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One of the oldest sports in history to appear at the Olympic Games is athletics, which includes events such as running, jumping, and throwing. The sport has roots in ancient Greece dating all the way back to the first-ever Olympics held in 776 BCE, and has remained a cornerstone of the event since its revival in 1896.
Wrestling was introduced in the ancient Olympics in 708 BCE, and, like athletics, it has also appeared since the first modern Olympics in 1896. The wrestling discipline features two distinct styles: Greco-Roman and freestyle.
Boxing was introduced in the ancient Olympics in 688 BCE, and it became part of the modern Olympic program in 1904. The sport combines physical strength, strategy, and endurance, all in a thrilling contest of skill and stamina.
Equestrian sports, which were first included in 680 BCE, were once part of chariot racing in the ancient Olympics. Modern equestrian events were introduced in 1900, showcasing a whole range of disciplines, including dressage (horse riding performance and exhibition), show jumping, and eventing (single horse and rider in competition with others).
The ancient pentathlon is one of the more intensive sports to appear at the Olympics. In 708 BCE, it included running, jumping, wrestling, discus, and javelin. Modern pentathlon, introduced in 1912, comprises fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, shooting, and running, all of which test the diverse skills of athletes.
Swimming events have been part of the Olympics since the first modern Games in 1896. These competitions, which are held in various strokes and distances, test athletes' speed, endurance, and technique in water. The sport is marked as one of the epitomizing events of the Olympic program.
Gymnastics has origins that date back to ancient Greece, but it was featured for the first time in the Olympics in 1896. The sport brings together complex routines and performances in a showcase of artistry, strength, flexibility, and rhythm.
Fencing, which has been included in the program since the 1896 Olympics, reflects the historical art of swordsmanship. Modern Olympic fencing features three weapons: foil, épée, and saber, all of which crucially require agility and precision from athletes.
The inaugural modern Olympics in 1896 introduced cycling for the first time as well, and now includes a plethora of events, such as road cycling, track cycling, and mountain biking. The sport covers various terrains and is truly a challenge to the endurance of athletes.
Featured since the 1896 Olympics, shooting as a sport is a test of precision and control in events like rifle, pistol, and shotgun. This sport remains a classic Olympic competition, with a rich tradition and diverse disciplines.
Weightlifting debuted at the 1896 Olympics, and is a showcase of athletes' strength through two main lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk. Athletes are certainly expected to highlight their explosive power and technique, with lifters competing across different weight categories.
The Olympics saw rowing introduced for the first time in 1900, and the sport now involves both single and team events. Interestingly, rowing was actually scheduled to debut at the 1896 Summer Olympics, but the event was canceled due to bad weather.
Much like rowing, sailing was also set to debut at the 1896 Olympics, but severe weather altered these plans. The sport, which involves navigating boats through courses marked by buoys, did manage to debut four years later and has been present in every Olympic event ever since.
Tennis was part of the modern Olympics program since 1896, but the sport was dropped in 1924 due to disputes regarding the definition of ‘amateur’ players. Tennis was fully reintroduced in 1988, and it now features singles and doubles events that demand agility and tactical prowess.
Football was introduced in the 1900 Olympics. Olympic football tournaments feature men's and women's teams from around the globe, all in a showcase of skill, teamwork, and the sport's universal appeal.
Archery, which involves shooting arrows at a target from set distances, appeared for the first time at the 1900 Olympics. The sport experienced much turbulence over the next 70 years, during which it didn’t appear in the Olympics for half a century. It was eventually reintroduced in 1972, and has tested athletes' focus and accuracy ever since.
Golf was featured in the 1900 Olympics and was only included in the program again in 1904 before it was canceled due to lack of entries. After more than a century, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to reinstate the sport for the 2016 Summer Olympics, and it has been featured ever since.
Rugby in its traditional format was first included in the 1900 Olympics and was last seen on the program in 1920. After almost a decade of failed attempts to reintroduce the sport, the 2016 Olympics finally saw the more non-traditional Rugby Sevens included in the program.
Water polo was introduced to the program in 1900. It is a team water sport combining swimming, ball-handling, and strategy. Players aim to score goals by throwing a ball into the opposing team's net, all as a highlight of endurance, skill, and teamwork.
Field hockey debuted at the 1908 Olympics as a men’s only sport, while women were allowed to compete only from 1980 onwards. The sport is played in teams on either grass or artificial turf.
Volleyball is one of the more recent inclusions to the Olympic Games, having only been introduced in 1964 at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Since its introduction, only three countries have won multiple gold medals at the men’s tournament: Brazil, the United States, and the former Soviet Union.
Basketball used to be an unofficial demonstration event at the Olympics in 1904 and 1924, but then it became a formal men’s sport in 1936 in Germany. Women's basketball only made its debut 40 years later at the Summer Olympics of 1976.
Canoeing and kayaking were both introduced at the 1936 Olympics. These water sports involve navigating boats through courses on either flatwater or whitewater, testing athletes' strength and technique in solo and team events.
One of the newest sports at the Olympic Games is skateboarding, which debuted very recently at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The sport involves competitors performing tricks and maneuvers on a skateboard. Athletes are judged based on a blend of creativity, style, and technical skill.
Sport climbing is another event that debuted at the Olympics in 2020, and it consists of three disciplines: speed climbing, bouldering, and lead climbing. In speed climbing, athletes race up a fixed route. Bouldering involves climbing shorter, more complex routes without ropes. Lead climbing tests primarily endurance as climbers ascend as high as possible on a fixed route within a time limit.
Karate was also first included on the Olympic program in 2020. It features two main types of competition: kata (a solo demonstration of choreographed martial arts movements) and kumite (sparring between two competitors). Both disciplines are heavily judged based on form and technique.
Freestyle BMX features riders performing tricks and jumps on specially designed courses with ramps and obstacles, all in an attempt to highlight the sport’s creativity and daring. The sport debuted at the Olympics in 2020.
While there aren’t a lot of sports that have yet to debut at the Olympics, there are some that have finally made it onto the program for the 2024 Olympics. Breaking, or breakdancing, is one such sport. It involves a competitive form of street dance where participants perform acrobatic and rhythmic dance moves in a showcase of athleticism and personal expression.
Since 1900, sailing has continually evolved to feature categories of boats that are popular within the sport, and kiteboarding is now set to join the schedule in 2024. Kiteboarding requires athletes balance on boards and hang onto a large kite that catches the wind, propelling them along the water at speeds that can reach 45 miles per hour (74 km/h).
While there aren’t many sports set to debut in the future, ski mountaineering is scheduled to join the program at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The discipline will have various formats that test athletes’ endurance and how efficiently they are able to transition between climbing and skiing.
Sources: (Olympics) (Stacker) (Topend Sports) (The Open University) (History) (Britannica)
See also: Major scandals in Olympic history
Every few years, the world holds its breath as the planet’s most prestigious athletes compete in the most grueling sporting event in history: the Olympic Games. But did you know that the modern Olympics as we know it today was only introduced in 1896 after it was banned by Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 393 CE? You may ask: what are some of the oldest sports to appear at the Olympics since it was reborn? And what have been the new inclusions to the list?
Click through the following gallery to find out!
The newest (and oldest) sports in the modern Olympics
Some of these events might surprise you!
LIFESTYLE Olympic games
Every few years, the world holds its breath as the planet’s most prestigious athletes compete in the most grueling sporting event in history: the Olympic Games. But did you know that the modern Olympics as we know it today was only introduced in 1896 after it was banned by Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 393 CE? You may ask: what are some of the oldest sports to appear at the Olympics since it was reborn? And what have been the new inclusions to the list?
Click through the following gallery to find out!