Volume - V Issue - V Season 3 Volume - V Issue - V Season 3 | Page 21

Author 4 Author 1 Author 2 Author 3 Author 6 Author 5 Author 7 Author 8 ”WINNING IS NOT EVERYTH ”WINNING IS NOT EVERYTHING , BUT IT IS THE ONLY THING !!! “ – ROGER FEDERER BUT IT IS THE ONLY THING !!! “ – ROGER FEDERER SPORTS ABOUT ITALIAN SPORTS Sports in Italy have a long tradition. In numerous sports, both individual and team, Italy has good representation and many successes. Soccer is the most popular sport in Italy. Basketball, volleyball, and Cycling are the next most popular/played sports, with Italy having a rich tradition in all three. Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and is (along with Germany) currently the second most successful football team in World Cup history, after Brazil, having won four FIFA World Cup championships. Italy also has strong traditions in rugby union, tennis, athletics, fencing, and winter sports. By - HAYDEN PATRIZI SOCCER In Italy, calcio (soccer to Americans, football to Europeans) surpasses all other sports. La Squadra Azzurra (the blue team) is a major source of national pride and sometimes agony. Some claim that Italy's victory in the 1982 World Cup did more for national unity than any political movement. Italy's success in 1994 sparked excitement that crested with every victory and ultimately crashed with their defeat by Brazil. In the 1998 World Cup quarterfinals, France knocked out Italy after an intense 4-3 penalty shoot-out. Last year, Italy whipped France and the rest of the world, winning the 2006 World Cup. By - ANDREW NOTHCOTE SAILING Sailing ( vela) in yachts and dinghies is popular throughout Italy, where even small coastal towns often have a marina. Dinghy sailing is also popular on the major lakes, particularly Lake Garda, which often provides better wind conditions than the smaller lakes. Sailing has received a further boost in recent years by the prominent Italian attempts to win the America’s Cup. So far success has proved elusive, but the challenge has raised the profile of the sport in Italy considerably. Motorboats are also popular as they cater for the Italians’ love of speed. By-GARETH BERG 21