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How Did The British Influence Of Sports In Ancient Egypt

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Egyptian sports have a strong British influence mainly because they were occupied by the British from 1882-1922. This introduced the Egyptian citizens to British sports such as football, basketball, handball, and squash.
Unlike the other sports there is belief that football originated in ancient Egypt according to Alaa Al Aswany of the New York Times. “The Greek historian Herodotus, who is thought to have visited Egypt in about 460 B.C. and again in 448 B.C., described the sight of young men kicking around a ball made from goatskin and straw.” However, it was not until 1882 when the Egyptians adopted the official laws of football and it almost immediately became Egypt’s national game. The game's popularity in Egypt prompted the founding of …show more content…

Basketball, like football, has struggled at international success achieving a world ranking of 41 and an African ranking of 6. They have qualified for seven Olympics (last 1988), their best finish was tying for ninth in 1952; and qualified for six FIBA World Cups (last 2014), with their best finish being fifth in 1950. They have also competed in EuroBasket from 1937-1953, won has host in 1949. After dropping out of EuroBasket they started competing in Afro Basket in 1962 and won five times, three times as United Arab Republic. They have also competed sparingly in the Pan Arab Games since 1953 and have won four titles. In 1974 the Egyptian Basketball Premier League started and consists of two groups and 16 teams. Unlike leagues in China, Spain, France, and the Congo, the EBPL has not produced NBA athletes. However, Egyptian athletes have a strong presence in the college game with 15 total college players, eight in D1/D1AA, one in D2, one in NAIA D2, and five in junior colleges. Only one Egyptian has ever reached the NBA and that is Alaa Abdelnaby, who is currently a color commentator for the Philadelphia 76ers. Although, these athletes were born in Egypt they grew up and played in the United

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