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An Olympic sport is a sport that appears in, or has ever been part of, the Olympic Games. A distinction is made between Summer Olympic sports, which are part of the Summer Olympic Games, and Winter Olympic sports, which are part of the Winter Olympic Games.
In addition, the sport must meet a number of other conditions, as explained below.
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
The Olympic Games: A Sporting Journey Through Time
The Olympic Games are one of the most iconic sporting events in the world. It's an opportunity to see the best athletes in the world compete for the honor of their country. But what exactly are the sports that make up the Olympic Games?
Summer Olympic Sports
The Summer Olympic Games feature a wide variety of sports, including:
- Athletics: This includes sprinting, high jump, shot put, discus throw, hurdles and many others.
- Badminton: This popular sport is a combination of tennis and ping pong.
- Basketball: One of the most popular sports in the world.
- Boxing: A martial art in which two athletes fight each other using their fists.
- Archery: A sport in which athletes try to aim an arrow as accurately as possible.
- Weightlifting: A sport in which athletes try to lift as much weight as possible.
- Golf: A sport in which athletes try to hit a ball as far as possible using a golf club.
- Gymnastics: A sport in which athletes try to move as acrobatically as possible.
- Handball: A sport in which two teams try to throw a ball into the opponent's goal.
- Hockey: A sport in which two teams try to shoot a ball into the opposing team's goal.
- Judo: A martial art in which athletes try to throw their opponent.
- Canoeing: A sport in which athletes try to sail down a river as quickly as possible.
- Equestrian: A sport in which athletes on horses try to complete a course as quickly as possible.
- Rowing: A sport in which athletes try to propel a boat as quickly as possible.
- Rugby: A sport in which two teams try to carry a ball down the field.
- Fencing: A sport in which athletes try to beat each other using swords.
- Skateboarding: A sport in which athletes try to skateboard as spectacularly as possible.
- Surfing: A sport in which athletes try to surf a wave for as long as possible.
- Tennis: A sport in which two players attempt to hit a ball over a net.
- Triathlon: A sport in which athletes try to complete a course consisting of swimming, cycling and running as quickly as possible.
- Football: The most popular sport in the world.
- Cycling: A sport in which athletes try to complete a course as quickly as possible.
- Wrestling: A sport in which two athletes try to overpower each other.
- Sailing: A sport in which athletes try to propel a boat as quickly as possible using the wind.
- Swimming sport: A sport in which athletes try to complete a course as quickly as possible.
Winter Olympic Sports
The Winter Olympics also feature a wide variety of sports, including:
- Biathlon: A combination of shooting and cross-country skiing.
- Curling: A sport in which athletes try to aim a stone as accurately as possible.
- Ice Hockey: A sport in which two teams try to shoot a puck into the opposing team's goal.
- Tobogganing: A sport in which athletes try to complete a track as quickly as possible.
- Figure skating: A sport in which athletes try to skate as acrobatically as possible.
- Cross-country skiing: A sport in which athletes try to complete a course as quickly as possible.
- Nordic combination: A sport in which athletes try to complete a course consisting of ski jumping and cross-country skiing as quickly as possible.
- Ski jumping: A sport in which athletes try to jump as far as possible.
- Snowboarding: A sport in which athletes try to snowboard as spectacularly as possible.
- Sledging sports: A sport in which athletes try to complete a track as quickly as possible.
Whether you are a fan of the summer sports or the winter sports, the Olympic Games offer something for everyone. It's an opportunity to see the best athletes in the world compete for the honor of their country. So if you're looking for a sporting adventure, the Olympics is the perfect place to start.
Gone Olympic Sports
The Games of 1906
The IOC organized the 1906 Games, but does not officially recognize them at this time. Nevertheless, a number of sports were played that can no longer be found at the Olympic Games today. Let's take a look at what exactly was played:
- Croquet: 1 part
- Baseball: 1 item
- Jeu de paume: 1 part
- Karate: 1 part
- Lacrosse: 1 event
- Pelota: 1 part
- Tug of war: 1 part
Demonstration Sports
In addition to these former Olympic sports, a number of demonstration sports were also played. These sports were played to entertain the spectators, but were not officially recognized as Olympic sports.
- Croquet: 1 demonstration
- Baseball: 1 demonstration
- Jeu de paume: 1 demonstration
- Karate: 1 demonstration
- Lacrosse: 1 demonstration
- Pelota: 1 demonstration
- Tug of war: 1 demonstration
The Lost Sports
The Games of 1906 were a unique event, where a number of sports were played that can no longer be found in the Olympic Games. From croquet to tug of war, these sports are a piece of history we'll never see again at the Olympics.
What are the conditions to become an Olympic?
If you think it's all about winning gold medals, you're wrong. There are a number of conditions that a sport must meet in order to have the honor of becoming 'Olympic'.
The Charter of the IOC
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has drawn up a charter with a number of requirements that a sport must meet in order to become an Olympic athlete. These requirements include:
- The sport should be practiced worldwide by men and women;
- There must be an international sports federation regulating the sport;
- The sport must follow the global anti-doping code.
Why some sports aren't Olympic
There are many sports that are not Olympic, such as karate, boxing and surfing. This is because these sports do not meet the requirements of the IOC.
Karate, for example, is not Olympic because it is not practiced worldwide. Boxing is not Olympic because there is no international sports federation that regulates it. And surfing isn't Olympic because it doesn't follow the global anti-doping code.
So if you want your favorite sport to become an Olympic champion, make sure it meets the IOC's requirements. Then maybe one day you can watch your favorite athletes win gold medals!
How is it determined if a sport is Olympic?
It is a complex process to determine whether a sport can participate in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (ICO) has a number of criteria that a sport must meet. If these are met, the sport can become Olympic!
Popularity
The ICO determines the popularity of a sport by looking at how many people watch it, how popular the sport is on social media and how often the sport is in the news. They also look at how many young people practice the sport.
Practiced worldwide
The ICO also wants to know if the sport is practiced worldwide. How long has that been? And how often has a world championship been organized for a sport, for example?
Costs
Cost also plays a role in determining whether a sport can become an Olympic champion. How much does it cost to get the sport into the Games? Can it be practiced on, for example, a field that already exists, or does something new have to be built for it?
So if you think your sport should be Olympic, make sure it:
- popular
- Practiced worldwide
- It is not too expensive to participate in the Games
Sports you won't see at the Olympics
Motorsport
Motorsports are perhaps the most notable absentees from the Olympics. Although drivers must train physically and mentally to compete with each other, they do not meet the requirements of the IOC. The only exception was the 1900 edition, which featured automobile and motorcycle racing as demonstration sports.
Karate
Karate is one of the most practiced martial arts in the world, but it is not Olympic. While it will be featured at the Tokyo 2020 Games, it will only be for that occasion.
Polo
Polo made five appearances at the Olympic Games (1900, 1908, 1920, 1924 and 1936), but has since been withdrawn from competition. Fortunately, this does not apply to other equestrian sports such as jumping or dressage.
Baseball
Baseball was Olympic for a short time, but was later removed from the Games. It was featured in the Barcelona 1992 and Beijing 2008 Games. Negotiations are currently underway to reintroduce baseball into the Games.
Rugby
Rugby is one of the most prominent non-Olympic sports. It was featured at the Paris Games in 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924 and 2016. Although it will return at the Tokyo 2020 Games, it is not yet known how long it will stay there.
Furthermore, there are many other sports that are not featured in the Olympic Games, including cricket, American Football, darts, netball, squash and many others. Although some of these sports have a long history, it is still not possible to see them at the Games.
Conclusion
Olympic sports are sports that are played at or have been part of the Olympic Games. There are two types of Olympic sports: summer sports and winter sports. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has its own definition of a “sport”. According to the IOC, a sport is a collection of disciplines represented by one international sports association.
There are many different Olympic sports, such as athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, archery, weightlifting, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, canoeing, equestrian, rowing, rugby, fencing, skateboarding, surfing, taekwondo, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, football, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, cycling, wrestling, sailing and swimming.
To become an Olympic sport, certain criteria must be met. The sport must be internationally recognized and there must be an international sports federation representing the sport. In addition, the sport must be attractive to the public, safe and accessible to all ages and cultures.
