals in gymnastics, unhindered by an artificial leg. Eyser opened the door for individuals with disabilities in athletic competition.

The Paralympics: Yesterday and Today

The first Paralympics were held in 1948 in London. British athletes participated in archery in this event that was dubbed “the Wheelchair Games.” The Paralympics were organized by a German neurologist. Sir Ludwig Guttman had seen the ravages of war firsthand as he dealt with soldiers suffering from spinal cord injuries. Later, the Dutch became involved in the first international games for disabled individuals. The concept continued to evolve. The first, official Paralympics took place in 1960, truly involving a host of athletes as 400 participants joined together from 23 nations. All athletes were wheelchair-bound. Eight years later, athletes with other types of disabilities were welcomed to the Paralympics. In 1976, disabled athletes rose to the occasion in the first Paralympics Winter Games in Sweden.

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The Sports Archives – Dangerous Fall Sports!

Posted on November 12, 2013 by thesportsarchives

As the leaves change and we bundle up for cooler weather, an entire new season of sports is starting. Just like many of you, I enjoy sitting in the brisk fall air and watching a game or tracking local team’s stats on my phone. However it isn’t until something happens to one of our favorite players that we remember the risks that come with athletics, and that some sports aren’t as physically friendly as others.

From rugby to football, fall is full of “high risk” sports. What makes them so risky? The major commonality on the list below is that they are considered full contact in nature. When playing a full contact sport, the likelihood of injury is usually not due to personal error, although the better prepared you are the safer you will be, but more so caused by the fact that one player cannot control another’s actions. All the protection and pads in the game (if there are any) can’t change that.

Below, in no particular order of severity, are a few major fall sports and their most common and detrimental dangers.

Full Contact Sport Trauma

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The Sports Archives – Are Indoor Ski Slopes Worth Visiting?

Posted on November 11, 2013 by thesportsarchives

snowfunpark wittenburg

If you are learning to ski or simply love skiing and snowboarding and happen to live somewhere where there are no mountains what do you do? Your annual trip to the slopes probably isn’t enough to keep you happy and so the only place to find the white stuff is an indoor ski centre but is the experience a good one?

Restricted Space

Clearly the indoor slopes are never going to rival the Alps as an overall experience but if you need somewhere to learn the sport, sharpen your skills or simply to have some fun they do at least offer somewhere to go with real snow. The slopes in the UK are 160m to 180m long and so relatively limited in area and can become very congested at peak times. Off peak, however, you can find yourself with plenty of room and no queues for the drag lifts making any visit much more enjoyable.

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The Sports Archives – How American Football Is Storming The UK!

Posted on November 9, 2013 by thesportsarchives

american football ukFootball – one word with two meanings, depending on which side of the pond you’re on. While in Britain, football might be the sensationally popular sport that’s made names like Beckham, Bale and Ronaldo famous, just across the ocean it means a different thing entirely to American fans.

In the United States, this game of throw and tackle to the goal line is the most popular in the country – state, city and school teams battle it out for prestigious league titles in front of crowds that regularly reach more than 10,000. The professional league – called the NFL or National Football League – is the most distinguished of the group and counts its followers around the world in the millions.

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The Sports Archives – How To Do The Butterfly Stroke Beautifully And Elegantly!

Posted on November 8, 2013 by thesportsarchives

If you want to be involved in competitive swimming, you must learn how to do the butterfly stroke.  Furthermore, you want to be able to do it very quickly.  Naturally, you cannot learn to swim without actually swimming, but hopefully reading the guidelines below will help you to perfect your stroke at least somewhat.

Butterfly stroke animation

Steps to Doing the Butterfly Stroke

  1. Learn the butterfly stroke last.  You have to have a very strong body and your stamina and endurance needs to be very high.  You should have built this up through your other training.
  2. Get an instructor.  You can learn to do the butterfly yourself, but it is a whole lot better to have someone who knows how the stroke goes watching you and giving you hints and tips on how it actually works.
  3. Work on the kick first.  The butterfly kick is the most important part of the entire stroke.  You have to keep your legs together and move in the way you would imagine a mermaid to move.  Basically, the movement is like a fluid wave.  Most people find it easiest to learn this by wearing flippers, which can work.  Do not, under any circumstances, use a kickboard.  This will force your body in the wrong shape.  The kick is in two parts as well.  The first is  medium in size, when your hands go in the water, and the second is a larger one, which happens when you have to lift your body up.
  4. Get the arms right.  As soon as your head comes out through the surface, your hands need to move forward.  Take a breath and then tuck in your chin, touching the top part of your chest.  This way, your arms will get much higher.  You need to make a round, swooping movement, starting at the back and bringing your arms together in front of your face.  It is best described as a keyhole shape that you do continuously.

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The Sports Archives – The Equine Industry And Its Impact On The Economy!

Posted on November 7, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Horse Riding by the Water

The UK is a nation of horse lovers, there’s no doubt about that. A massive 6% of the population said that they had ridden a horse in the 12 months prior to taking a survey in 2011. This has almost certainly increased since the Summer Olympic Games in London in 2012, which saw renewed enthusiasm for all types of sport including Eventing and horse riding in general.

The Economy

The effect of the Equestrian industry on the British Economy has always been a positive one; after all there are over 1 million horses in Great Britain alone, with each one of those needing specialist care and equipment. Whilst it’s safe to say that not every horse in the population is being ridden on a regular basis, a great number are, whether they’re owned by private individuals and professional bodies.

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