8. Sport Clubs in Estonia

To understand the importance and status of sports in Estonia, one has to understand the historical background of the country. The oldest known settlement in Estonia dates back to around 11,000 years ago at the beginning of the ninth millennium BC. The first mention of the people inhabiting present-day Estonia is by the Roman historian Tacitus, who in his book Germania (ca. AD 98) describes the Aesti tribe. Due to its strategically advantageous geographical location, Estonian territory was under the rule of Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Russia for several consecutive centuries. By retaining its language throughout this period of history, the effects of historical events have been absorbed into the contemporary Estonian culture and the mindset, including sports.