Winter Olympics – An Inspiration To Everyone

Team GB bought home four medals at Sochi 2014, including two for curling, one for skeleton and one for snowboard slopestyler, making it the most successful Winter Olympics for Great Britain since 1924. SportsDirect.com take a look at what effect this will have on the bigger picture when it comes to sport.

Although Britain is not renowned for having natural snow this didn’t hinder the Olympians, and it shouldn’t put people off from trying sports such as snowboarding or skiing. There are over 50 indoor centres and dry slopes available across the UK, as well as mountains up in Scotland where people can train, making winter sports ready available for people to give a go and try out.

Jenny Jones, who won bronze at the Olympics for snowboard slopestyler, told the BBC that winter sports are much more accessible than what people initially think. The coverage from Sochi highlighted winter sports in a very positive light and helped to make people more aware of winter sports.

However, the Winter Games didn't just help raise the profile of winter sports, it also covered women in sport, which perfectly coincided with Sports Minister, Helen Grant’s statement, saying that women should be asked what they want to do when it comes to sport.

Three of the four medals that Team GB won in Sochi were from female athletes which can only encourage and reiterate Helen Grant’s view. Media coverage obviously plays a major role in profiling women in sport, and undoubtedly women’s sport is not given as much airtime or attention as what men’s sport is, but with the success of female athletes in both the Summer and Winter Olympics there may well be a shift towards focussing on women’s sports.

 Ensuring that there are plenty of opportunities and choice when it comes to women being active and participating in sports also plays an important role in developing awareness and inspiring girls, and women, to take up something new and get involved.

SportsDirect.com have a range of skiing and snowboarding equipment and clothing is perfect for hitting the dry, or real, slopes, check it out at http://www.sportsdirect.com/pages/skiing. Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk and www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk

Increase Fitness With Boxing

New fitness and health fads are always popping up, but some of the most effective workouts have been around for years, centuries even. Take boxing for example, it is a great all body workout and has stood the test of time. SportsDirect.com take a look at the health benefits of the sport and what equipment is needed.

Boxing, dating back to Ancient Greek and Roman times, has come a long way over the years and although essentially it incorporates  the same components, it is a lot less violent, there are more rules and there is a lot more protection on offer.

Modern day boxing is much more than a slugfest brawl and is more about discipline, accuracy and stamina. Now, popular across many gyms, and even venturing into a popular fitness class, Boxercise®, the combat sport has numerous health and fitness benefits.

First of all, it is an aerobic exercise so will help with weight loss as well as improving cardiovascular fitness levels which is essential for improving the heart and lungs efficiency.  Many people think that boxing is just throwing punches, but there is a lot of technique involved, including attaining the right footwork to keep moving and have the right stance when required.

As well as aiding weight loss, boxing is also a great sport for gaining muscle strength, especially in the upper body, as well as increasing muscle tone and definition in the arms, core and back, without using weights.

As Bupa.com have said, boxing does require ‘good hand-eye coordination to punch a pad’, but this can be worked on throughout training. Through focussing on intense movements in rapid stints, each in different directions, agility will also be increased which is an important part of fitness and will enhance defence skills.

Protection is essential, and it is important to be well equipped with the correct gear. SportsDirect.com have a broad range of boxing equipment and accessories that are suited for beginners and training purposes, and have the latest lines from top boxing brands such as Lonsdale and Everlast, including the Lonsdale XLite boxing gloves that incorporate new cutting edge technology.

Visit SportsDirect.com fro full range of boxing gear and clothing. Join the conversation at Facebook and Twitter.

SportsDirect.om’s Guide to Keep the Children Active During the Half Term

For most, February half term will begin on Saturday 15th February for one whole week, and keeping the children occupied and ensuring their days aren’t filled with video games, computers and the TV can be a challenge. However, there are plenty of sporting activities that kids will love to try out. SportsDirect.com take a look at just some on offer.

With the weather forecast not looking any brighter for the next couple of weeks, the options of going camping or heading to the local park for a kick about have gone out of the window. However, there are plenty of sports or activities that children can do indoors.

Free
Doing something everyday costs a small fortune, however there are activities available for free. The majority of leisure centres have offers on during the school holidays which entitle children to swim for free. Whether it’s fun swim, lane swim or public swim, it doesn’t matter, swimming has so many health benefits and is a great way to get children active as it is fun, and most importantly doesn’t feel like exercise. Alternatively, many leisure centres also offer free incentives, such as free badminton or squash court hire to their members, so it is worth checking out.

Spend
For families who are planning to have a few days out during the half term then there are a whole world of indoor activities that won’t cost the earth. Indoor climbing walls are situated up and down the country and are great fun for children and parents alike. Similarly, indoor skate-parks are just as exciting and thrilling, with sessions costing around £13.00 and lessons being available, indoor skate parks are perfect for both beginners and children who have tried it out before.

Treat
With the Winter Olympics underway, heading ice-skating or to the dry slopes is the perfect option for the school holidays. With prices starting around £15.00-£25.00per person for recreational skiing, it is a great treat option. Also, many ice-rinks offer themed days and evenings to make the experience even more fun.

Research the local leisure centres and area to see what they have on offer, it may come as surprise how much fun the children have trying out a new sport!

Visit http://www.sportsdirect.com/sport for more ideas and equipment on what activities to do during the half term. Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk and www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk.

The History of the Six Nations

The Six Nations is one of the biggest rugby union championships, lasting over seven weekends throughout February, March, and occasionally April, with the six teams playing each other to get the most points and win the trophy. SportsDirect.com take a look at the history of the tournament.

Kicking  off on Saturday 1st February and running up until 15th March, Six Nations includes England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy with each team playing each other once. Playing both home and away, each team is awarded two points for a win and one point for a draw and the team with the most points at the end of the tournament wins. If the winning team has also won all of their five matches throughout then they will also be rewarded with the title of ‘Grand Slam’ winner.

This year is the 120th edition of the championship, but it hasn’t always been called the Six Nations. In 1871 the first ever rugby union international match was played against teams from England and Scotland, which in turn inspired Ireland and Wales to take part too in 1883. The tournament was then renamed the Home International Championship and helped to spread the concept of rugby throughout Europe.

France officially joined the Home International Championships in 1910, and the tournament was therefore renamed the Five Nations, and eventually became the Six Nations once Italy collaborated in 2000.

It is fair to say that the Six Nations has been a slow burner in terms of its progression and becoming what it is today, even the trophy, that is commissioned by the Royal Bank of Scotland,  wasn’t introduced until 2006.
The first weekend of the 2014 Six Nations saw Ireland, Wales and France all win, with two points each, leaving England, Italy and Scotland on zero points, but with another seven days full of matches the tournament is wide open.

Feeling inspired by the Six Nations Championships? Visit SportsDirect.com for their full range of rugby gear. Join the conversation on www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk  or www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk