Golf, ice hockey, swimming, soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, skiing (downhill and alpine), cycling, and tennis are the top 10 sports in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.
Canadians are very active and sport plays a major role in attracting tourists to our country. Sports events such as the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Pan American Games help showcase Canada to the world. In addition, many universities have athletic programs that draw students from across the nation and sometimes beyond.
Canada is a big country with lots of different cultures and languages. But when it comes to sports, we know that we can be confident about our abilities because we have only ever been number one in one sport: hockey. The Canadian national hockey team has won the gold medal in every Olympics since 1950, with a few exceptions - they missed the 1952 and 1960 games due to protests against apartheid - and they've also won almost every other major international tournament available, including the World Cup in four consecutive years from 1994 to 1998. No other country has come close.
So if you're looking to visit a country that loves its sports, look no further than Canada!
Canadians lead extremely active lives, participating in both indoor and outdoor activities all year. Soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, volleyball, swimming, rock climbing, dancing, hiking, camping, cycling, skiing, snowboarding, and water sports are some of the more popular hobbies. In fact, sports facilities are often used for recreational purposes as well as for professional events such as soccer matches.
In addition to a large number of organized sports teams, individuals also play games such as badminton, squash, darts, billiards, poker, and chess. Social games such as lawn bowling, rounders, and tug-of-war are also popular among friends or family members who gather on party yards or playgrounds.
Canada is a country of explorers - people who seek out new experiences and travel to distant places. Canadian adventurers have gone underground into mines, under the ice into cold lakes, and off the sides of mountains into freefall. Some have hiked across continents, while others have raced each other up mountains or through jungles with only a compass as their guide. Still others have challenged themselves by diving without protection into deep waters filled with dangerous fish and other creatures or lying naked on hot rocks - even though it's illegal in some provinces.
People look forward to the summer months when families go outdoors to experience nature at its best.
Sports are popular in Canada. Throughout the year, you'll see individuals competing and training all around you. Sport Canada is a Department of Canadian Heritage institution committed to the development of athletic activities across the country. But no sport is more popular in our country than ice hockey. Canadians love their hockey and do everything they can to support their teams.
Hockey is the most popular sport in Canada. It is played by men in many countries, but it is particularly popular in Canada, Russia, and the United States. Women's ice hockey is also growing in popularity. In fact, it is so popular that there is a class-action lawsuit against National Hockey League (NHL) owner Barry "Barry Trotz has said that putting a women's team in the league would be 'dangerous' because it could attract too many fans who might expect such short games that the season would have to be canceled'" Time magazine.
The game was originally called "mutton hockey" because it was played on frozen ponds where the animals were slaughtered for food. The first official game was on January 4, 1875, between two schools in Montreal. A newspaper report about the event described it as being played with "a great deal of spirit," which seems appropriate for an early form of ice hockey.
As well as being popular, hockey is important for national identity.