SPORTS

Officially, the national sports are ice hockey in winter and lacrosse in verano.El hockey is a national pastime and the most popular spectator sport in the country. It is also the most popular sport by Canadians, since in 2004 there were over 1.65 million hockey players. Six of the largest metropolitan areas in Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton) have franchises in the National Hockey League (NHL), and most (54%) of the players in this league are Canadian . Other popular spectator sports include Canadian football and curling, the latter has a professional league, the Canadian Football League (CFL). Golf, baseball, skiing, soccer, volleyball and basketball are starting to gain momentum among the youth and amateur, but professional leagues and franchises are not widespread. Although football is gaining more fans, yet ever popular on the professional scene as other sports. There are only three professional clubs (Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact), the other football clubs are amateurs. Moreover, the Canadian clubs involved in the American national championships: Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Soccer (MLS).

Canada at the Olympic Games is successful particularly in winter sports (hockey, skating short track and long, figure skating, freestyle skiing, curling). This phenomenon is observed in both men's and women's category. Canada has hosted several international sporting events, including the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the 1988 Calgary Olympics, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and World Cup FIFA U-20, 2007.