Sport in the UK & famous sportspeople
Last reviewed · Reviewed by the BritainTest editorial team
Sport is a big part of British life, and the test asks about the main sports, their famous events and venues, and some notable sportspeople. This page is part of our modern society study notes.
Key facts
Football is the most popular sport in the UK, with a long history: the first professional football clubs formed in the 19th century. Other major sports include cricket, rugby (in both union and league forms), tennis, golf, motor sport and horse racing. The UK has hosted the Olympic Games three times, all in London: in 1908, 1948 and 2012. The 2012 Games also included the Paralympic Games, which have their roots in the UK: the competition grew from games first held at Stoke Mandeville hospital.
Some famous events and venues:
| Sport | Famous event or venue |
|---|---|
| Cricket | The Ashes, played against Australia |
| Tennis | Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament in the world |
| Golf | St Andrews in Scotland, the home of golf |
| Rugby | The Six Nations championship |
| Horse racing | Royal Ascot and the Grand National |
| Motor sport | Formula 1 |
The handbook highlights sportspeople such as these:
| Person | Known for |
|---|---|
| Sir Roger Bannister | First person to run a mile in under four minutes (1954). |
| Bobby Moore | Captained England's 1966 World Cup-winning football team. |
| Sir Jackie Stewart | Scottish racing driver; three-times Formula 1 world champion. |
| Sir Ian Botham | One of England's greatest cricketers (an all-rounder). |
| Sir Steve Redgrave | Won gold in rowing at five consecutive Olympic Games. |
| Dame Kelly Holmes | Won two Olympic gold medals for running in 2004. |
| Dame Ellen MacArthur | Sailed single-handed around the world in record time (2004). |
| Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson | A leading Paralympic wheelchair racer. |
| Sir Chris Hoy | Won six Olympic cycling gold medals. |
| Bradley Wiggins | First Briton to win the Tour de France (2012). |
| Sir Andy Murray | Tennis champion; won Wimbledon and Olympic gold. |
| Mo Farah | Long-distance runner, Olympic gold medallist in 2012. |
| Jessica Ennis | Won heptathlon gold at the London 2012 Olympics. |
The UK also gave the world some famous sporting venues and events beyond those in the table, such as Wembley Stadium for football and the FA Cup, one of the oldest football competitions.
What to remember for the test
- Football is the most popular sport; the UK hosted the 2012 Olympics.
- Pairings: cricket and the Ashes, tennis and Wimbledon, golf and St Andrews.
- Sir Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile; Bobby Moore captained the 1966 football team.
- Learn a few names with what they are famous for, rather than long lists.
Practise this topic
Test yourself on UK sport in the real format, then reread anything you miss. Famous Britons across other fields are covered in a separate guide.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most popular sport in the UK?
- Football is the most popular sport in the UK.
- What is the Ashes?
- A famous cricket series played between England and Australia.
- Where is Wimbledon?
- In London. Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world.
- Who was the first person to run a mile in under four minutes?
- Sir Roger Bannister, in 1954.
- How many times has the UK hosted the Olympics?
- Three times, all in London: in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
- Where did the Paralympic Games begin?
- They grew from games first held at Stoke Mandeville hospital in the UK, for people with spinal injuries.
Official sources (GOV.UK)
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