Sports
Background Information
In Iceland, there are many sports played throughout the country, They have traditional games, such as handball (a game like soccer except using hands instead of feet). They also play sports that are played in almost every country, but these games are not as popular. Iceland is full of mountains, so extreme sports such as skiing and mountaineering are done there.
Organized games and leagues started to be played about 130 years ago. Before that, there were games that started around the 9th century. They started when settlers brought a game that involved a bat and ball. This game was probably much like baseball or cricket. This game was played up to four centuries later, when Iceland evolved into more advanced games.
Iceland's first trip to the Olympics was in 1908, when it was in London. Iceland is not a very skillful team of athletes. The first medal that they have won was in 1956. Since then, they have won only three medals. Recently, their handball team made it very far in the Olympics. Although they did not win, they got their second silver medal, first in team handball.
Important Person- Alfred Gislason
Alfred Gislason is one of Iceland's best handball player and coach. He started his professional career in 1980 on Knaftspyrnufelag Reykjavik, a team in Iceland. He played as a professional in five more clubs, and in 1991, he was a playing coach on KA Akureyri. He coached after that on five different clubs. As a coach he won the Coach of the Year Award in 2001, a year before he retired his handball career. This is why he is one of the best handball players and coach in Iceland.
Important Place- Engjavegur Laugardalur Sports Center
This center is very important to the sports in Iceland. The National Olympic Commitee (NOC) discusses their choices for the years their. In addition to that, many sports are played there. It is considered the main sports center in Iceland.
Symbolic Object- A Handball
A handball is a very symbolic object to sports in Iceland. I think it is because it is the most respected sport in Iceland, so it represents all sports in Iceland. It is also great for the country's name. It is because Iceland won a silver medal in the Olympics, therefore, making it won of its better sports. The handball is very important to Iceland's name, its sports, and country.