Sports in California

International sports events

California has hosted the Olympic Games three times. Los Angeles, the largest city in the state, hosted both the 1932 [ [http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1932 1932 Summer Olympics] , International Olympic Committee website.] and 1984 Summer Olympics [ [http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1984 1984 Summer Olympics] , International Olympic Committee website.] . Squaw Valley, California hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics [ [http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=2&OLGY=1960 1960 Winter Olympics] , International Olympic Committee website.] . Los Angeles and San Francisco were in the race to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, but eventually lost to Chicago.

Besides the Olympics, California also hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup in San Francisco (Stanford Stadium at Stanford) and Los Angeles (Rose Bowl at Pasadena).

tate-wide sports events

Professional sports

California has over fifteen major professional sports franchises, far more than any other US state. The San Francisco Bay Area has their six major league teams spread amongst three cities: San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. While also home to six major league franchises, the Greater Los Angeles Area is the largest metropolitan area not to have any teams from the National Football League. San Diego has two major league teams, and Sacramento has one.
*National Football League
**Oakland Raiders
**San Diego Chargers
**San Francisco 49ers
*National Basketball Association
**Golden State Warriors – Based in Oakland
**Los Angeles Clippers
**Los Angeles Lakers
**Sacramento Kings
*National Hockey League
**Anaheim Ducks
**Los Angeles Kings
**San Jose Sharks
*Major League Baseball
**Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – Based in Anaheim
**Los Angeles Dodgers
**Oakland Athletics
**San Diego Padres
**San Francisco Giants
*Major League Soccer
**Chivas USA – Based in Carson
**Los Angeles Galaxy
**San Jose Earthquakes

College sports

Home to some of most prominent universities in the United States, California has long had many respected collegiate sports programs. In particular, the athletic programs of the University of Southern California, University of California, Berkeley, UCLA and Stanford University are often nationally-ranked in the various sports. California is also home to the oldest college bowl game, the annual Rose Bowl (Pasadena), as well as the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl (San Diego), the Emerald Bowl (San Francisco), and the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (San Diego).

Others

The California State Games, a state-wide Olympics-like sport event, take place in California every year. The United States Olympic Committee governs this event. [ [http://www.calstategames.org/ Official site of the California State Games] ]

Many of California's high school teams are often nationally-ranked.

References