On the West Coast of the United States, a wide variety of sports are played. However, one popular sport that has come to characterize the West Coast, specifically the state of California, is surfing. In fact, surfing is California’s state sport. Surfing has become widespread in California due to its almost year-round sunny climate and its border with the Pacific Ocean.
Another important sport in California, as well as in the rest of the United States, is American football, or football for short. The biggest football event of the year is the Super Bowl. This year, the 56th annual Super Bowl was held in Los Angeles, California on February 13th and the Los Angeles Rams won against the Cincinnati Bengals. On Super Bowl Sunday, most Americans get together in their homes to eat lunch and watch the game. In the middle of the game, there is the Super Bowl halftime show. Every year, different music artists are shown. Past years have included halftime shows by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, and more. This year, the halftime show featured multiple singers, specifically rappers, including Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Mary J. Blige.
Finally, another big sporting event that is popular all around the world is the Olympic Games. The summer Olympics will actually be hosted on the West Coast in the US in Los Angeles in 2028! Before that, the Olympics had taken place in Los Angeles in 1932 and 1984.
As in many countries, sports are a huge part of American culture and identity. They are a source of national pride that can often bring people together. I hope you learned more about sports in the US and California, and hope to see you at the Olympics in LA in 2028!
- Camille Roussel - USA (West Coast)