Until the 1960's, team sports were not played on a global scale. In Europe, people European games, and in North America we played American games. The only real "global" sports individual sports, such as golf and tennis.

At that time, rich Americans could travel to Europe on holiday, and play these two games; but whole teams of sportsmen did not often travel around the world, it was too complicated and slow!

The first worldwide sports competition was the Olympic Games; but originally the Olympics were only concerned with athletics; they did not include the wide variety of sports that they now cover.

So as far as team sports are concerned, America has grown up with its own tradition; we love our “football” and our baseball and our basketball. We don't mind if these sports are not popular in other countries. That way, we can organise the “World Series” baseball championship, knowing that a US team will almost always win.

Adapted from http://linguapress.com/intermediate/sports-american-style.htm

GLOSSARY
On a global scale – all over the world

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