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There is no denying that sports are part of our lives in one way or another. Their popularity can be seen anywhere in the world. Therefore, making a list of the most popular in the world is not a very difficult task.
There are a multitude of reasons why sports are popular, for some people, sport can be understood as a way to stay healthier, for others, playing sports can represent a moment of recreation and leisure.
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Another relevant factor is that sports are even more popular among people who do not necessarily practice them, but who, in some way, participate directly or indirectly in them, as spectators.
14 most popular types of sports in the world
Sports can still represent significant traits related to the culture of a country, such as the fact that we consider Brazil as a football country or the USA as a relevant exponent in basketball.
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Appreciated since ancient Greece with the creation of the Olympics, sports have represented, since time immemorial, an opportunity to be inspired by incredible human beings, capable of carrying out extraordinary tasks and great feats.
Given the above, we have separated 14 of the most popular sports in the world. Look:
1. Football
To start the list of the most popular sports in the world, contrary to what one might think, football was not born in Brazil and, although there are some records of people playing similar games two thousand years ago in China, the sport as we know it today has its origins in the 19th century in England.
In short, football is considered the most popular sport in the world, one of the reasons for this is the fact that, unlike other sports that require sophisticated equipment to practice them, all you will need to play football is a ball.
In this way, sport proves to be very democratic, no matter if you are rich or poor, anyone can play. Played all over the world, it is particularly popular in Europe, Central America and Africa.
2. Tennis
Furthermore, among the most popular sports in the world, it is estimated that tennis as we know it today originated between the 14th and XNUMXth centuries. In this sport, players on both sides of an elongated net try to hit a ball with a racket to pass it past your opponents or double bounce to your opponents side to score points. The sport has great worldwide popularity, especially in Europe, Asia and America in general.
3 Box
Following the most popular sports in the world, very popular in Ancient Greece, introduced in the Olympics in mid-688 BC, fighters used leather bands on their hands and it only ended when one of the players accepted defeat or was no longer able to continue the fight. .
Boxing in Ancient Rome took place in amphitheaters and only ended after the death of one of the fighters. To do this, it was common for competitors to use pieces of metal tied to their hands to achieve greater impact.
Boxing only resurfaced after the fall of the Roman Empire in England in the 18th century. At that time, fights took place with free hands. Thus, when everything became very violent, the rules for using gloves and the famous division of rounds emerged.
Boxing or pugilism can be considered a combat sport in which fighters use padded gloves on their hands to attack and defend. The objective of the game is to land blows to score or knock out the opponent, following a set of predetermined rules.
In short, the fights take place in a boxing ring, which is a cushioned platform surrounded by ropes that delimit the area where the fight takes place, which ends when the total time is up or when one of the fighters is unable to continue the fight. .
4. Athletics
Another sport, among the most popular sports in the world, popularized by the Olympics promoted by ancient Greece is athletics, a sport that encompasses a series of sports such as running, jumping and throwing.
The events that define the sport can be carried out on the field, on the street or on a track in the stadium, individually or by relays of athletes.
Considered one of the most important Olympic competitions and which closes the event, the marathon is also one of the athletics events.
5. Table tennis
Following the list of most popular sports in the world, starting in the 20th century, better known as Ping Pong, in the same logic as common tennis, except for taking place on a table, the sport takes place with a net in the center and players on each side trying to do the ball passes through opponents, the game became popular all over the world, especially popular in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.
6. Basketball
Invented in the United States at the end of the 19th century by Canadian James Naismith who taught at a school in the country, in basketball, two teams try to dribble a ball on a court and throw it into an elevated hoop-shaped net to score points. Like football, basketball stands out for the simplicity of the equipment required for players to participate.
7. Swimming
Another sport, among the most popular sports in the world, that benefits from the natural resources we have available is swimming, a practice of moving through water through body movements, mainly using the arms and legs. Today there are several swimming styles that are divided into: front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly.
Developing physical capabilities such as cardiorespiratory fitness, motor coordination and muscular endurance, swimming is considered one of the most complete physical exercises. Practiced as a sport, the modality is also considered a recreational and leisure activity.
8. Gymnastics
Also of Ancient Greek origin, gymnastics is a sport whose exercises require concentration, coordination, body elasticity and strength.
Sport, among the most popular sports in the world, we have some modalities such as: competitive and non-competitive gymnastics, depending on whether the modality is in competitions or not, such as the Olympics.
In addition to working with the physical structure, which occurs through movements that require strength, elasticity and agility, the mind of practitioners can also be exercised, as their practice often requires concentration and reasoning.
The non-competitive practice can be developed by people who wish to develop physical and mental well-being.
9. Volleyball
Having special prestige mainly in América do Norte and Western Europe, but also in Asia, Australia and South America, in volleyball two teams are divided, each on one side of a raised net, trying to “volley” a ball onto the ground on the opposing team's side to gain points.
There is a version with the same characteristics known as beach volleyball, in this case, played on the sand with two people on each team, one of the most popular sports in the world.
10. Cricket
Most popular in the United Kingdom and some former British colonies, mainly India, Pakistan and Australia, cricket has a fan base among the most popular sports in the world.
Much like baseball, it is divided into two teams, a bat, a large field and scoring runs. There are a few variations, but they all include a long rectangular field in the center of a cricket field, the place where the ball is thrown to a batter, as opposed to a mound in the center of a baseball diamond facing a batter at what they call home plate.
11. Hockey
Both on ice, particularly popular in Canada, the USA and northern Europe, which involves greater body contact, and on the field, widely played mainly in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, involves two teams trying to put a ball into the opposing team's net with a hockey stick, as one of the most popular sports in the world.
12. Baseball
Of origins that diverge between England and the USA, baseball involves two teams trying to hit a ball with a bat between two white lines, with the hitters running around a series of bases to score runs (points). Currently, the sport is popular not only in the USA, but also in East Asia and Europe. Latin America.
13.Rugby
A sport of English origin, among the most popular sports in the world, rugby is now most popular in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
In rugby, two teams try to kick, carry or pass a ball over a goal line to try to score points. Much like American football, it is a contact sport that involves a lot of tackling but, unlike the Americans, those in turn use very little protection.
14. Gulf
Finishing the list of the most popular sports in the world, with Scottish origins in the 15th century, the well-known golf is a game that involves trying to put a small ball into a hole in the fewest possible strokes.
The sport is particularly popular in Western Europe, Eastern Asia and North America.
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