[originaltext] Sport The

Sport
      The word "sport" first meant something that people did in their free time. Later it often meant hunting wild animals and birds. About a hundred years ago the word was first used for organized games, which is its usual meaning today. People spend their spare time playing football, basketball, tennis and many other sports. Such people play because they want to. Some people are paid for the sport they play. These people are called professional sportsmen. They may be sportsmen for only a few years, but many of them can earn a lot of money.
      Of course, it is only possible for a few sportsmen to earn much money in sports for individuals, like golf, tennis and motor racing. And famous stars can even get huge amounts of money from advertisements. They allow the companies to use their names or photographs and are paid for this. Sport is no longer just something for people% spare time.