Sports Benefits for Girls If you are an female athlete, congratulations. Besides having fun, making friends, keeping busy and being in shape, you are benefitting in ways you might not even be aware of. Research compiled by the Women’s Sports Foundation (www.womenssportsfoundation.org) indicates that participation in sports and vigorous and regular physical activity has tremendous benefits for girls. They find that females who participate in sports are healthier, happier, less likely to participate in risk-taking behavior and more likely to get an education. Here is some information that might surprise you and encourage you to stay active. Females of all ages (even your mom and grandma) who participate in sports: have higher levels of self-esteem, suffer less depression and develop a more positive body image than nonathletes; decrease their risk of obesity, lower their risk of breast cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease. Girls who participate in sports are: 3 times more likely to graduate from high school; 80% less likely to have an unwanted pregnancy and 92% less likely to use drugs. College females who participate in sports: have access to athletic scholarships to help pay for their educations and are more likely to graduate at a significantly higher rate than the overall female student population. No matter what your age, you can always become more active and reap the benefits. Sometimes athletic girls give up sports when they get older. But, today’s active lifestyle encourages just the opposite! There are sports for adults ranging from softball to soccer, bocci to bicycling, running to rowing. I know a woman who plays tournament soccer on an over 60s team, another who does open-water swimming in her 80s, a softball player who has played in a competitive league for over 40 years. The opportunities are out there. There’s no excuse for anyone to be inactive–especially females!
Tim grew up riding horses and playing baseball in rural Louisiana. When he was eleven, he accidentally discovered his mother’s deepest secret–that he is the biological son of pro baseball player Tug McGraw. Tim is currently considered the king of country music. He holds twenty number one hits, has sold thirty million albums and was awarded two Grammy¡¯s. Faith has also sold 30 million records and won four Grammy¡¯s.
On Faith
Faith Hill was born in Star, Mississippi on September 21, 1967. Faith Hill’s real name is Audrey Faith Perry and she was adopted. Her last name came when she married Daniel Hill. They divorced in 1991. She grew up singing in her church and at family events. When Faith was nineteen she headed to Nashville to see if she could make a career in country music. Faith Hill was “discovered” working a job at a music publishing company. Her first demo record was cut and the song was called “It Scares Me”.
Faith made her first album with Warner Bros. in 1993. It was titled Take Me As I Am. With the single, “Wild One”, Faith became the first female country music singer to stay on the Billboard as number one for four weeks in a row. In 1995, Faith Hill released her second CD called “It Matters to Me”.
She was recently quoted as saying, “Each day I try to get as much out of life as I can – to keep it real, sincere and very honest. Hopefully, people can get that from my music. And if I’m lucky, one day there will be a little spot carved away somewhere that says I made a contribution.”
On The Couple
In 1996, McGraw teamed up with Warner Brothers and artist Faith Hill for the Spontaneous Combustion tour. It seems that spontaneous combustion is an appropriate description for this couple¡¯s beginnings. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were married in October 1996. As a couple, they’ve soared to the top of the country charts with romantic duets such as “Let’s Make Love” and “It’s Your Love.” Their ballads are inspired by their real-life love story.
People magazine named Faith Hill as one of the 50 “Most Beautiful People”. McGraw’s “Everywhere” earned the CMA album of the year honors in 1998. “It’s Your Love”, was the first musical partnership between Tim and Faith. “It¡¯s Your Love” held the No. 1 spot Billboard¡¯s country singles chart for six weeks. “It¡¯s” received a CMA vocal event trophy song and single of the year at the ACM Awards that year. More duets followed with Let’s Make Love earning a Grammy.
In 1997, Faith gave birth to their first daughter Gracie. They were gifted with two more daughters in 2001 and 2003. In a very surreal sense, it seems these two were destined for each other. Tim¡¯s biological parentage and Faith¡¯s adoption had to give them a sense of having something profoundly painful, in common. Neither grew up with both of their parents. It makes sense that not only do they share a bond of having suffered somewhat the same experience but that they value their love and their family above all else. Their Soul2Soul II Tour proves to be a representation on their love connection from off stage to on stage.
Soul2Soul II Tour (SS2)
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s Soul2Soul Tour 2000 marked one of the industry’s most successful concert tours in history. All venues sold-out and the tour created record box office sales. SS 2000 ended about six years ago. Many have long awaited and anticipated these months now into 2006. Tim and Faith fans knew they would be back.
Soul2Soul II Tour is expected to exceed 80 concert performances and will most definitely include the music that McGraw and Hill have made their trademark over the years. SS2 will be as grand as SS1. Reports coming in say that many of the venues showcasing SS2 have sold out the tickets in ten minutes. It is expected that the set will be outstanding as usual. The couple is known for the use of the round center stage design that allows for all seats in the house to be the best seats in the house. Soul2Soul II Tour will include many of Tim and Faith’s biggest hits and duets. Many fans have reported that their love for each other is obvious on-stage. They send out a powerful vibe that not only entertains but makes many wish they could experience a connection like that of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
Did you know…
London will host the 2012 Olympic Volleyball Tournament. A maximum of 12 teams will participate in the event. The United Kingdom and Brazil -2008 Olympic gold medal- have qualified for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Curiously, Great Britain has never competed in the Pre-Olympics, World Cups, World Championships and Olympic Games. Great Britain did not qualify for the European Championships in 2007.
The People’s Republic of China, Brazil and Russia are the favorites for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. China won the gold medal at the Girls’ Under- 18 World Volleyball Championships in Mexico in 2007.
The United States hopes to win its first world title in 2009. With Lang Ping as coach -a former Chinese volleyball player who had taken part in the 1982 World Cup and 1984 Olympics- the U.S. women’s volleyball team trains very hard for the 2009 World Cup in Tokyo (Japan).
From 1962 to 1967, Japan dominated the international tournaments and players from that Asian country won two World Championships.
Venezuela qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics through the South American Pre-Olympic in Lima, Peru. For the first time, Venezuela defeated Peru 3-2 ( 22-25, 27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12). Curiously, Venezuela has never participated in the World Championships or Olympic Games. In 1982, Venezuela finished 5th place at the Central American & Caribbean Games…
Russia has got seven world championships ( USSR ‘ 52, France ‘ 56, Brazil ‘ 60, Bulgaria ‘ 70, Uruguay ‘ 73, China ‘ 90, Japan ‘ 06 ) and four Olympic titles (Mexico ‘ 68, West Germany ‘ 72, USSR ‘ 80, South Korea ‘ 88).
In 1980, South Korea -one of the world’s best volleyball teams- did not send a team to the Pre-Olympics in Bulgaria. Why ? Between 1948 and 1987, South Korea -an anti-Communist state in the 20th century- did not establish formal diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of Bulgaria. The tournament was part of the Olympic qualification system for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
Algeria -which won the gold medal at the 2007 Pan African Games- is the first Arab team to participate in the Olympic Games (Beijing 2008).
From 1952 to 1973, China did not compete in the World Championships ( Moscow ‘ 52, Paris ‘ 56, Rio ‘ 60, Moscow ‘ 62, Tokyo ‘ 67, Sofia ‘ 70 ) and Asian Games ( Jakarta ‘ 62, Bangkok ‘ 66, Bangkok ‘ 70 ). Why ? Because the People’s Republic of China was not member of the F?d?ration Internationale de Volleyball ( FIVB ). In 1974, China became an official member of the FIVB. This nation made its international debut at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran (Iran). Three weeeks later, China competed in the World Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico. In the preliminary round, China lost two matches: Poland (3-1) and Japan (3-0/ 1972 Olympic champion).The People’s Republic of China finished in 14th place -among 24 nations- at the 1974 FIVB World Championships. In the 1980s, China became the first country to win 5 of 8 major volleyball tournaments:
1980: China boycotted the Moscow Olympics
1981: Japan World Cup-1st place
1982: Peru World Championships-1st place
1984: Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games-1st place
1985: Japan World Cup-1st place
1986: Czechoslovakia World Championships-1st place
1988: South Korea Olympic Games-3rd place
1989: Japan World Cup- 3rd place
South Korea won the FIVB U-20 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 1977. Korea beat China for the gold medal. For the first time, three volleyball teams from Asia competed in the finals (Korea, China and Japan).
Massachusetts (United States) is the birthplace of volleyball…
The Romanian women’s volleyball squad won the gold medal at the 1980 World Olympic Qualification in Varna (Bulgaria). Final standings:
1.Romania
2.Bulgaria
3.Brazil
4.North Korea
5.Hungary
6.Mexico
Like many former Soviet-bloc nations, Ukraine was one of the last members of the FIVB. Surprisingly, Ukraine won the silver medal at the 1993 World Youth Championships in South America.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea / North Korea -which won the Olympic bronze medal in Munich in 1972- did not want to compete in the World Championships in 1974. The team also did not participate in the Asian Cup in Melbourne (Australia) in 1975.
Mexico hosted the 2007 Girl’s Youth World Championships. There were 16 teams: Mexico, Serbia, South Korea, Belarus, Brazil, Japan, Puerto Rico, Germany, Italy, Russia, Dominican Republic, Peru, China, USA, Tunisia and Turkey.
Nigeria became the first black African team to qualify for the FIVB World Cup in 1982. On September 14, Peru -1979 Pan American silver medalist- upset Nigeria -African champion- in the opener of the World Cup. The score was 15-0, 15-0,15-0.
Volleyball is one of the most popular Olympic sports in South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, North Korea and the People’s Republic of China.
The United States won the gold medal at the 1981 NORCECA Tournament. The U.S. women’s volleyball team won the international tournament after losing in the final three times in a row ( 1975, 1977, 1979 ).
In the 1980s, Maria Salgado Barroso (Brazilian volleyball player) played in the Japanese Volleyball League.
Minorka Marisela Mercado Carrero was one of the “most beautiful volleyball players” in the world. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she played for Venezuela. Minorka represented her country at the 1989 World Youth Cup in Lima, Peru. On September 3, 1993 she became the second sportswoman elected Miss Venezuela. Minorka was discovered by Osmel Sousa -Director of Miss Universe Venezuela. Under the direction of Osmel, she was second runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in 1994…
The German Democratic Republic / East Germany -Olympic silver medalist in 1980- did not compete at the FIVB Women’s World Cup in Peru in 1982.
The first Women’s Volleyball World Cup was in Moscow ( USSR / Russia) in 1952.
The U.S. women’s volleyball team has not won the World Championships.