My favorite sport

Growing up in Arizona’s rodeo (竞技) country, I was familiar with the events that come with traveling rodeos: bull riding, dressing and mutton busting. Mutton busting is like bull riding, but instead of bulls, they use sheep. And in place of the men, it’s children between six and ten years old who try to hang on for eight seconds.

It took me all of five minutes to say yes to the idea of riding a sheep. Being seven years old, my decision- making ability was pretty limited. I figured I could ride a sheep as well as the next kid. Little did I know that I was in for a world of pain and embarrassment.

My nerves were shaking the day of the rodeo. I hated being in front of crowds. I didn’t like getting dirty; I didn’t even like sheep, which I thought of as just dirty and smelly. Yet there I was, getting ready to ride one for eight seconds in front of hundreds of people. I wanted to run out of the field and hide in the hot car until it was over. But by the time this idea occurred to me, it was too late. I was lifted away from my mother by a rodeo trainer and placed onto a platform.

My feet went into the narrow pen (羊圈) first. I felt my shoes touch the dirty floor of the pen. Once I was balanced on the top of the sheep, the trainer let go and told me to lean forward. I did as he said. I could feel the animal’s heart beating faster than mine. I realized that the poor sheep was even more frightened than I was.

Then the gate opened, and I quickly discovered that my hold was too weak. Within three seconds I had fallen off the sheep, and found myself face-down on the sun-baked earth. The sheep thought this was its time to take revenge (复仇), and attacked me from behind. There I lay, hat down, covered in dirt, with tears streaming down my face. I looked behind me to see my mother running to comfort me. “Stand up and show them you’re okay,” she told me as she wiped the dirty tears from my face. I stood up, dirty and upset, waved my little hand, and walked out with my mother.

Sadly, I didn’t win anything, not even the respect of these rodeo animals. I did find a new admiration for those little balls of wool, though.

3 . When people make travel decisions regarding destinations, recreation usually sits at the top of the most considered factors. But in recent years, with a rising awareness of health, travelers are beginning to upgrade their expectations. They want a place where they can relax and do some sports with local features, which can explain the emergence of a sports tourism market.

We have selected several places around China that have a perfect combination of recreation and health, in case that is what you have in mind for your next holiday.

Beijing Olympic Park

Located at the north end of the Beijing central axis line, Beijing Olympic Park witnessed the glory of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Apart from visiting the renowned Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, You can try some leisure and sports activities.

Wanlong Ski Resort, North China’s Hebei Province

Wanlong Ski Resort in North China’s Hebei Province is nicknamed “heaven for ski lovers”. The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held here, which will boost ski development and tourism activities in Hebei Province. If you happen to be a skiing fan, try the professional trails here!

Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, East China’s Shandong Province

The Olympic Sailing Center has become a new landmark in Qingdao, a coastal city in East China’s Shandong Province. It was a host venue of the sailing games for the 29th Olympics in 2008 and the 13th Paralymic Games. You could visit the match venue and enjoy a cruise around Qingdao.

Zhangye in Northwest China’s Gansu Province

Hot-air balloons glide across the Danxia landform during the first hot-air balloon festival in Zhangye, Northwest China’s Gansu Province, July 20,2019.The unique Danxia landform in Zhangye features multicolored ridges of weathered strata. Visitors can not only be impressed by the natural wonders here, but also can try hot-air balloons, helicopters and powered parachutes.

4 . Cheerleading has a long-standing history in the United States. Many cheerleaders begin the _________ in primary school and can continue until university. Even professional sports teams have cheerleaders. _________, those who fall in love with cheering can continue the sport into _________.

Organized cheering started at Princeton University in 1884, when the crowd created a cheer to _________ its team. In 1898, it was Tom Peebles that became the first cheerleader when he successfully led the crowd at the University of Minnesota. Cheerleading members can make some efforts to _________ injuries. In 1923, cheerleading _________ to women.

Cheerleading has grown _________ since its origins in the United States. Most college football and basketball teams currently have their own cheerleading group. Moreover, every team in the NFL has a cheerleading squad (队), as well as the _________ of NBA teams.

Cheerleading has become an exceedingly _________ program to cheer for sports teams. From 1982 to 2006, 45 major injuries __________ during high school cheerleading events, with two of those injuries accidentally __________ in deaths. Of the 45 injuries, 14 of them also led to __________ disabilities unfortunately. __________ the same years, one female college student breathed her last, while an __________ five ended up with a disability and eleven suffered from serious injuries.

To help __________ safety in the sport, the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators has made some __________ that members must follow. With all of the high flying __________ in cheerleading, injuries have the possibility to happen. During a forward roll, the top person must begin in a non-inverted (非倒立) __________ and keep hand-to-hand contact with two bases __________. These moves must also include a spotter who can protect the top person’s head and neck in case of a __________.