Sports are enjoyed across the globe, whether it’s a career, hobby, or merely a fitness regime. Several sporting games have managed to grow exponentially in popularity along with a massive following around the world. Most of the sports listed below are included in the prestigious Olympic Games, allowing countries from across the globe to compete against each other. Each sport also generates billions in revenue, especially when it comes to developed countries. Below you will find the most popular sports from around the world.
1. Association Soccer (Football) – 4 Billion Fans
Association soccer, of football, is undoubtedly the most popular sports across the globe. It’s estimated that over half of the population in the world see themselves as association soccer fans. Association soccer has a following of more than 4 billion people which is remarkable on a global scale. Ancient soccer can be traced back to China during the 2nd century, while the Japanese, Greeks, and Romans can also be considered as the first countries to play the sport. Contemporary soccer started in England where it spread to other corners of the earth at a rapid pace.
2. Cricket – 2.5 Billion Fans
Cricket has an estimated global following of more than 2.5 billion fans and is primarily influenced by Commonwealth countries and the United Kingdom. The origins of cricket can be tracked back to the 16th century in England where it was eventually turned into a national sport during the 18th century. Cricket consists of two teams where each team has 11 players, and the main objective is to score more runs than the other team. Cricket is tremendously popular in British colonies, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
3. Field Hockey – 2 Billion Fans
Field hockey boasts with a global following of around 2 billion people and is extremely popular in Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Contemporary field hockey was initially played in England during the 1800’s and is very similar to soccer. However, players use hockey sticks to control the ball as oppose to their feet.
4. Tennis – 1 Billion Fans
With an estimated following of just over 1 billion fans, Tennis is believed to originate from the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. However, modern-day tennis was first played in France. Thereafter, it spread across Europe and then eventually across the globe. In tennis, two players will hit a ball over a net while using tennis rackets. You earn points when your opponent is unable to return the ball.
5. VolleyBall – 900 Million Fans
Volleyball is overwhelmingly popular in North America and Western Europe with an estimated following of around 900 million people. Volleyball was initially invented in the United States by William G. Morgan in the late 1800’s. Morgan was an instructor for the Young Men’s Christian Association and was influenced by baseball, handball, tennis, and basketball when he initially formed volleyball. Volleyball has evolved over the years and is now played with six players on either end of the net.