1 . The days when art was an Olympic sport

Did you know that creating works of art used to be an Olympic competition?     1     In the first year, Walter Winans became the first and the only Olympian to win medals for both art and sports. Despite this seemingly optimistic start, the idea of the arts being included in the Olympic Games soon met with disinterest, finally resulting in the removal of the art competition from the Olympic Games.

The idea to include art in the Olympics came from Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who was the founder of the International Olympic Committee, which created the modern Olympics. Coubertin believed that the arts and sports were linked and was impressed by anyone who had a firm command of both a sport and an artistic discipline.

For starters, only amateurs were allowed to compete in the arts part of the Olympics.     3     Having artists of average quality competing while only the most competent athletes were allowed to compete created a dramatic divide and gave the impression that the arts were not as important as sports.

Secondly, works of art created had to have sports as the subject matter.     4     Limiting the subjects also contributed to making the arts part of the Olympic Games boring to the general public.

Finally, one of the biggest reasons was that the arts are subjective. Sports can be judged by time and distance, making it easy to determine who is the winner.     5     This difficulty in judging a definite winner resulted in the arts part becoming a non-competitive exhibition that ran for the duration of the Olympic Games.

Today, the most popular martial arts in the world are from Asia. Many martial arts     1     (invent) because people needed to defend themselves or protect others. Nowadays, people learn martial arts as a way of     2     (keep) fit or as a competitive sport, but they are still very useful for self­defence.

Some martial arts are called hard     3     others are called soft. Soft martial arts, such as tai chi, teach you to use your opponent’s own force to defend     4     (you). These martial arts are soft for the defender but not for the attacker! On the other hand, hard styles, such as kung fu, teach you to defend yourself using force. Hard martial arts techniques are     5     (effect) if you are more skillful, more powerful and faster than your opponent.

Did you know that Japan’s karate is     6     (relate) to Chinese kung fu? In the 14^th century, when the Chinese migrants from Fujian     7     (settle) in what was then the kingdom of Okinawa, the local youths started learning kung fu from them.

In fact, Chinese influence in martial arts was not limited     8     kung fu. During the Japanese invasion of Korea in the 16^th century, the Korean army adopted a training method from a chinese military manual     9     (call) Ji Xiao Xin Shu, whose author was the Chinese general Qi Jiguang,     10     had himself defeated Japanese pirates.

7 . We all know that regular exercise is vitally important for both a healthy mind and body. Research has shown that just five minutes of exercise in a “green space” can help people to keep mentally healthy.

Let’s take a look at some ways to get close to nature and make them a part of your regular exercise routine.

Get on your bike

Cycling is a cheap, easy and fun way to get some good exercise in the outdoors. Try leaving your car at home and cycling to work one day, if that’s possible. Or get the family together and go on a weekend bike ride. Check out the local cycle paths before you go, and plan a safe route. Make sure you take some healthy snacks with you to keep your energy levels up.

Try some outdoor yoga

Practising yoga can be great for reducing anxiety and aiding relaxation, so why not take your yoga mat and try out some asanas (yoga postures) in the open air? Yoga is great for stretching tight muscles and increasing flexibility as well as improving mobility, control and breathing. Why not finish your practice with some quiet meditation to further calm the mind?

Go running

Instead of spending hours on the treadmill (跑步机), grab a friend and go off for a jog around your local park, or some nature trails. If you are used to running on a treadmill, you may find it harder at first, so make sure you have some good, supportive running shoes. You could also find out where your nearest parkrun events are. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in.

8 . Many times, sports events can be really competitive Athletes go through great stress both in their training and during performance, all for that number one position. For one Spanish athlete, Ivan Anaya, it was exactly that respect for the great hard work and devotion to the sports that made him lose on purpose.

During a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre, the Kenyan athlete Abel Mutai was well ahead of Ivan. But then, thinking he had already reached the finish line, he started slowing down in his pace. He still had 10 meters ahead of him. Anyone else in second position might have taken advantage of that mistake but not Ivan. Ivan stayed behind Abel, and using hand signals, he guided Abel to the finish line.

Later, Ivan spoke about his decision, which might stun many people. Ivan said, “I just did what I had to do. He was the rightful winner. He was far ahead of me and I couldn’t have caught him up if he hadn’t made a mistake. As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn’t going to pass him.”

Ivan’s coach, former Spanish runner Martin Fiz, said he would not have thought to do the same thing. “It was a very good gesture (姿态) of honesty,” said Fiz. “A gesture that I myself wouldn’t have made. I certainly would have taken advantage of it to win.”

Ivan hoped it would spread a message about the importance of honesty. “But I also think that having done what I did has earned more fame than if I had won,” he added. “And that is very important, because today in all circles, in soccer and in society, honesty is a must for a person to go far.”

10 . Benefits of Sports

Doing sports is a physical, mental and social adventure. It’s a great way for children to take a break from studies and release extra energy. It also helps them lead fuller and happier lives as regular sports have proven beneficial to overall well-being.

The physical benefits of doing sports are probably the most obvious. Regardless of your fitness level when you start playing sports, you’ll notice an increase in your overall fitness once you’re involved.     1     Basketball players focus on strength training; football players work on speed while track athletes train through longer runs. The training process helps promote physical fitness and performances in competitions.

    2     Playing sports also contributes to mental health, helping to increase confidence and self-worth. A pat on the back, a high five from a teammate, or a handshake after a match really boosts a child’s confidence. Words of praise and encouragement from the coach, parents and other players raise self-worth.     3     So after a game, it’s a better idea to ask “Did you enjoy the game?” rather than “Did you win?”

Children who participate in sports might also benefit from the social aspect, feeling part of a group, building up responsibility and leadership.     4     Teamwork involves both being dependable as a teammate and learning to rely on your teammates to achieve a positive outcome. Teamwork breeds responsibility and challenges you to be responsible for your actions. Being part of a team gives you an opportunity to be a leader.

Discipline is another social advantage. Most organized sports require a strict training and practice schedule. As a student-athlete, you need to balance studies and athletics.     5    

There is no shortage of reasons to find a sport to get involved in. Are you ready to go? Pick one and get moving!