What do you need to know about sport for the Life in the UK test?

What do you need to know about sport for the Life in the UK test?

Learn the sports that began in Britain, the three years the UK held the Olympic Games, and a short list of famous athletes. Most of it is names, places and dates that you can group.

Do not try to learn every sentence. Build small groups in your head. One group is the games. One is the Olympics. One is the people. Each group has a few facts that you can say out loud.

Which sports began in Britain?

Cricket, football, lawn tennis, golf and rugby all began here. This is a good fact to hold on to, because it links five sports with one country.

Cricket began in England. Games can last up to five days and still end in a draw. The most famous contest is the Ashes, a series of Test matches between England and Australia. Many everyday sayings come from cricket, such as "it's just not cricket", which means something is unfair.

Rugby began in England in the early 19th century. There are two kinds, union and league, with different rules. The most famous union contest is the Six Nations, with England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. The Super League is the most famous league competition.

Modern golf goes back to 15th century Scotland, and St Andrews is called the home of golf. Modern tennis grew in England in the late 19th century. The first tennis club opened in Leamington Spa in 1872. Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and the only Grand Slam event played on grass.

What should you know about football?

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

England's only win in an international tournament was the World Cup of 1966, which was held in the UK. Bobby Moore was the captain of that team. Link the year, the host country and the captain, and you hold three facts together.

Which other sports should you know?

Horse racing is very old here, and there were races in Roman times. Look at the three names that go with it: Royal Ascot in Berkshire, the Grand National at Aintree near Liverpool, and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

In sailing, Sir Francis Chichester sailed alone round the world in 1966 and 1967. Two years later Sir Robin Knox-Johnston did it without stopping. The most famous sailing event is at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The Oxford and Cambridge boat race is held each year on the Thames.

Motor racing in the UK began in 1902, and a Formula 1 Grand Prix is held every year. Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are named as recent British world champions. For skiing, remember that Scotland has five ski centres and Europe's longest dry ski slope, near Edinburgh.

Which Olympic facts should you know?

The UK has held the Olympic Games three times, in 1908, 1948 and 2012. In 2012 the main site was in Stratford, East London. The British team finished third in the medal table. The Paralympic Games of 2012 were also in London.

The Paralympics began with Dr Ludwig Guttmann, a German refugee who worked at Stoke Mandeville hospital. He encouraged patients with spinal injuries to take part in exercise and sport.

Which athletes are named?

Seventeen people are named. Sort them by sport and you will remember them far more easily.

• Running: Sir Roger Bannister ran the first mile under four minutes in 1954. Sir Mo Farah, born in Somalia, won the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the 2012 and 2016 Games. Dame Kelly Holmes won two gold medals in 2004. Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill won the heptathlon in 2012.
• Wheelchair racing and swimming: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and David Weir both won the London Marathon six times. Ellie Simmonds won swimming golds in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
• Cycling: Sir Chris Hoy, a Scot, won six Olympic golds. Sir Bradley Wiggins was the first Briton to win the Tour de France, in 2012.
• Water: Sir Steve Redgrave won rowing gold at five Games in a row. Dame Ellen MacArthur became the fastest person to sail round the world alone, in 2004.
• Other: Torvill and Dean won ice dancing gold in 1984. Sir Jackie Stewart won the Formula 1 title three times. Sir Ian Botham captained England at cricket. Sir Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016.

A good trick is to say each name with a number. Bannister is four minutes. Redgrave is five Games. Hoy is six golds. Numbers are what people mix up most.

For more names, read famous people and landmarks and places of interest. The full topic is on the modern society chapter page. When you have grouped the facts, try the free practice test to see which groups you still mix up.

Check yourself

Name the five sports that began in Britain, then say where each one began.

Write the three Olympic years and the place of the main site in 2012.

Pick three athletes from different sports and say what each one won.