Athlete

Professional athletic teams compete against one another to win titles, championships, and series; team members are paid salaries and bonuses for their work. Team sports include football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and soccer. The Olympic Games are generally credited as being the first instance of organized sports. Historians believe that they actually began as early as

In contrast with amateur athletes who play or compete in amateur circles for titles or trophies only, professional athletes participate in individual sports such as tennis, figure skating, golf, running, or boxing, competing against others to win prizes and money. The origin of the first recreational activity—or sport—is not known. It can be assumed, however