Greatest Sports Of All Time

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Sports are a common thread that binds people together from all around the globe. This doesn't mean everyone loves the same sport; rather, because there are so many different sports to play and enjoy, everyone has a preference.

Sports are physical activities that set opponents against each other for the goal of the competition and involve feats of strength, agility, dexterity, and other abilities.

Governments, communities, and private and public sectors support sportspeople, allowing them to access resources and improve skill levels in their sport.

Sports are popular in all countries because they are an excellent source of entertainment, enthusiasm and enjoyment for people of all ages and walks of life.

The competition can occasionally involve two people, two teams, or multiple people, and it can range from fun (Badminton) to hazardous (Karate & Professional Boxing).

Professional players are still among the world's wealthiest individuals, earning hundreds of millions of dollars in sponsorships and commercial agreements.

Sports have been an age-old institution in most civilizations and carry immense status. Let's have a look at the top 10 sports in the world, how they are different and what uniqueness they hold.

In this article, we will gather knowledge about the 10 most popular sports in the world :

1. Football (Soccer): 3.5 Billion Fans / 240 Million registered players

Football is the world’s most popular sport because it has the most fans (3.5 billion) and players in almost every country in the world.

Football, or soccer as it is known in the United States, is the most popular sport in the world, with 250 million players in over 200 countries.

It was first played in England in the 19th century and has since become a global phenomenon. The objective of the game is to score goals by kicking a ball into the opposing team’s net.

Some of the greatest soccer players of all time include Pele, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The World Cup, which takes place every four years, is the most important competition in football.

The FIFA World Cup 2018 was watched by over 3.2 billion people, according to reports. It is without a doubt the most-watched sporting event on the planet.

2. Cricket: 2.5 Billion Fans / 30 Millions registered cricket players

Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world.

There are numerous reasons why this sport has gained popularity across the globe, particularly in South Asia.

First, people of all ages play and watch this sport, Pakistan is a great example.

Second, it has a broad and engaged fan base and sponsorships from hundreds of brands.

Cricket has over one billion fans worldwide. Approximately 90% belong to the Indian subcontinent and cricket is one of the most popular sports in India.

There are around 4,200 professional cricket players, but the total number of registered cricketers is approximately 30 million.

Although one-day international and T20 games dominate the world of cricket in the 21st century, 121 stadiums have hosted test matches since 1877, after the first official match between England and Australia.

Tests, One-Day Internationals, and Twenty-20 Internationals are the three different formats of cricket. The popularity of cricket has risen dramatically since the introduction of the T20 format.

In India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, the West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, cricket is extremely popular.

Because cricket is a popular sport in only roughly 15 nations, the number of professional leagues in the world is also limited.

Another significant competition of cricket is the Big Bash League in Australia. More countries are gradually constructing cricket leagues, and the number of professional leagues is expected to rise in the near future.

3. Hockey (Ice Hockey & Field Hockey): 3.5 Billions Fans

Hockey is another incredibly popular sport, dating back to ancient times.

Ethiopians and Iranians have played the traditional form of hockey since 1,000 and 2,000 BC, respectively.

On the other hand, modern field hockey first became mainstream in England in the 18th century.

Young players would participate in hockey games organised at the school and college levels.

The UK established the first Hockey Association in 1876. The Association formulated and implemented the first formal set of hockey rules.

Today, over two billion people worldwide follow both field and ice hockey.

Field hockey is famous in Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa, Ice Hockey has the most followers and players in Northern Europe and North America (USA and Canada).

4. Tennis: 1 Billion Fans / 87 Million Unique Players

Tennis has gained popularity over the last 2 centuries, having originally been played by monks going back 600 years.

First, people of all ages, walks of life and skill levels can play this sport, it is one of the most commonly played individual sports out there.

Second, tennis is an affordable sport because all you need is a racket and a ball in order to get started…. and a more comprehensive list of tennis equipment once you really get into it!

Third, you can play tennis as a competitive or recreational sport.

Tennis is one of the most popular sports in Europe, with a long history and tradition in countries such as Sweden.

For example, Wimbledon attracts hundreds of thousands of people and massive attention from electronic, print and social media.

Tennis has a large following throughout the world. Although, in affluent countries, it is more popular than in poor countries.

Tennis players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are well-known all over the world and have a global fan base of hundreds of millions.

Every year, competitions are held at both the international and national levels.

The four major slams, Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open, are the most prestigious tennis tournaments.

5. Volleyball: 900 Million Fans / 800 Million players

Everyone loves volleyball because this sport promotes socialization, physical fitness, and harmony among different communities, nations, and cultures.

Volleyball is an excellent way to meet new people and make friends, and it doesn’t take a massive toll on your musculoskeletal structures due to its low-impact nature.

Over 800 million people play volleyball in different parts of the world, and 37 million local and professional players participate in volleyball in the US.

Volleyball is a team sport in which a net separates two teams of six players. Under regulated regulations, each team aims to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court.

Since 1964, it has been a part of the official Summer Olympic Games program. All sports have national federations, but volleyball has the most.

These federations frequently organize professional and semi-professional leagues.

The FIVB Volleyball Championship is the world's largest volleyball competition. The event is held every four years and involves 24 countries.

6. Table Tennis: 875 Million Fans / 300 Million Players

Table Tennis is one of the most popular sports, with a substantial number of followers worldwide.

World Championship, Olympics, and Asia Games attract millions of table tennis fans, including TV and social media audiences.

Taiwan and Iran have a combined population of 88.8 million. Interestingly, table tennis is among the top three sports in these two countries.

There are millions of enthusiasts for this game. Table tennis lovers can be found all over the world.

Table tennis has a significant fan base of about 900 million people worldwide, made up of millions of amateurs, amateur players, and professional players.

Table tennis is popular in every country in the globe when it comes to professional leagues.

The World Table Tennis Championship is the world's largest table tennis tournament. It is conducted every two years and attracts the best players in the game.

Aside from that, the Olympic table tennis competition is an important event in the sport.

7. Basketball: 2.2 Billion Fans / 450 MIllion Players

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, with over 2.2 billion fans.

Around 450 million people play basketball in 213 countries at local, community and national levels.

The NBA is the most popular basketball franchise in the United States, and it has also gained millions of followers in other countries.

Most people play basketball because it is an exciting, physically intensive and fast-paced sport, allowing young players with different skill levels to enjoy it.

The majority of supporters are based in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, and the Philippines.

Basketball is played professionally in many nations across the world. The NBA, on the other hand, is by far the most popular.

Basketball has also become part of mainstream popular culture with brands such as Nike and Converse becoming global brands off the back of their involvement with the sport.

8. Rugby (Rugby Union & Rugby League): 500 Million fans / 18 Million Players

Rugby is one of the most popular sports in the world.

It has more participants and spectators in North America, Australia and New Zealand. In fact, it is the most popular sport in New Zealand.

The rugby community is open, cooperative and supportive of new players.

Rugby has gained popularity in Japan, Uruguay, Georgia and Spain, thanks to the government's interest in promoting this sport and providing opportunities for youngsters to participate in games at local and national levels.

Rugby has over 877 million fans in different countries.

Specifically, the Rugby Union has more than 405 million fans worldwide.

Both women and men have shown a keen interest in rugby, and more and more female players have emerged in this sport.

Rugby has a small following in other countries as well. Professional Rugby Leagues can be found in almost every developed country.

Rugby's most important competition is the Rugby World Cup, which takes place every four years. The event is attended by 20 countries.