2 . The design of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic torch (火炬) was shown on July 25, marking almost a year until the opening ceremony (典礼) of the Paris Olympic Games.

The torch, measuring 70 centimeters and weighing 3.3 pounds, is made with lightweight radiant steel and is known for its champagne color, a color of French white wine.

Mathieu Lehanneur, the designer of the torch said that he drew inspiration from three Paris 2024 symbols-equality, water and   peacefulness. Equality is shown by perfect balance. Peacefulness is shown by the gentleness of the curves. The lower half features a relief pattern that copies the movement of the River Seine, along which the opening ceremony will be held.

It will be the first torch in the history of the Games to be used for both the Olympics and Paralympics. Past designs have shared similarities but are different in shape and color. This is part of the organizing committee’s plan to “build bridges between the Olympic and Paralympic Games”, Paris 2024’s president Tony Estanguet said in a statement.

Equality means putting the same ambition into organising the Paralympic Games as the Olympic Games. Following on from the medals to the mascots, the Olympic and Paralympic Games will share the same torch design.

Equality in the Paris 2024 project is also reflected in the strong promise to equality in the Olympic Games: For the first time in the history of the Games, as many women as men will take part in the competitions. Reflecting this desire for peace, the torch, with its curves and rounded lines, is filled with   gentleness. The design of the torch delivers generosity and unity.

“Such a project is a dream for a designer, because it’s a project that connects something symbolic and technical in one, for a big moment,” Lehanneur said.

3 . Some Winter Activities

Winter activities are underestimated (低估). The days may be shorter, but the list of fun activities isn’t. Don’t let the winter blues take over.     1    

Finding your favourite.     2     Nobody likes cardio (有氧运动) for a long time, but signing up for an adult sports team, or taking a yoga class on the weekend can be a fun way to break up the boredom of going to the gym. Recreational (娱乐的) sports are also a great way to meet new people.

Walking on snow.     3     Walking with snowshoes is friendly to beginners, and suitable for kids and seniors alike. You can buy a set for under $100 or rent some for the afternoon. Take a friend or walk alone to enjoy the peacefulness of the outdoors in winter.

Skiing. Those that love it really love it. Hitting the ski hills is an old wintertime tradition. It gets you outside, boosts your mood, and serves as a core workout. You don’t need the latest gear (设备) to be able to have fun.     4     If you’re feeling tired of too much indoor time, get your heart pumping at a nearby ski hill.

    5     Taking an online class, or picking up an instrument for the first time, can be incredibly rewarding. Expanding your professional skill can do wonders for your future job prospects. It may take a little planning, but consider learning something new this season.

4 . Trainers and parents saw children play sports at a young age and then saw them become professional. Many correlated the training to success. Competitive sports are good for young children because they teach children life skills, provide health benefits, and offer special opportunities.

To begin with, sports teach children life skills. A formal athlete stated, “I played soccer in high school and college and found team sports weren’t just about winning, but also about developing a solid ethic(行为准则), and learning why that’s important.” In short, playing highly competitive sports teaches kids many life skills like teamwork. People will have to use teamwork for the rest of their life, and sports can help them improve that skill. Taking part in sports can help develop a positive attitude towards life, which will help in the long run.

Sports are also good for kids because they provide health benefits. It is healthier for a kid to play a sport competitively than to waste time playing video games all day. Furthermore, a research group of University of California said, “96 percent of the participants(参与者) said they enjoy their sports. They’re all loving life.” That is to say, kids playing highly competitive sports tend to enjoy life instead of doing something else like watching TV.

On the other hand, some people might argue that competitive sports are bad for young children because they are so time-consuming. However, the time spent is not “robbing” kids of their childhood, but offers unique opportunities. Athletes can get success to live their dream life by playing sports. Even though sports are time-consuming, they offer distinctive opportunities.

In conclusion, competitive sports are good for children because they can provide wholesome benefits, create new experiences, and build skills that will last a lifetime.

6 . There is something magical about hiking. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or new to the trails, hiking offers lots of benefits for mind, body and soul.     1    

Boost physical fitness.    2     Although other forms of exercise are great for your health, hiking has benefits that can’t be replaced by a bike. Hiking builds muscle strength. So, not only will you enjoy the great outdoors, you will also improve your health.

Improve mental well-being. Hiking has a profound impact on your mental well-being, offering a much needed break from the stresses of daily life.    3    

In addition to the fun and enjoyment you can experience, there are other real benefits you can start to observe.

    4     Hiking provides a wonderful opportunity for strengthening social connections and training a sense of community. Whether you go on a hike with friends or join a hiking group, the shared experiences can be highly beneficial and can create wonderful shared memories. Hiking is hard, but it maintains your motivation. So grab a friend or join a local hiking group, and experience the joy of connecting with others while exploring nature.

Improve cognitive (认知的) function. An amazing added benefit to hiking is improved cognitive function. Engaging in physical activity while being surrounded by nature stimulates the brain, leading it to improve focus, creativity and problem-solving skills. Spending time in nature can improve cognitive function and attention span.    5     A drop in spending time in nature and in physical activity can possibly cause a cognitive decline. Who knew that the sensory experiences that you encounter during hiking could help you gain clarity and peace of mind?

7 . Sodas such as Coke or Pepsi are responsible for adding to health problems like tooth problems and obesity (肥胖). So health leaders have recommended teens cut back on sugar-sweetened sodas. However, their push may have had an unplanned result. Many of the advertisements aimed at teens show fit athletes having sugar-sweetened sports drinks. They make sports drinks look like a healthy choice for teens compared to sodas. As a result, teens are turning to this kind of drink.

Scientists at Harvard University in Massachusetts focused on teens, who are considered more likely than younger kids to buy their drinks. In 2015, 22,000 high school students were surveyed, and almost 6 in 10 of them reported having at least one sports drink in the past week. That was up slightly from 2010. The Harvard study found that almost one-third of teens drank one to three sports drinks in the previous week. Just over 1 in10 reported having four to six drinks. Teens who played on sports teams were likely to have one or more sports drinks each day. Boys were more likely than girls to have the drinks, scientists found.

The same was true for teens who watched more than two hours of television. Scientists say they are concerned because of ties between TV watching, ads, and obesity. Experts say that many children don’t need a sports drink that is full of carbohydrates (碳水化合物) and sweeteners. This especially applies to children sitting in front of a TV. The better option is water or unsweetened drinks.

“There is no reason to have carbohydrates in sports drinks unless you are in a high-level game, said Nyree Dardarian, the leader of the Center for Integrated Nutrition and Performance. “Someone on a long bike ride or in an all-day race might want to have one. If children are playing for 20 minutes, they just need water.”

There are other choices. Water and oranges would provide all of the recommended amounts of vitamin C for kids. Other ideas include flavoring water by adding fruit to it. Kids can also add a small amount ofjuice.

10 . There’s no doubt that football is the global sport. Though basketball, tennis, and other sports are popular too, nothing comes close to football. Being played in every country in the world, football provides dozens of superstars. The numbers are greater when compared to any other sport, and this drives the popularity of football up. Have you ever wondered when the sport started and became popular?

Football has its origin (起源) in China and has a history of more than 2,000 years. However, modern football originally appeared in Britain in the 19th century. Folk football matches had been played before in many cities and towns, but never on a professional level.

Football became a winter sport game played in different schools. The rules were carried out by each school, and this made it difficult for players to play an official game with each other. It all changed in 1849 at the University of Cambridge that invented a set of standard rules known as the Cambridge rules of football. From that moment, a new star sport was born.

By the early 20th century, football had spread all across Europe. In 1904, FIFA was set up. There are seven original members, including France, Denmark and Spain, FIFA became the governing body for many associations in Europe.

England’s international success improved the popularity of the sport in the country. The league (联赛) in Britain was set up in 1992. From the 1990s, it became a truly impressive piece of football organization, becoming the world’s top football league in the process.

Football is obviously the most popular sport in the world. It is impossible for any other sport to take its place, especially with leagues spending billions of pounds every year to stay in the focus.