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 Sports Quiz Questions

103.
From the German for 'compulsion to move', what term in chess describes a situation where one player is put at a disadvantage because he has to make a move – the player would prefer to pass and make no move?
Answer

Zugzwang

The fact that the player must make a move means that his position will be significantly weaker than the hypothetical one in which it were his opponent's turn to move.

 
102.
The distinctive serving pose of which Swedish player is used as the logo for the Australian Open tennis tournament?
Answer

Stefan Edberg

 
101.
Which French word that means 'to rescue' is a practice amongst sports competitions that allows participants that failed to meet qualifying standards by a small margin to continue to the next round?
Answer

Repechage

In karate, judo, taekwondo, and wrestling tournaments, single elimination brackets are used to determine the two athletes who will compete in the final match for first and second place. The repechage bracket is built by selecting all of the athletes who were knocked out by the finalists and building brackets to determine third place. Repechage addresses the possibility of two top competitors meeting in an early round, allowing the loser a chance to compete for a bronze medal.

 
100.
Which legendary muscle-man called his system of exercises as "Dynamic Tension" when he first popularized them in the 1920s?
Answer

Charles Atlas (1892-1972)

Dynamic Tension is a self-resistance exercise method which pits muscle against muscle. The practitioner tenses the muscles of given body part and then moves the body part against the tension as if a heavy weight was being lifted. However, Dynamic Tension exercises are not merely isometrics, since they call for movement.

 
99.
Which two famous milers featured in a 1954 race in the British Empire Games at Vancouver that is known in sports lore as 'The Miracle Mile', the 'Race of the Century' and the 'Dream Race'?
Answer

Roger Bannister and John Landy

Landy ran his second sub-4 minute mile in the race, but lost to Roger Bannister, who had his best-ever time. On the final turn of the last lap, as Landy looked over his left shoulder, Bannister passed him on the right. A larger-than-life bronze sculpture of the two men at this moment was created by Vancouver sculptor Jack Harman in 1967. egarding this sculpture, Landy quipped that "While Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am probably the only one ever turned into bronze for looking back."

 
98.
Dhyan Chand of India is regarded as the greatest player of all time in which Olympic sport?
Answer

Hockey

A legendary center-forward, he is remembered for his goal-scoring feats, first as a player and later as captain. Chand won 3 Olympic gold medals (1928 Amsterdam, 1932 Los Angeles, 1936 Berlin).

 
97.
Which Swiss city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva is the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee?
Answer

Lausanne

The IOC officially recognises the city as the Capitale Olympique.

 
96.
Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic swimming champion during the years of 1912 and 1924 is credited with popularizing which sport?
Answer

Surfing

Growing up on the outskirts of Waikiki (near the present site of the Hilton Hawaiian Village), Kahanamoku spent his youth as a bronzed beach boy. It was at Waikiki Beach where he developed his surfing and swimming skills.

 
95.
By what name is the famous boxing rematch between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey held on September 22, 1927 better known?
Answer

The Long Count Fight in which Tunney won

It was said to be the first $1 million gate and the first $2 million gate in entertainment history. Because of a controversial delay offered to Tunney when he was down, it became known as The Long Count Fight.

 
94.
Which in-the-news sportsperson refers to his ethnicity as 'Cablinasian'?
Answer

Tiger Woods

A syllabic abbreviation he coined from Caucasian, Black, (American) Indian, and Asian).

 
93.
Which Italian form of bowling which starts when a ball called 'Pallino' is thrown has been played since Roman times?
Answer

Bocce

 
92.
Which member of the Kennedy family who passed away on August 11, 2009 is known for her association with the Special Olympics movement?
Answer

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

 
91.
In which Winter sport are some of the terrains designated as Green Circles, Blue Squares and Black Diamonds?
Answer

Alpine Skiing

In North America, the easiest ski runs are marked by green circles, and are typically fairly flat and smooth. Sometimes known as "bunny slopes", they are usually groomed by specially equipped snowcats every night. A blue square marks slopes of medium difficulty; these blue squares may be steeper or narrower than green circles, or they may be left in a natural state rather than machine-groomed. A black diamond run is yet steeper than a blue square and often involves challenging terrain such as moguls, narrow passes, unmarked obstacles, double fall lines, or gladed sections. A double black diamond is for experts only; these trails are steep, rarely groomed and often left in a completely natural state. There is no standard for these designations, however, and each ski resort determines them relative to their own terrain difficulty.

 
90.
In 1999, ESPN counted down the Top 50 Athletes of the 20th Century, voted on by a panel of sports journalists and observers. What is the highest ranked non-human on this list?
Answer

Secretariat, who in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in twenty-five years.

It set new race records in two of the three events in the Series - the Kentucky Derby (1:59 2/5), and the Belmont Stakes (2:24) - records that still stand today. The other two non-humans on the list were also racehorses: Man o' War at 84th and Citation at 97th.

 
89.
Shakehand and Penhold Grips are used in which sport?
Answer

Tabletennis

 
88.
In racing, Jockeys need to keep a tight rein in order to encourage their horse to run. But if someone is far ahead, s/he can afford to slacken off and still win. This is the origin of which expression that means to win easily?
Answer

Hands down

 
87.
Which world-renowned Hungarian-American gymnastics coach is known for training Mary Lou Retton, Kerri Strug, Nadia Comaneci and Kim Zmeskal among others?
Answer

Bela Karolyi

Károlyi has coached nine Olympic champions, fifteen world champions, sixteen European medalists and six U.S. national champions.

 
86.
Which game's name comes from the resemblance of its main artifacts to Venetian Carnival masks that were in turn named as they resembled French priests' winter hoods, being black on the outside and white on the inside?
Answer

Dominos

The name ultimately derives from the Latin dominus, meaning "lord" or "master."

 
85.
In February 2009, the tennis player Shahar Peer was prevented from playing at the Dubai Tennis Championships after she was denied a visa. Which country does she play for?
Answer

Israel

A number of players condemned the action to not grant Peer a visa, and WTA chief Larry Scott said that he had considered canceling the tournament, but chose not to after consulting Peer. ATP player Andy Roddick chose not to defend his title, with prize money of over $2 million, to protest the UAE's refusal to grant Peer a visa for the event.

 
84.
Which American sportsman picked up his nickname from a friend who said he resembled a Hindu holy man whenever he sat around with arms and legs crossed waiting to bat, or while looking sad after a losing game?
Answer

Yogi Berra

Years later, the Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Yogi Bear was possibly named after Berra (the cartoon bear's creators denied it), something Berra did not appreciate after he started being periodically addressed as "Yogi Bear."

 
83.
What is the essential difference between American roulette and the European roulette?
Answer

In American roulette, there is a pocket marked 00 that is not present in the European version.

 
82.
Chuck Wepner is an obscure boxer from Bayonne, New Jersey who in a 1975 fight went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali and served as an inspiration for what?
Answer

The character of Rocky Balboa

Young actor Sylvester Stallone watched the fight at home on television and was inspired to write the script for Rocky, based on Wepner's gutsy challenge. Wepner would later sue Stallone three times (twice unsuccessfully) for a share of the profits. Stallone settled for an undisclosed amount in the third suit, having publicly stated that Wepner was his inspiration for the script.

 
81.
In 1956, while he was a race car builder at Kurtis Kraft (a famous builder of Indy race cars during the 1950s), Art Ingels assembled the first one of what?
Answer

A 'Go Kart'.

Art Ingels is known as 'the father of karting'.

 
80.
Nicknamed El Chino ("The Chinese") and El zurdo de Vitacura ("The lefty from Vitacura"), who is the only player in the open era of men's tennis to hold the number one ranking despite never winning a Grand Slam?
Answer

Marcelo Rios

 
79.
Consisting of a grid of thirty squares arranged in three rows of ten, which game for two players that was played in ancient Egypt might be the oldest board game in the world?
Answer

Senet

The oldest remnants of any ancient board game ever unearthed are those of senet, found in Predynastic and First Dynasty burials of Egypt, circa 3500 BC and 3100 BC respectively. By the time of the New Kingdom in Egypt (1567–1085 BC), it had become a kind of talisman for the journey of the dead. Because of the element of luck in the game and the Egyptian belief in determinism, it was believed that a successful player was under the protection of the major gods of the national pantheon: Ra, Thoth, and sometimes Osiris. Consequently, Senet boards were often placed in the grave.

 
78.
Former Swedish tennis player Niclas Kroon, who describes himself as having introduced this famous sign of celebration to world tennis, was outraged in 2007 that Lleyton Hewitt has adopted it. What is 'it'?
Answer

The "vicht" salute

Kroon, 41, along with former No.1 Mats Wilander, held the rights to the salute from 1988 and often used the signal whenever they won a point or game. Broadly meaning "for sure", it is now widely used by athletes from other sports, including swimmer Grant Hackett.

 
77.
Which golf course architect, who also shares his last name with a legend who won all four majors in 1930, is well-known for designing (or re-designing) about 500 golf courses in 35 countries?
Answer

Robert Trent Jones Sr

Jones got his first big assignment designing the Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta in collaboration with golf legend Bobby Jones. Despite the similarity of their names, the two men were not related. In fact Robert began using the middle name "Trent" shortly afterward to avoid confusion. Jones courses are noted for their artistic landscaping, innovative use of bunkers, liberal use of water hazards, and deft placement of greens and hazards that encourage a high level of strategy. He believed that golf should be a no risk; no reward sport and his designs encouraged daring play.

 
76.
Which is the only country to have won at least one gold medal at every Summer Olympic Games?
Answer

Great Britian

Ranging from one gold in 1904, 1952 and 1996 to fifty-six golds in 1908.

 
75.
The American track athlete Mary Decker was famously involved in a track collision with which South African runner in the 3000m race at the 1984 Olympics?
Answer

Zola Budd Pieterse

 
74.
'Tavern on the Green', a famous restaurant located in Central Park, New York City is the finish line for which popular annual event?
Answer

The New York City Marathon

The Barilla Marathon Eve Dinner, an enormous pre-race pasta party on the eve of the marathon, takes place at the Tavern.

 
73.
Which sports car endurance race held annually since 1923 in France is commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and is meant not only to test a car and driver's ability to be quick, but also to last over a 24-hour period?
Answer

24 Hours of Le Mans

The race became a major motion picture in 1971 when Steve McQueen released his simply titled Le Mans, starring McQueen as a driver in the 1970 event for the Gulf Porsche team. Likened to other motorsports films such as Grand Prix for Formula One racing and Winning for the Indianapolis 500, Le Mans is the best known film to center on sports car racing. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans)

 
72.
American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos were expelled from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in connection with which incident?
Answer

Black Power Salute

After completing their 200 metre race, Tommie Smith, who won the race in a then world record time, with Australia's Peter Norman second and John Carlos in third place, went to collect their medals at the podium. The two American athletes received their medals shoeless, but wearing black socks, to represent black poverty. Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride. After being expelled from the games, Smith and Carlos were largely ostracised by the U.S. sporting establishment in the following years and in addition were subject to criticism of their actions. In recent years, their stand has been vindicated and San Jose State University honored them with a twenty foot high statue of their protest in 2005.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute)

 
71.
Which iconic American woman's soccer star scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female, in the history of the sport?
Answer

Mia Hamm

She was named the women's FIFA World Player of the Year the first two times that award was given (in 2001 and 2002), and is listed as one of FIFA's 125 best living players (as chosen by Pelé). Women's Professional Soccer, a professional soccer league that plans to launch in 2009, features Hamm's silhouette in its logo.

 
70.
Which traditional dance form of the Māori of New Zealand is famously performed by the All Blacks, the international rugby union team of New Zealand, immediately prior to international matches?
Answer

Haka

It is a posture dance with shouted accompaniment, performed by a group. Haka are not exclusively war dances, nor are they only performed by men. Some are performed by women, others by mixed groups, and some simple haka are performed by children.

 
69.
Which game, where the object is to knock over wooden blocks by throwing wooden sticks at them, can be called as a combination of bowling, horseshoes, and chess and enjoys popularity in Sweden?
Answer

Kubb

Rules vary from country to country and from region to region, but the ultimate object of the game is to knock the "King" over, before your opponent does. This, combined with the fact that there is a surprising level of strategy that can be used by players, has led some players and kubb fans to nickname the game "Viking Chess." The game can be played on a variety of surfaces such as sand, concrete, grass, or even ice.

 
68.
Which South Pacific island of Vanuatu is most famous for being the spiritual birthplace of the extreme sport of bungee jumping, originating in an ages old ritual called the naghol, or Land Diving?
Answer

Pentecost Island

Between April and June every year, men in the southern part of the island jump from tall towers with vines tied to their feet, in a ritual believed to ensure a good yam harvest. The ritual is also now used to show acceptance into manhood. Land diving was first given international exposure when David Attenborough and a BBC film crew brought back footage of the ritual during the 1950s.

 
67.
In the world of sports, what is the "Gretzky T206 Honus Wagner"?
Answer

A Baseball card

The T206 Honus Wagner baseball card is a rare baseball card depicting Honus Wagner, a dead-ball era baseball player who is widely considered to be one of the finest players of all time. This Wagner card is the most valuable baseball card in history and it last fetched a sale price of $2.8 million.

 
66.
Which Russian-born legendary billiards (pool) cue maker is sometimes referred to as "the Stradivarius of cuemakers"?
Answer

George Balabushka

His full name or last name standing alone is often used to refer to a cue stick made by him. Although already well known and valuable to collectors, Balabushka and his cues became much more so after being prominently featured in Martin Scorsese’s 1986 film 'The Color of Money'.

 
65.
"If we lose, it will be the biggest upset in the history of sports", said a modest Chuck Daly in 1992 while coaching his team. Who is 'we'?
Answer

The US Basketball team at the Olympics, the original 'Dream team'.

The 1992 team consisting of Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson is often regarded as the greatest collection of talent on one team in basketball history.

 
64.
Which sporting rules were written by John Graham Chambers in 1865 and published in 1867 superseding the Revised London Prize Ring rules (1853)?
Answer

The Queensberry rules for the sport of boxing

They were named so because the 9th Marquess of Queensberry publicly endorsed the code. This version persuaded boxers that "you must not fight simply to win; no holds barred is not the way; you must win by the rules".

 
63.
There is a prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew and it was first awarded to the first yacht which sailed around the world in less than 80 days. Can you guess after whom the trophy is named?
Answer

Jules Verne, of course!

The original idea for this competition has been attributed to Yves Le Cornec in 1985. The rules were defined in 1990.

 
62.
Which great American sprinter was nicknamed the "Duck" for his unique running style, characterized by his head bobbing backwards and forward, straightness of his back and not much arm drive?
Answer

Michael Johnson

His upright stance and very short steps defied the perceived wisdom that a high knee lift was essential for maximum speed. When asked by a reporter, "If you had a usual running technique like other runners do you think you would go faster?" Johnson responded by saying "If I ran like all the other runners, I would be back there with them."

 
61.
The 'Aussie Round' is considered by many to be the ultimate test of skills in this field where an object should cross a 50 metre circle and come right back to the centre. What is the object in question?
Answer

A Boomerang

Each thrower has five attempts. Points are awarded for distance, accuracy and the catch.

 
60.
After the Olympics, what are the world's second-largest multi-sport event?
Answer

The Commonwealth Games

Attendance at the Commonwealth Games is typically around 5,000 athletes.

 
59.
Which land area near Wendover, Utah that is marked out for motor sports is particularly noted as the venue for numerous land speed records?
Answer

Bonneville Speedway

It is part of the 159 sq mile Bonneville salt flat in northwestern Utah. The area is extremely flat and nearly aligned perfectly with the shape of Earth, allowing visitors to see the curvature of the planet by producing an optical illusion that makes many of the mountains within the vicinity appear to be floating in the air since their bases are on the other side of the curve and thus out-of-sight.

 
58.
Statistically the greatest driver of Formula One, Michael Schumacher won his seven championships with which two companies?
Answer

Benetton and Ferrari

After winning two championships with Benetton, Schumacher moved to the Ferrari in 1996 and won five consecutive drivers' titles with them.

 
57.
In golf, what is referred to as a "chunk" or a "chili-dipping"?
Answer

A swing that results in the clubhead hitting the ground several inches before the ball, resulting in a large "chunk" of ground being taken as a divot.

 
56.
According to the DVD movie interview of the movie 'Amadeus', Tom Hulce studied which sportsman's mood swings for his portrayal of Mozart's unpredictable genius?
Answer

John McEnroe

 
55.
What are the two events in competitive weightlifting?
Answer

'Snatch' and 'Clean and Jerk'.

A third lift, the "clean and press" or simply "press", was practiced in the Olympics until 1972. The clean and press differs from the clean and jerk, in that the weight is pressed directly up from the chest with the arms only, while remaining standing, while the jerk uses the legs' power to assist the arms part of the way up, followed by the body sinking downward into a split or squat to complete the extension of the arms, before once again standing. The press was eliminated due to the difficulty in judging whether the lift was performed correctly: Lifters were bending so far backward as to turn it into a "standing bench press".

 
54.
Which game is played in seven-minute periods called 'chukkas'?
Answer

Polo

It is played outdoor on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Riders score by driving a white wooden or plastic ball into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet.

 
53.
In which sport, which was also part of the Olympic Games from 1900 until 1920, does the winner move backwards?
Answer

Tug of war

 
52.
On August 13, 1999, which tennis player ranked No. 3 became the highest ranked player ever to announce retirement from the sport (Note: This record was broken by No. 1 Justine Henin in May 2008)?
Answer

Steffi Graf

 
51.
Which sport did Ernest Hemingway refer to in his 1932 non-fiction book 'Death in the Afternoon' as "... is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter's honour."?
Answer

Bullfighting

 
50.
Which move in chess is unusual in that it is the only occasion in which a piece captures but does not move to the square of the captured piece?
Answer

En Passant

Historically, en passant is one of the last series of major rule changes in European chess that occurred in the 14th to 15th century, together with the introduction of the two-square first move for pawns, castling, and the unlimited range for queens and bishops. Because of their separation from European chess prior to that period, the Asian chess variants do not feature any of these moves.

 
49.
What is the best-selling commercial board game in the world?
Answer

Monopoly

It is published by Parker Brothers, an imprint of Hasbro. According to Hasbro, since Charles Darrow patented the game in 1935, approximately 750 million people have played the game, making it "the most played [commercial] board game in the world." The 1999 Guinness Book of Records cited Hasbro's previous statistic of 500 million people having played Monopoly. Games Magazine has inducted Monopoly into its Hall of Fame.

 
48.
In the 1880s students of Oxford university abbreviated words by adding "er" to the end; for instance, breakfast became "brekkers" and "rugby rules" was referred to as "rugger." The name of which sport originated from this practice?
Answer

Soccer

When one student, Charles Wreford Brown, was asked if he'd like to play rugger, he was the first to abbreviate "association rules" (Football Association rules) by answering, "No, soccer." Brown later became an England international and Football Association vice-president.

 
47.
Which American athlete revolutionized the high jump using a back-first technique that is now known by his name?
Answer

Dick Fosbury (Fosbury Flop)

His method was to sprint diagonally towards the bar, then curve and leap backwards over the bar. As a student at Oregon State University, he won the 1968 NCAA title using his new technique, as well as the US Olympic trials. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, which were held in Mexico City, he took the gold medal and set a new Olympic record (2.24 meters / 7 feet 4.25 inches), displaying the potential of the new technique. Despite the initial skeptical reactions from the high jumping community, the new technique quickly gained popularity, and it is almost exclusively used by modern high jumpers.

 
46.
What is the maximum score that can be achived in a single game of bowling?
Answer

300

Over 56,000 perfect games were recorded by USBC in 2005.

 
45.
Which matching card game, in which the objective is to create melds of cards of the same rank and then go out by discarding them, is named after the Spanish word for "basket"?
Answer

Canasta

It is believed that Canasta was invented in Montevideo, Uruguay in the early twentieth century. It then spread to Argentina, and then to the United States and the rest of the world. The game was very popular in the 1950s.

 
44.
In US college sports, what is the most common nickname/school mascot?
Answer

Eagles

The 12 most used names of four-year college mascots: Eagles (74), Tigers (46), Bulldogs (39), Panthers (33), Knights (32), Lions (31), Bears (30), Hawks (28), Cougars (27), Pioneers (27), Warriors (27) and Wildcats (25).

 
43.
Which sport takes place on 'piste', which according to the current regulations should be between 1.5 and 2 meters wide and 14 meters long?
Answer

Fencing

 
42.
In the game of Curling, what is the name given to the target area towards which teams slide heavy, polished granite stones?
Answer

The House

Two sweepers with brooms accompany each rock and use timing equipment and their best judgement along with direction from their other teammates to help direct the stones to their resting place. The complex nature of stone placement and shot selection has led some to refer to curling as "chess on ice".

 
41.
In Artistic gymnastics, what are the only 2 events that are common to men and women?
Answer

The Floor Exercise and the Vault

Men compete on Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, and High Bar, while women compete on Vault, Uneven Bars, Beam, and Floor Exercise.

 
40.
Whom did Muhammad Ali refer to when he said that while he does consider himself the greatest heavyweight in boxing history, X is the greatest pound for pound boxer of all time?
Answer

Sugar Ray Robinson

Robinson is widely considered one of the greatest boxers in history, and has been ranked as the greatest boxer of all time by sportswriters, fellow boxers, and trainers. The phrase "pound for pound", was created by sportswriters for him during his career as a way to compare boxers irrespective of weight, and Hall of Fame fighters such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Leonard have ranked Robinson as the greatest pound for pound boxer in history.

 
39.
Which American football player was in the cast of the movie 'The Dirty Dozen' and announced his retirement from professional football during the filming of the movie?
Answer

Jim Brown

 
38.
Which American hall of fame basketball player and ex-Senator appears as the character of Vice President in Jeffrey Archer's 'Shall We Tell the President?'?
Answer

Bill Bradley

In 1969-70, he helped the Knicks win their first NBA championship, followed by a second in 1972-73. The second championship season was Bradley’s best and he made his only All-Star Game appearance that year. Retiring from basketball in 1977, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. In 1984 the Knicks retired his number 24 jersey.

 
37.
Which Swede is the only man in tennis history to have won at least two Grand Slam singles titles on each of the three surfaces of grass, clay and hardcourt?
Answer

Mats Wilander

From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles (three at the French Open, three at the Australian Open, and one at the US Open), and one Grand Slam men's doubles title (at Wimbledon). Although he never won the singles title at Wimbledon, Wilander twice won the Australian Open when that tournament was still played on grass courts. He won three of the four Grand Slam singles events in 1988 and finished that year ranked World No. 1.

 
36.
Which medieval sport is the official sport of Maryland as well as the first to be made an official sport by an American state?
Answer

Ring jousting

 
35.
In May 2005, the American businessman Malcolm Glazer completed a hostile takeover of which sports organization?
Answer

Manchester United Football Club

The takeover was fiercely opposed by many fans of Manchester United, who organised themselves in the form of the independent Manchester United Supporters' Trust (formerly Shareholders United), partly because the Glazer takeover saddled the club with a large debt (over $850m) and interest that comes with it (approx £60 million a year).

 
34.
At the Wimbledon tennis tournament, there is no play on which day as it is designated a rest day?
Answer

The 'Middle Sunday' of the 2-week tournament

However, rain has forced play on the Middle Sunday three times in the Championship's history: in 1991, 1997, and 2004. On each of these occasions, Wimbledon has staged a "People's Sunday", with unreserved seating and readily available, inexpensive tickets.

 
33.
Although a total of 43 clubs have competed in the English Premier League since its 1992 inception, how many teams have won the title as of 2009?
Answer

Only four (Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, and Manchester United)

 
32.
The 1999 movie 'Endurance' chronicles the quest of which middle-distance running great to win Olympic gold in the 10,000-meters race in Atlanta?
Answer

Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia

As a child growing up on a farm in Ethiopia he used to run ten kilometres to school every morning, and the same back every evening. This led to a distinctive running posture, with his left arm crooked as if still holding his schoolbooks.

 
31.
An attempt to run round the perimeter of the Great Court in the time during the clock striking twelve is a tradition at which hallowed institution?
Answer

Trinity College, Cambridge

This race is also depicted in the movie 'Chariots of Fire'. It is a rather difficult challenge and the only people believed to have actually completed the run in time are Lord Burghley in 1927 and Sebastian Coe when he beat Steve Cram in a charity race in October 1988.

 
30.
Which professional sports team in the US holds the record for most retired numbers?
Answer

The Boston Celtics, with 21

The Celtics also hold the record for most championships, with 16.

 
29.
The Summer Olympics of 1916, 1940 and 1944 were cancelled due to the World Wars. But had they taken place, what were the assigned locations?
Answer

1916 - Berlin; 1940 - Tokyo then moved to Helsinki; 1944 - London

Before their cancellation, the games of 1940 were retracted from Tokyo by the IOC due to the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937.

 
28.
As of 2004, what is the only Olympic sport in which no professionals compete?
Answer

Boxing

In the 1970s, amateurism requirements were dropped from the Olympic Charter, leaving decisions on professional participation to the international federation for each sport. This switch was perhaps best exemplified by the American Dream Team, composed of well-paid NBA stars, which won the Olympic gold medal in basketball in 1992.

 
27.
What nickname was given to the New York Yankees baseball team of the late 1920s, in particular the first six hitters in the 1927 team lineup?
Answer

Murderer's row

The 1927 Yankees are recognized as one of the best teams in baseball history, alongside the 1939 Yankees, the 1961 Yankees and the 1998 Yankees.

 
26.
The golfer Vijay Singh hails from which country?
Answer

Fiji

He was number one in the Official World Golf Rankings for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005 and has won three major championships in his career thus far.

 
25.
In the Tour de France race, who is the 'lanterne rouge' (red lantern)?
Answer

The overall last-place rider

Because a red lantern is found at the end of a rail train.

 
24.
First held in 1981, what is the international multi-sporting event meant for disciplines not contested in the Olympic Games?
Answer

The World Games

Some of the sports that were on the program of the World Games eventually made it as Olympic sports (such as triathlon) or have been Olympic sports in the past (like tug of war). Some of the sports that are currently held at the World Games are orienteering, body building, powerlifting, finswimming, squash, netball, water skiing, casting, etc. The sports that are included in the World Games are based on the facilities available in the host city, no new facilities may be constructed for the games.

 
23.
In the US, baseball parks are often designed so that the batter is facing east, in order that the afternoon sun does not shine in his eyes. This means that left-handed pitchers are throwing from the south side. What term originated from this?
Answer

'Southpaw' meaning a left-hander

The first use of the term is credited to Finley Peter Dunne. However, the Oxford English Dictionary lists a non-baseball citation for "south paw", meaning a punch with the left hand, as early as 1848, just three years after the first organized baseball game. In boxing, someone who boxes left-handed is frequently referred to as southpaw.

 
22.
What does the name of the famous race horse 'Seabiscuit' really mean?
Answer

It is a synonym for a type of cracker known as hardtack

It is a biscuit made from flour, water, and salt. Inexpensive and long-lasting, it was used during long sea voyages and military campaigns as a primary foodstuff. The name derives from the British seamen's slang for food, "tack", and the fact it is so hard and dry.

 
21.
Where is the International tennis hall of fame?
Answer

Newport, Rhode Island, USA

 
20.
What sport did Oscar Wilde refer to as "the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable"?
Answer

Foxhunting

It is a recreational form of hunting in which trained dogs pursue Red Foxes, followed by human hunters who are usually on horses but sometimes on foot. Many animal welfare campaigners object to it as barbaric, while many proponents and participants view it as a crucial part of rural history in England, vital for conservation, and a method of pest control.

 
19.
The Kalenjin are an ethnic group living in the Great Rift Valley in western Kenya. What are they famous for, in connection with sports?
Answer

Long distance running

The Kalenjin have been called by some "the running tribe." Since the mid-1960s, Kenyan men have earned the largest share of major honors in international athletics at distances from 800 meters to the marathon; the vast majority of these Kenyan running stars have been Kalenjin. From 1980 on, about 40% of the top honors available to men in international athletics at these distances (Olympic medals, World Championships medals, and World Cross Country Championships honors) have been earned by Kalenjin.

 
18.
In archery parlance, what is 'doing a Robinhood'?
Answer

Splitting an already lodged arrow with another one

 
17.
In the US, the World Series of Major League Baseball is confined to the champions of two baseball leagues that currently operate only in the United States and Canada. So how did the name 'World Series' come about?
Answer

When the term was first used in the 1880s, baseball was almost exclusively confined to North America. Thus it was understood that the winner of the major league championship was the best baseball team in the world. The title of this event was soon shortened to 'World's Series' and later to 'World Series'.

A recent myth has arisen that the 'World' in 'World Series' came about because the New York World newspaper sponsored it. There is no evidence at all supporting that hypothesis.

 
16.
In Japanese sporting world, one of the more unusual memorabilia that can be purchased is the 'Tegata'. This is the sumo version of what?
Answer

An autograph

Tegata consist of a hand print of the wrestler accompanied by his fighting name written in calligraphic style by the wrestler himself. The ink for the handprint itself can be either red or black. Original tegata can be quite expensive, but printed copies of the most popular wrestlers can be obtained very inexpensively.

 
15.
The tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis was a colorful character. After finally beating which player after 16 straight losses did he quip "Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row"?
Answer

Jimmy Connors

Gerulaitis is considered one of the great "might-have beens" of tennis. Some believe that by indulging in a close and perhaps servile friendship with Björn Borg, Gerulaitis may have stifled the aggressive instincts needed to bring a player to the top rank. He is remembered as one of the most pleasing players to watch on court, and a gentleman off court. He died in a tragic carbon monoxide poisoning accident in 1994 at age 40.

 
14.
Mohammed Ali said that he adopted which practice from Gorgeous George, who used this 'trash' technique to draw fans to the venues in their hopes to see him lose and thus be 'shut up'?
Answer

Predicting the round in which he would finish opponents

 
13.
The uniform of which NFL team is green because their once owner was born on St Patrick's day?
Answer

The New York Jets

The team began in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League under the name New York Titans. The Jets later joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger. The Jets hold the distinction of being the first AFL team to defeat an NFL club in an AFL-NFL World Championship Game when they defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

 
12.
Well said, Sir! During the buildup to the 1994 Olympics, which NBA star made the following memorable quote concerning the controversial skater Tonya Harding: "I heard Tonya Harding is calling herself the X of figure skating. I was going to sue her for defamation of character, but then I realized I have no character." W
Answer

Charles Barkley

Harding became notorious for allegedly conspiring to harm competitor Nancy Kerrigan in an attack, which occurred on January 6, 1994 at a practice session during the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

 
11.
Which type of race originated in the British Isles where runners raced from one town's X to the next where the X's were used as markers due to their visibility over long distances. Along the way runners inevitably had to jump creeks and low stone walls separating estates.
Answer

Steeplechase (X is a steeple)

The length of the race is usually 3000 m. The number of laps depends on whether the water jump is located to the inside of lane one or to the outside of lane eight or nine. Each runner encounters a total of 28 barriers over the course of the race, as well as 7 water jumps.

 
10.
In the Olympics, what is the longest race in Athletics in terms of distance?
Answer

The 50 km Walk

Most people mistakenly assume its the Marathon, which is 42.195 kms or 26 miles, 385 yards.

 
9.
The main news in London on July 7th 2005 was the terrorist bombing in the Underground. What was the main sports news the previous day that made Londoners happy?
Answer

London winning the Olympic bid

 
8.
Which event traditionally starts at a place called Hopkinton and ends at Copley Square?
Answer

The Boston marathon

Occuring annually on Patriot's Day, the third Monday of April, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's most prestigious road racing events. It is considered to be one of the more difficult marathon courses because of the infamous Newton, Massachusetts, hills along Washington Street and Commonwealth Avenue, which culminate in Heartbreak Hill near Boston College.

 
7.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, two physical educators Johann Friedrich GutsMuth and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn created exercises for boys on special apparatus they themselves designed. The world of sport is indebted to them for what reason?
Answer

This led to the establishment of modern gymnastics

In particular, Jahn crafted early models of the horizontal bar, the parallel bars (from a horizontal ladder with the rungs removed), and the vaulting horse. By the end of the nineteenth century, men's gymnastics competition was popular enough to be included in the first "modern" Olympic Games in 1896.

 
6.
If a chess player says j'adoube, what is he about to do?
Answer

Adjust a piece on its square (without the intention of moving)

Adjustment can only be done when it is the player's move and the adjustment is preceded by speaking I adjust or j'adoube.

 
5.
Which Chess opening, also named for a Spanish monk, consists of the following moves: 1)e4, e5 2)Nf3, Nc6 3)Bb5?
Answer

The Ruy Lopez

One of the most popular openings, it has such a vast number of variations that in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings all codes from C60 to C99 are assigned to them.

 
4.
Nicknamed the Russian Dan Gable, he went undefeated in international competition from 1987 until 2000. He also won gold medals at the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games and went the last six years of his unbeaten streak without giving up a point. Who is he?
Answer

Alexander Karelin, the Greco-Roman wrestler.

Karelin was famous for his body lift, the "Karelin Lift", where facing the opponent who was lying flat on the mat to keep from being thrown, Karelin was able to lift the opponent from around his waist and throw him all the way over his shoulders, scoring from 2 to 5 points depending on the height of the throw. Karelin's ability to perform this throw against elite opponents weighing as much as 130 kg was amazing to audiences as well as other participants and observers of the sport.

 
3.
The world of Athletics is full of inspiring examples. One of them is this Black Gazelle, who overcame polio in her childhood to become a three-time Olympic champion in 1960. Who is this American woman?
Answer

Wilma Rudolph

 
2.
Who was the first tennis player to be ranked no. 1 by a computer when the Association of Tennis Professionals began issuing computer-generated weekly rankings in 1973?
Answer

Ilie Nastase

Until the computer-generated rankings began in 1973, all previous rankings going back to 1913 had been to at least some degree subjective. Even the "authoritative" end-of-the-year amateur rankings issued by such groups as the United States Lawn Tennis Association were based on judgments made by men and women and not on mathematical formulas assigning points for wins or losses.

 
1.
What annual event began in 1973 in Alaska to test the best dogsled mushers and teams?
Answer

The Iditarod

It is an annual race where mushers and teams of dogs cover about 1,151 miles (1,853 km) in eight to fifteen days. Frequently teams race through blizzards causing whiteout conditions, and sub-zero weather and gale-force winds which can cause the wind chill to reach -100 °F (-75 °C). The Iditarod is regarded as a symbolic link to the early history of the state, and is connected to many traditions commemorating the legacy of dog mushing.

 
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