2.1Sport and Leisure Time
2.1 SPORT AND LEISURE TIME There are a large number of sports that involve the water. Here we present the most popular in the countries involved in the project. SWIMMING The recreational activity of swimming has been recorded since prehistoric times. Although humans have been swimming for thousands of years, swimming only became a competitive sport in the early 1800s. Today, swimming is the third most-watched sport in the Olympic Games. In 1828, the first indoor swimming pool, St George's Baths was opened to the public. Competitive swimming became popular in the nineteenth century. Swimming is an event at the Summer Olympic Games, where male and female athletes compete in 16 of the recognized events each. Olympic events are held in a 50-meter pool, called a long course pool. In competitive swimming, four major styles have been established. Butterfly (fly) Backstroke (back) Breaststroke (breast) Freestyle (free) In open water swimming, where the events are swum in a body of open water (lake or sea), there are also 5 km, 10 km and 25 km events for men and women. SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING It is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers (either solos, duets, trios, combos, or teams) performing a synchronized 114 routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music. Competitors show off their strength, flexibility, and aerobic endurance required to performing difficult routines. Swimmers perform two routines for the judges, one technical and one free, as well as age group routines and figures. The origin - in 1933 & 1934, Katherine Whitney Curtis organized a show, "The Kay Curtis Modern Mermaids," for the World Exhibition in Chicago.
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