Popular sports covered by Russian news agencies

News agencies have always found a worthy candidate in Russia as a source of important political, financial, economic and sports news. This country though has been known for its volatile environment presently continues to provide significant feed to these news agencies primarily for its contribution in sports. Sports in Russia have been a major source of positive international exposure with it also being one of the favorite pastimes of the Russians.

Some of the sports that these sports news agencies thrive on are the ones that surround the sports of rhythmic gymnastics, chess, football, basketball, ice hockey, ice skating and tennis. Of all these games, basketball, ice hockey, tennis and chess have brought the Russians a lot of glory.

With the end of the Soviet era, the country had to go through a number of changes. These changes reflected in the sports arena as well. Football perhaps, was one of the games that was affected greatly by this change. Until the Soviet era, it was one of the most popular and the most successful of all the sports that the Russians participated in.

As the Soviet Union got divided into several smaller countries, the uniform football sports structure took a hit as well. With national teams and clubs becoming private enterprises, the Russian team as a part of the Russian Premier League was affected rather badly. This league was at par with its European contemporaries lost a number of its members to this change. Some of the premier clubs also dwindles as they lost their government funding and were left in want of adequate sponsorship. However, with changing times, football yet again emerged as a popular sport amongst the Russians. Russia now has six Premier League teams alongside its national football team.

With new finances and sponsorships pouring in, the Russian Premier League is trying to regain its lost glory. Sports news agencies had a field day when Russia made its present felt once again in the Euro 2008 when they defeated Holland in the quarter final match.

Another sport that rose to great heights during the Soviet era was basketball. Since that time itself, Russia has been a strong contender in this sport, winning several championships. Amongst the most popular of them have been the Olympics, Basketball World Championships, The Eurobasket and the ULEB cup. Giving basketball competition in popularity is ice hockey. Ice Hockey has been popular sport amongst the Russians since the Soviet times as well. In keeping with its past success, ice hockey continues its dominance amongst the Russians, exporting thirty players to be a part of the National Hockey League.

Sports news agencies also keep track of developments in the sports of tennis, chess and ice skating. Many time champions of the Winter Olympics, Russia has led the sport by producing some of the world’s best pair and ice dancing skaters.

Tennis also has had a huge contribution from Russia. Some of the world’s greatest men’s and women’s tennis champions have been Russians. These Russians have gone on to make their mark in this sport by winning major events covered by sports news agencies from across the world such as the Wimbledon, the Olympics, the Davis cup and many other such hallowed tennis championships.