Бурдина И.М., МОУ «СОШ №1» г. Гурьевска

Captain James Cook discovered Australia in 1770. He was sent to discover the huge land that many people be lieved was south of the equator. He landed south of present day Sydney in New South Wales. He claimed this part of the land for the King of England.

is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on the sixpenny coin until 1966

The population is 22 million, with approximately 60% concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Around 24% Australians over the age of 15 regularly participate in organized sporting activities in Australia. Australia has strong international teams in cricket, field hockey, netball, rugby league and rugby union, having been Olympic or world champions at least twice in each sport in the last 25 years for both men and women where applicable.[Swimming is the strongest of these sports; Australia hosted the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne and the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Cricket has been an important part of Australia's sporting culture since the 19th century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia