Why play games? Because they are fun, and a lot more besides. Following the rules…planning your next move…acting as a team member…these are all "game" ideas that you will come across throughout your life.
为什么玩游戏？因为它们有趣，除此之外还有很多。遵循规则……规划你的下一步行动……作为团队成员……这些都是你一生中会遇到的“游戏”观点。

Think about some off the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dramas that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating.
想想你小时候玩的一些游戏，比如跳绳和捉迷藏。这样的游戏非常有趣。但也许更重要的是，它们将生活转化为精彩的戏剧，教会孩子们一些他们在余生中应该遵循的基本规则，比如轮流和合作。

Many children's games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination needed in hunting．
许多儿童游戏都有实用的一面。世界各地的儿童都在玩游戏，为长大后的工作做好准备。例如，一些沙特阿拉伯儿童玩一种称作“骨头”的游戏，可以提高狩猎时手眼的协调能力。

Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disa sters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.
许多体育项目鼓励民族或地方自豪感。最著名的奥运会将来自世界各地的运动员聚集在一起，参加友谊比赛。观看比赛的人挥舞旗帜，他们知道金牌是整个国家的胜利，而不仅仅是赢得金牌的运动员。对于经历自然灾害或战争的国家来说，奥运会胜利意味着太多。

Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play it﹣some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.
体育也是一项团结人们的活动。足球是世界上最受欢迎的运动。世界各大洲的人们都在踢足球﹣有些是为了好玩，有些是为了谋生。加州足球运动员尼科莱特·伊里巴恩发现了一种通过足球传播希望的方式。他创建了一个基金会，不仅为贫困儿童提供足球，而且为他们提供一个充满希望的未来。

Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other aspects of your life.
下次你玩你最喜欢的游戏或运动时，想想你为什么喜欢它，需要什么技能，以及这些技能是否会在生活的其他方面帮助你。