TABLE TENNIS

1.Origin of Table Tennis

Like many other sports, table tennis began as a mild social diversion; it was probably first played – with improvised equipment – in England, during the last quarter of the 19th century. Descending, along with badminton and lawn tennis, from the ancient medieval game of tennis, it was popular at the turn of the century under its present name and various trade names such as Gossima and Whiff-Waff.

After Ping-Pong (an imitation of the sound made by the ball striking the hollow vellum battledores that were then used) was registered in 1900, the game became a fashionable craze that quickly spread through Europe, the USA and soon afterwards was introduced in Asia. After a period when it had dropped out of favour in Europe, the game was revived in England and Wales in the early twenties. National associations were formed and standardization of the rules began, in both Europe and Asia.

Table Tennis Today

Table tennis has developed into a major world-wide sport, practiced by perhaps forty million competitive players and by uncountable millions who play less seriously. However, the game itself has not changed in essence since its earliest days, though it is faster, more subtle and more demanding than it was even only twenty years ago.

Modern table tennis at national and international level is as rigorous as any sport in its demands for the highest degree of physical fitness and mental concentration, attained only by arduous training to develop natural skill.

TRITHLON

2.Origin of Triathlon

The first recorded triathlon occurred in California on September 24, 1974. It was organised by the San Diego Track and Field Club at Mission Bay and was created as an alternative to the rigors of athletic training on the track. There were 46 finishers in this first triathlon and the event consisted of 5.3-mile run, followed by a 5-mile cycle race and 600 yards of swimming in the ocean.

Over the next decade, triathlon grew by leaps and bounds and soon gained recognition throughout the world. The energetic and charismatic sport caught the attention of the International Olympic Committee. In 1988, IOC President Juan Antonio SAMARANCH arranged a meeting in Stockholm with the intention of including triathlon in the Olympic Games as quickly as possible.

The International Triathlon Union was founded in 1989 at the first ITU Congress in Avignon, France. Thirty National Federations attended, conducted elections and made preparations for the first World Championships to be held in Avignon on August 6. The official distance for triathlon was set at a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run. More than 800 athletes representing 40 countries competed in the first World Championships.

Although founded in Avignon, France, ITU has maintained its headquarters in Vancouver, Canada and has grown to over 121 affiliated national federations around the world. In 1991, ITU began its World Cup series with 11 events in eight different countries. American Karen SMYERS and Brazilian Leandro MACEDO were crowed the overall winners of the series.

In 1994, at the IOC Congress in Paris, France, triathlon was awarded full medal status on the Olympic programme and will made its debut at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. With inclusion into the Olympic Games, the ITU World Cup series grew and on May 25, 2008, the 200th World Cup event was held in Madrid, Spain.

Triathlon Today

In 2008, the World Cup series included 13 events held in major cities and destinations around the globe. The series travels to Olympic venues such Beijing as well as major cities such as Madrid, Vancouver, Lisbon and Hamburg.

Each year World Championships is staged with extensive international television and media coverage. The high profile triathlon World Championships for 2009, 2010 and 2012 will be held in Gold Coast (AUS); Budapest (HUN) and Beijing (CHN) respectively.

Triathlon at the Olympic Games
In its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, triathlon set a new Olympic attendance record with over 120,000 spectators for the women’s and men’s competitions. At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, triathlon was one of only a few events to sell all available tickets. Triathlon will make its third appearance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, with the competitions specifically scheduled for primetime television exposure.

TAEKWONDO

3.Origin of Taekwondo

The history of taekwondo as a martial art can be traced back almost two millennia ago in the Korean Peninsula. For centuries, this unique self-defence martial art existed in various forms and names. In ancient times, including the Three Kingdoms Period in the Korean Peninsula, the martial art was introduced primarily as a form of physical or military training. In the 1950s, a group of leading Korean grandmasters unified the various forms of the martial art into a single system of self-defence. This unified system came to be known as taekwondo , which literally means “The Way of Kicking and Punching.” Taekwondo’s popularity soared thereafter, as its forceful and difficult techniques, combined with swiftness and grace, attracted interests from all walks of life. In 1971, taekwondo was nominated as a Korean national sport and in 1972, the Kukkiwon was established. Three years later, on May 28, 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation was founded.

Taekwondo Today

In 1975, taekwondo was accepted as a sport of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and within five years, the World Taekwondo Federation was accepted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole governing entity of taekwondo. Over the past three decades, taekwondo’s global popularity is nothing short of meteoric, as tens of millions of general practitioners around the world associated themselves with the proud tradition, philosophies and health benefits of taekwondo. As of 2008, the global membership of the WTF stands at 188 national associations across five continents.

Taekwondo at the Olympic Summer Games

Taekwondo entered as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. On September 4, 1994, taekwondo was accepted as an official medal sport of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games at the 103rd IOC Session in Paris, France. Taekwondo was included in the official programme in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and will once again feature as an official sport in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

TENNIS

4.Origins of Tennis

The origins of tennis are a matter of dispute. Some say early versions of the game were played in ancient Egypt, a theory based on the origins of the name. They claim that the word “tennis” derives from the Egyptian town of Tinnis, and that “racquet” evolved from the Arabic word for the palm of the hand, “rahat”.

However, there is more evidence to suggest that the game originated in France in the 11th or 12th century and was played by French monks who played handball against monastery walls, or over a rope strung across a courtyard. The game was called “jeu de paume”, meaning “game of the hand”. Many believe that the name “tennis” is derived from the French “tenez”, which means “take this” or “be ready”, and was said by the server before the point began.

As the game became more popular, players began to use gloves in an attempt to avoid the build-up of calluses. Over time, wooden bats were added, and balls were made from wads of hair, wool or cork, wrapped in string and cloth or leather. In later years they were hand-stitched in felt.

The game also became popular in royal circles. King Louis X of France died after a particularly strenuous game in 1316, and Charles VII met his end after striking his head on a piece of wood over the door leading to his tennis court. This did not diminish its popularity among subsequent monarchs, who are credited with keeping the game alive.

Racquets were introduced in the 16th century, and England’s King Henry VIII built a court at Hampton Court Palace in 1530 that was replaced by Charles I in 1625 and still exists today.

The 16th century version of tennis is still played today in four countries. In France it has retained its original name of “Jeu de Paume”; it is “Royal Tennis” in Australia, “Court Tennis” in the USA and “Real Tennis” in Great Britain. The court is a cross between a tennis and a squash court. There is a net and players can bounce the ball off the walls.

During the 18th century “lawn tennis” emerged in Britain due to the aristocracy preferring to entertain their guests at home in their own backyards rather than have to travel long distances to play in indoor courts. Lawn tennis soon became the chosen sport of the privileged classes and immense importance was placed on proper etiquette and controlled behaviour.

In a short time it overtook croquet as the most popular British summer sport. The game was further expanded from 1873 by an English army major, Walter Clopton Wingfield, who designed, patented and manufactured equipment. Wingfield created a box, costing five guineas, that included two net posts, a net, racquets and India rubber balls. He named it “Sphairistike” derived from the Greek word for ball games, and it had a subsidiary name of “lawn tennis”. Two brothers, Clarence and Joseph Clark, took the box to America in 1874 where it caught the attention of Mary Outerbridge, whose brother Emilius organised what is believed to be the USA’s first major tennis event.

Tennis Today

The official ILTF Rules of Tenniswere drawn up in Paris in 1923 and implemented from 1 January 1924. In 1977, the ILTF dropped the word “lawn” to take on its present name, the International Tennis Federation (ITF). There are 204 member countries in the ITF.

Tennis at the Olympic Games

Tennis was played at the first Modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, one of nine sports on the programme. There were just two events, the men’s singles and doubles. Ireland’s John Boland won the first Olympic tennis gold medal in singles and partnered Freidrich Traun of Germany to gold in the doubles. Women’s singles and doubles, along with mixed doubles, were introduced at the 1900 Paris Olympics.

After the Paris Olympic Games of 1924, tennis did not appear again on the Olympic programme until Seoul in 1988, with professionals allowed to compete.

TRAMPOLINE

5.The Origin of Trampoline Gymnastics

Modern Trampoline Gymnastics came about after he first prototype apparatus was built in 1936 by the George NISSEN (USA) in his garage. As well as being enjoyable at a recreational level, Trampoline Gymnastics has also been used by the Air Force and by space agencies to help pilots and astronauts acclimatise to aerial activity.

Competitive Trampoline Gymnastics began in the USA after World War II. It spread to Europe in the 1950s, aided by visits from George NISSEN. Display teams travelled to all continents in the 1950s and 1960s, a time when many national federations were formed.

In 1958 the first Nissen Cup was held in Switzerland, an event that continues to this day. In 1964, the International Trampoline Federation (FIT) was formed and the first FIT World Championships were held in the same year. European and Pan Pacific Championships soon followed. USA athletes dominated the sport in the early years, but these days many nations share the top honours. The first FIT World Cup took place in 1993, sparking a tremendous interest in the sport.

Trampoline Gymnastics Today

Now recognised as a sport in its own right around the world, it is also utilised as a training tool for many other sports, such as gymnastics, diving and freestyle skiing. Modern trampolines can project gymnasts to great heights, with the sport’s top stars able to touch 10m high ceilings and perform multiple somersaults with ease.

Trampoline Gymnastics at the Olympic Summer Games

Trampoline Gymnastics was performed at the first-ever Olympic gymnastics gala in Atlanta in 1996, and the following year it was granted Olympic status by the IOC. This necessitated the merging of the FIT and the FIG, which was successfully accomplished at the end of 1998, ensuring the debut of Trampoline Gymnastics at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Russians Alexander MOSKALENKO and Irina KARAVAEVA were discipline’s first Olympic Champions. KARAVAEVA was also awarded the IOC Fair Play Recognition by IOC President Jacques ROGGE, for outstanding behaviour, having handed back her world title to Anna DOGONADZE (GER), due to a judging error.

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