精文阅读:伦敦——体育之城

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London loves sport. Playing it. Watching it. Supporting it. There are few cities where sport is so much a part of the culture, spirit and lifestyle.

Sport in the city can mean many things, from a prestigious World Cup final to a kick-around in a park. That's because sport isn't just something we watch, it's something we do.

Take the London Marathon, for example. Around half-a-million people lining the city streets to watch, 40,000 actually running the race (although 80,000 apply to compete) and 7,000 more volunteering to help and support. It's one of the biggest days in London's calendar.

Sport has a long and rich history in London. Several of the world's oldest events began here. Some of the world's most famous venues are here, and some of the newest - with Wembley falling into both categories. And some of the world's most fanatical, knowledgeable and generous supporters are here too.

It's impossible to list everything that sporting London offers. Instead, for a flavour, take just one corner - the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

In summer months you'll find the London Archers practising in Kensington Palace Gardens. They form one of the capital's biggest archery clubs. Across the road is the Albert Hall, site of many famous boxing bouts and, in 1991, sumo's first grand basho outside Japan in 1,500 years. It also hosts tennis tournaments, and, once, a display by Olympic ice-skating gold medallist John Curry.

Within walking distance is Chelsea Football Club's 42,500-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium, plus two major public sports centres, offering local residents everything from swimming to squash, trampolining to table tennis.

And through the borough runs the River Thames, venue for rowing meets, including the world-famous University Boat Race, which has been staged since 1829 and is now watched by an estimated global TV audience of 400 million.

One thing links all these sports and venues: enthusiasm. Whether as competitors or spectators, officials or volunteers, amateurs or professionals, Londoners' passion for sport is clear.