Text 3. Sport and fitness

· The British are very fond of sport, but many people prefer to watch rather than take part. Many go to watch football, cricket, etc. at the ground, but many more sit at home and watch sport on televi­sion.

Most people today take relatively little general ex­ercise. Over the last 30 or 40 years lifestyles have changed considerably and many people now travel even the shortest distances by car or bus. Lack of ex­ercise combined with eating too many fatty and sug­ary foods has meant that many people are becoming too fat. Experts are particularly concerned that chil­dren spend a lot of their free time watching televi­sion or playing computer games instead of being physically active. In the 1980s and 1990s, however, there has been a growing interest in fitness among young adults and many belong to a sports club or do sport as their main leisure activity.

In Britain most towns have an amateur football, and cricket team, and people also have opportunities to play sports such as tennis and golf. Older people may play bowls. Some people go regularly to a sports centre or leisure centre where there are fa­cilities for playing badminton and squash, and also a swimming pool. Some sports centres arrange classes in aerobics, step and keep-fit. Some people work out (= train hard) regularly at a local gym and do weight training and circuit training. A few people do judo or other martial arts. Others go running or jogging in their local area. For enthusiastic run­ners there are opportunities to take part in long­distance runs, such as the ‘London marathon’. Other people keep themselves fit by walking or cycling. Many people now go abroad on a 'skiing holiday’ each year where there are several dry slopes - in Britain - where they can practice.

· Sports play an important part in American life. Professional baseball and football games attract large crowds, and many people watch games on tele­vision. Although many parents complain about their children being couch potatoes (= people who spend a lot of time watching television), there are sports sessions at school for all ages. College students are usually also required to take physical education classes to complete their studies.

Many popular keep-fit activities began in the US. Arnold Schwarzenegger and others have inspired people to take up body-building (= strengthening and shaping the muscles). Many women joined the 'fitness craze' as a result of video workouts produced by stars such as Jane Fonda and Cindy Crawford.which they could watch and take part in at home. Wave aerobics, which is done in a swimming pool, and cardio kick-boxing, a form of aerobics which involves punching and kicking a punchbag are very popular. But many people just walk or jog in the local of park or play informal games of baseball or football.