Sports in Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is very small counrty (10 425 km2, 4 millions peoples) in the west of Asia bordered by the mediterranean sea to the west along to the 225 km coastline, and most of Lebanon's area is mountainous terrain, so due to this unique geography, Lebanon has a moderate mediterranean climate that allow to practice both winter and summer sports, that's why you can find almost all sports known in the world.

Most popular sports in Lebanon are football and basketball and to a lesser extent volleyball, tennis, swimming, ping pong, athletics, gymnastics, combat sports, skiing during winter and sometimes at the end of autumn or the beginnings of spring.

Canoeing, rafting, cycling, caving, climbing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, water skiing, are among the practiced sports in lebanon.

All sports in lebanon is leading by national federations which organise each year different kinds of national and international competitions. All lebanese national federations belongings to the international federation of each sport.

The most successful sport in lebanon is basketball, specially since the revolution in this sport in the mid-nineties in the last century, leading by business man ambition's Mr. Antoine Chweiry, former president of Sagesse club (famous club in Lebanon and Asia), who due to his ambitons and developed vision, basketball levels increased in Lebanon and Lebanese basketball national became one of the greatest team in Asia. Lebanese team succeeded to qualify twice to fiba world championship in 2002 and 2006.

Lebanon competed in all summer olympic games since 1948 exept 1956 while he boycotted this games due to politics reasons, and he competed also in winter olympic games since 1948, expert 1994 and 1998.

Many international big events has been organised in Lebanon such pan Arab games 1957 and 1997, and the 2011 pan Arab games will be in Lebanon too, AFC Asian cup 2000, and Beirut international marathon which has been held in Beirut every year since 2003. This marathon attracts now more then 20 000 runners. And in 2009 Lebanon will organise the 11th Francophone games which may attract 56 countries to participate.