Culture of Lebanon - Sports

Sports

  • Football is the most popular sport in Lebanon. In association football, the governing body for Lebanon is the Federation Libanaise de Football (FLDF). The FLDF organises the men's, women's, and futsal national teams.
  • Basketball - Basketball is one of the most popular sports in Lebanon. In basketball, the governing body is the Lebanese Basketball Federation, and it is a member of FIBA Asia. The Lebanon national basketball team has qualified three consecutives times to the FIBA World Championship in 2002, 2006, and 2010, and the team is ranked 24th in the world and the women's national team is ranked 61st in the world. The most successful Lebanese basketball clubs are Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut and Hekmeh, known as C.S. Sagesse or Sagesse for men and Antranik SC for women.
  • Rugby league - Rugby league is a popular sport in Lebanon. The Lebanon national rugby league team qualified and played in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, and nearly qualified for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but were narrowly beaten by Samoa in their final game.
  • Weightlifting - Weightlifting has been, besides basketball, one of the biggest success stories in Lebanese sport. In the 1972 Summer Olympics, Mohamed Traboulsi won the silver medal, in addition to many gold medals in continental and regional championships and is considered one of the most revered athletes in Lebanon.
  • Winter sports - Skiing and snowboarding are popular sports up in the mountains, and the country boosts six ski resorts, with slopes suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and levels of experience. Off-slope, there are many opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
  • In the summer, skilifts can be used to access some of Lebanon's best hiking trails, with panoramic views stretching as far as Cyprus to the west and Syria to the east on clear days. Canoeing, cycling, rafting, climbing, swimming, sailing, and spelunking are among the other common leisure sports in Lebanon. Adventure and extreme sports are also possible throughout the country.
  • Running - The Beirut International Marathon is held every fall, drawing top runners from Lebanon and abroad. Shorter races are also held for youth and less serious competitors. Race day is promoted as a fun, family event, and it has become a tradition for many to participate in costumes or outlandish clothing.
  • Equestrian sports - Equestrian sports are increasing in popularity, especially in the highlands of Lebanon, where the game of polo is played in farming villages and towns around the country.
  • Rugby union - Rugby union is increasing in popularity, and was introduced from France. The Lebanon national rugby union team represents Lebanon in international rugby union, and is governed by the Lebanon Rugby Union.

In 2009, the country hosted the Winter Asian Games, which took place in the capital, Beirut.

  • Other sports - Sports such as surfing, bodyboarding, netball, cycling, beach soccer, skateboarding, baseball, American football, and sporting events such as triathlons are increasing in popularity.

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Famous quotes containing the word sports:

    “I looked so much like a guy you couldn’t tell if I was a boy or a girl. I had no hair, I wore guys’ clothes, I walked like a guy ... [ellipsis in source] I didn’t do anything right except sports. I was a social dropout, but sports was a way I could be acceptable to other kids and to my family.”
    —Karen Logan (b. 1949)

    “It was so hard to pry this door open, and if I mess up I know the people behind me are going to have it that much harder. Because then there’s living proof. They can sit around and say, “See? It doesn’t work.” I don’t want to be their living proof.”
    —Gayle Gardner, U.S. sports reporter. As quoted in Sports Illustrated, p. 87 (June 17, 1991)

    “The whole idea of image is so confused. On the one hand, Madison Avenue is worried about the image of the players in a tennis tour. On the other hand, sports events are often sponsored by the makers of junk food, beer, and cigarettes. What’s the message when an athlete who works at keeping her body fit is sponsored by a sugar-filled snack that does more harm than good?”
    —Martina Navratilova (b. 1956)