«Sports»

Today’s session of the Gabfest Club (at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) was dedicated to the topic “Sports”. The Book and image display “American Sports month” was presented to the group.  We have talked to our American friend Mr. Josh about most popular summer sports in the USA. He was kind enough to explain to us the basic aim of a baseball game and the difference between American football and rugby.
When we tried to rate the sports baseball was named America's favorite pastime, but so was basketball, and football. Mr. Josh explained the basics about less known in Ukraine sport – NASCAR races. NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is one of the world's most watched televised sports.
The most recent trend in active sport in the USA is the popularity of kickball. Kickball is a playground game similar to baseball, invented in the United States in the first half of the 20th century. It is similar to baseball where players kick the ball to bat it instead of using bats, making it more accessible to young children. The adult version of kickball becomes very popular for keeping fit and meeting new people.
The discussion touched upon other topics: popular winter sports in the USA, unique water sports popular in Dnipropetrovsk, popular winter sports in Dnipropetrovsk and places for winter entertainment.  The conversation was funny and enjoyable. The group will consider Josh’s suggestion to try a game of kickball in Dnipropetrovsk.
Number of participants – 8.

Have a look at more pictures, please

American Sports Month

Book and image display “American Sports Month”

At the «Window on America" Center a new book and image display was presented - “American Sports Month".

Every visitor who learns English and want to know more about the United States can choose a book to read, view colorful images, and select a video to watch.
The center’s collection contains great videos about sports and sportsmen; the characters of the videos have chosen healthy lifestyles and can be an example to follow.

On many photos in the book and image display one can see happy American kids engaged in sports.

Come to us for positive mood!

To the American Sports Month

Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine offered screening of the film The Natural (1984) with Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Clos starring.
The Natural is a 1984 film adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball novel of the same name, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close, and Robert Duvall. The film, like the book, recounts the experiences of Roy Hobbs, an individual with great "natural" baseball talent, spanning decades of Roy's success and his suffering.

The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), and nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger). Many of the baseball scenes were filmed in Buffalo, New York's War Memorial Stadium, built in 1937 and demolished a few years after the film was produced. Buffalo's All-High Stadium stood in for Chicago's Wrigley Field in a key scene.

Plot: An unknown comes out of seemingly nowhere to become a legendary player with almost divine talent.
Director: Barry Levinson
Writers: Bernard Malamud (novel), Roger Towne
Stars: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Clos
Number of participants – 17.