Sports help people relax and have fun. In Italy it is very evident that the people are hard workers, but they still do love to play! The Italians are very fond of many sports. They are very enthusiastic about many of the same sports as we are in the United States. The sports that Italians are most fanatic about in every day life are soccer, tennis, swimming, boxing, rowing, boating, golf, and basketball. (DiFranco, 103). Some of these sports are new to the Italians, however, they are catching on quite quickly and starting to be played at higher levels of competition. The Italians’ range of levels go from the Olympic games, to a high level of league play, all the way down to recreational sports. Some of the Olympic games they enjoy are skiing, fencing, tennis, cycling, boxing, track and many others. (DiFranco, 103). Italy has already sent numerous fine athletes to the Olympics many times. They usually win in fencing, skiing, bobsledding, and tennis. (DiFranco, 103). In the Olympics held in Rome in 1960, the Italians had a fantastic showing. They took home 13 gold metals, 10 silver, and 13 bronze. These metals were all taken in either track, boxing, fencing, cycling, or gymnastics. (Wallechinsky, 65-67). In the 1964 Olympics Italy won 10 gold metals, 10 silver, and 7 bronze. These metals were won in either shooting, judo, wrestling, boxing, swimming, or track. (Wallechinsky, 269-273). In the 1980’s Italy showed another outstanding performance in these sports again. They took home 8 gold metals, 3 silver, and 4 bronze metals. (Wallechinsky, 292-296). The last Olympics the Italians showed very well in was the 1984 Olympics. The Italians won 14 gold medals, 6 silver, and 12 bronze. This time they received these metals in sports like track, boxing, weightlifting, judo, fencing, modern pentathlon, rowing, cycling, and shooting. (Wallechinsky, 298-302). As seen the Italians have had some significant e...
