Sports in Kuwait
Sports is an important aspect of Kuwaiti life. In the
past, the Kuwaitis had their own private and simple
sports games, which reflected their social and economic
daily life. They knew about swimming not as a sport with
all its rules but rather as an important mean to
practice their daily activities such as diving, fishing,
and overseas trade. This was the case long ago, for
example the Kuwaitis knew about back horse riding due to
their need for means of transportation. Popular games
included running and some primitive sports similar to
track and field games; modern sports were known starting
from 1932. Kuwaitis
practiced pearl diving, sailing, fishing, horse riding,
and shooting before the discovery of oil.
Kuwait's sports culture, like that of other gulf states,
combines the traditional sports of nomadic Arabian
society with contemporary sport of Western origin.
Traditional sports of enduring popularity include camel
and horse racing; Arabian horses are held to be
among the finest in the world. Falconry is enjoyed
primarily by wealthy sheikhs, although the over hunting
of game and , after 1990, the presence of unexploded
land mines in the desert have reduced its practice.
Kuwaitis have competed at the national and international
levels in the county's to most widely played sports,
football (soccer) and golf.
Oil revenues have enable the
government to support sports generously, and the country
boasts a number of world class stadiums capable of
hosting international competitions. Each has a capacity
for abut 25,000 spectators and can host international
field and track events by day or night. The country
first participate in the 1968 Summer Olympic Games, but
it has never competed at the winter games. In 1981, the
Judo national team won four medals in Asia Judo
Championship. Kuwait won seven gold medals in athletics
tournament for West Asia countries, held in
Tehran, Iran in 1997.
Kuwait has an abundance of sports and leisure facilities
and there are facilities for playing all major field,
track and indoor sports. Football, with more than 120
football pitches in sporting clubs and schools, is by
far the most popular sport in Kuwait, followed by
basketball, Horse riding clubs flourish in the winter.
There are numerous tennis courts in the capital, most of
them are located at the large hotels. Power boating is
the Kuwait passion.
Sporting activities include indoor and outdoor sports.
Indoor sports include Ice Skating, Bowling, Darts, Table
Tennis, Martial Arts etc. The outdoor Sports include
Water Sports, Diving, Athletics, Team Sports, Golf,
Tennis, Motor Racing, Swimming, Sailing, Volleyball, Basketball etc.
Traditional sports such as horse racing and falconry are
still practiced in Kuwait.
