Welcome the World to London and the U.K. Birla High School, Kolkata (India) Warm Up for the Games Competition

THE UNITED KINGDOM  The UK is a developed country and has the world's seventh-largest economy by nominal GDP.  It was the world's first industrialised country and the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20 th centuries.  The UK remains a great power with leading economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence.  It is a recognised nuclear weapons state and its military expenditure ranks fourth in the world.

THE U.K. CULTURE People, Religion and Languages  Apart from the English, the Irish, the Scottish and the Welsh, the U.K. today is home to many other ethnic groups like the Indians, Pakistanis, Carribeans, Black Africans and Bangladeshis.  A wide range of religions are practised freely in the UK, although public holidays in England are based around the Christian religion.  Though majority of the people speak English, over 300 lanuages are spoken all over the U.K. including many South-Asian languages.

 May Day Celebrations: Maypole Dancing Origin: the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of fruit and flowers Celebrate the coming of summer after a long winter A time for love and romance  Christmas  Boxing Day  New Years’ Day  Easter Monday THE U.K. CULTURE Festivals

 Cricket: England’s national sport The England and Wales cricket team represents England and Wales. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board.  Soccer: Most popular sport Association football is a very popular sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in  Rugby This sport used to be played by the rich upper class only  Tennis  Polo Brought to Britain from India in the 19th Century by army officers THE U.K. SPORTS The ECB’s Logo Soccer

THE U.K. SPORTS The English Premier League

 Beijing 2008 saw the best performance by a British team in 100 years as they finished fourth.  Total 47 medals: Gold -19, Silver -13, Bronze -15  Cycling hit the top of the British medal table with 8 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze.  Chris Hoy secured a hat-trick of gold medals becoming the first Briton in 100 years to win 3 golds at the same Olympics.  Rebecca Adlington put swimming in the spotlight with two gold medals.  The British rowing team bought home two gold medals, as well as two silver and two bronze.  Great Britain won the Olympic title in the coxless fours for the 3 rd consecutive Games. THE U.K. SPORTS Outstanding Performance at Beijing Olympics 2008

 A leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence.  One of the world's leading financial centre.  It has the fifth-largest city GDP in the world and the largest in Europe. LONDON The City of Dreams

 London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education in Europe.  It has the third most international visitors in the world.  London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers.  In 2012 London will become the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times. LONDON The City of Dreams

LONDON Transport  Roads and motorways are primary domestic transport routes. There are some 225,000 miles of roads in Britain.  Cars, vans and taxis are the most common modes of transport.  Motorcycling is popular, both as a means of transport & as a pastime.  Buses that might be single-decker or double-decker are widely used.  The Tube or the internationally famous London underground railway system. covers the largest area of any underground rail system connects all mainline stations of central and greater London with 253 miles of tracks

London Bridge is a bridge over the river Thames, connecting the city of London and Southwark, in central London. Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the palace of Westminster, in London. LONDON Attractions

Buckingham Palace is the official residence and office of the British monarch located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel situated at the banks of river Thames in London. The entire structure is 135 metres tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres. LONDON Attractions

LONDON OLYMPICS 2012

LONDON OLYMPICS 2012