What is the oldest sport in North America. How did lacrosse originate. Why is lacrosse facing challenges in modern times. What efforts are being made to promote lacrosse. How can more people get involved in playing lacrosse.
The Origins of Lacrosse: North America’s Ancient Sport
Lacrosse, often considered the oldest sport in North America, boasts a rich history dating back centuries. Contrary to popular belief, this dynamic game is far from being in its infancy. In fact, its roots can be traced to pre-Columbian times, with evidence suggesting that Indigenous peoples across the continent played early versions of lacrosse as early as the 1400s.
The game held deep cultural and spiritual significance for many Native American and First Nations tribes, often serving as a way to settle disputes, train warriors, and honor the Creator. Over time, lacrosse evolved from these traditional forms into the modern sport we know today.
How did lacrosse get its name?
The term “lacrosse” was coined by French missionaries who observed the game being played by Huron-Wendat people in the 17th century. The curved sticks used in the game reminded them of a bishop’s crosier, or “la crosse” in French, leading to the adoption of this name.
The Evolution of Lacrosse Through the Centuries
As European settlers arrived in North America, they became fascinated by lacrosse and began to adopt the sport. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, lacrosse underwent significant changes, with standardized rules being established and the game spreading to various parts of Canada and the United States.
- 1856: The Montreal Lacrosse Club, the first organized lacrosse club, was founded
- 1867: The National Lacrosse Association of Canada was formed
- 1877: New York University fielded the first college lacrosse team in the United States
- 1904 and 1908: Lacrosse was featured as a medal sport in the Olympic Games
Today, lacrosse continues to evolve, with variations such as box lacrosse, field lacrosse, and women’s lacrosse each having their own unique rules and playing styles.
Challenges Facing Modern Lacrosse: Limited Resources and Awareness
Despite its ancient roots and recent growth, lacrosse faces several challenges in the modern sporting landscape. One of the primary obstacles is the limited availability of resources for those interested in learning and playing the sport.
What are the main barriers to lacrosse participation?
Several factors contribute to the difficulty in growing lacrosse participation:
- Lack of facilities: Many communities lack dedicated lacrosse fields or indoor facilities for year-round play
- Equipment costs: Lacrosse gear can be expensive, particularly for new players
- Limited coaching resources: There’s a shortage of experienced coaches in many areas
- Competing sports: Lacrosse often competes with more established sports for players and resources
These challenges create a cycle where limited exposure leads to fewer participants, which in turn results in less investment in the sport.
Raising Awareness: Strategies to Promote Lacrosse
To overcome the hurdles facing lacrosse, various organizations and enthusiasts are working to raise awareness and increase participation in the sport. These efforts aim to showcase the excitement and benefits of lacrosse to a wider audience.
How are lacrosse organizations promoting the sport?
Several strategies are being employed to boost lacrosse’s profile:
- Youth programs: Introducing lacrosse in schools and community centers
- Social media campaigns: Leveraging platforms like YouTube and TikTok to share highlights and tutorials
- Grassroots initiatives: Organizing local clinics and pickup games
- Professional leagues: Expanding coverage of professional lacrosse leagues to inspire new players
- Cultural education: Highlighting the sport’s Indigenous roots and cultural significance
These efforts are slowly but surely increasing the sport’s visibility and attracting new players and fans.
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Playing Lacrosse
Lacrosse offers a wide range of physical and mental benefits to its players, making it an attractive option for those seeking a challenging and rewarding sport.
What are the key advantages of playing lacrosse?
Participating in lacrosse can lead to numerous positive outcomes:
- Cardiovascular fitness: The fast-paced nature of the game provides an excellent cardio workout
- Strength and agility: Players develop muscular strength and quick reflexes
- Hand-eye coordination: Catching and throwing the ball hones fine motor skills
- Teamwork: Lacrosse emphasizes collaboration and communication
- Mental toughness: The sport builds resilience and decision-making under pressure
- Cultural appreciation: Players gain insight into Indigenous history and traditions
These benefits contribute to the overall appeal of lacrosse as a sport that develops both body and mind.
Comparing Lacrosse to Other Ancient North American Sports
While lacrosse is often cited as the oldest sport in North America, it’s important to recognize that other ancient sports also have deep roots in the continent’s history.
What other sports have ancient origins in North America?
Several traditional games have been played by Indigenous peoples for centuries:
- Chunkey: A game involving rolling stone discs, popular among Mississippian cultures
- Stickball: A precursor to lacrosse, played by various southeastern tribes
- Snow snake: A winter game involving throwing wooden “snakes” for distance, played by northern tribes
- Hoop and pole: A game of accuracy played by many Plains tribes
These sports, like lacrosse, often held cultural and spiritual significance beyond mere recreation.
The Future of Lacrosse: Growth and Potential
Despite the challenges it faces, lacrosse has a bright future ahead. The sport is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, particularly among young athletes looking for a dynamic and exciting team sport.
How is lacrosse growing in the 21st century?
Several factors contribute to lacrosse’s potential for growth:
- Increasing collegiate programs: More universities are adding lacrosse teams, creating opportunities for student-athletes
- International expansion: Lacrosse is gaining popularity in countries beyond North America
- Technological advancements: Improved equipment and training tools are enhancing player performance and safety
- Media coverage: Greater visibility through streaming platforms and sports networks
- Diversity initiatives: Efforts to make the sport more inclusive and accessible to all communities
As these trends continue, lacrosse is poised to reclaim its place as a prominent sport in North America and beyond.
Getting Involved: How to Start Playing Lacrosse
For those inspired by the rich history and exciting potential of lacrosse, there are numerous ways to get involved in the sport.
What steps can newcomers take to start playing lacrosse?
Here are some practical suggestions for beginners:
- Research local teams: Look for youth leagues, school programs, or adult recreational teams in your area
- Attend a clinic: Many organizations offer introductory clinics to teach basic skills
- Watch games: Observe live matches or watch professional games online to learn the rules and strategies
- Invest in basic equipment: Start with essentials like a stick, ball, and protective gear
- Practice fundamental skills: Work on catching, throwing, and cradling the ball
- Join online communities: Connect with other players and enthusiasts through social media or forums
By taking these steps, newcomers can begin their journey into the exciting world of lacrosse.
As we’ve explored, lacrosse is far more than just a sport – it’s a living testament to the rich cultural heritage of North America. From its ancient origins among Indigenous peoples to its modern incarnation as a fast-paced, global sport, lacrosse continues to captivate players and spectators alike. While challenges remain in terms of resources and awareness, the passion of its community and the inherent excitement of the game suggest a promising future for lacrosse. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a curious newcomer, there’s never been a better time to engage with this dynamic and historically significant sport. By embracing lacrosse, we not only participate in a thrilling athletic pursuit but also connect with a profound cultural legacy that spans centuries.
What Is The Oldest Sport In North America?
Lacrosse is in its infancy, and there are limited resources available to learn about it. Lack of facilities makes lacrosse difficult for people to get interested in the sport- making it difficult for lacrosse players to find teammates and practice regularly.
Lack of awareness means that fewer people are playing lacrosse, which puts more pressure on those who do play the sport to bring attention to it. More people need to get involved in lacrosse in order not only grow the sport but also have a lot of fun doing so.
What Is The Oldest Sport In North America?
lacrosse is a relatively new sport and there are limited resources available to learn about it. Lack of facilities makes it difficult for people to get interested in the sport, which means that fewer people are playing it.
There’s a lack of awareness around lacrosse meaning that fewer people know about it. Lacrosse needs more participants in order to grow, so if you’re interested then please get involved.
It’s important for everyone who loves the game to continue growing and helping lacrosse reach its full potential
Lacrosse Is In Its Infancy
Lacrosse is an ancient sport that can be traced back to the 1400s. The game of lacrosse has evolved and changed dramatically over the years, but it remains an extremely physical and demanding sport.
Lacrosse is also one of the fastest-growing sports in North America, with more than 1 million players across Canada and United States playing each year. It’s not only a physically challenging activity; coaches require lacrosse players to have excellent hand-eye coordination as well as stamina and endurance.
With its fast-paced action, lacrosse offers something for everyone – from beginners to experienced athletes – no matter what their level of experience or fitness level may be
There Are Limited Resources Available To Learn About It
Ice hockey is the oldest sport in North America and has been played for centuries.
There are limited resources available to learn about it, so only a select few people know how to play it well.
It takes years of practice and dedication to become an proficient player. The game can be dangerous if not done correctly, so make sure you take safety precautions when playing. Hockey is a great way to connect with friends while having some fun outdoors
Why it makes it difficult to be interested in sports
There is evidence that a sport called lacrosse dates back to pre-Columbian times in North America. Lack of facilities makes it difficult for people to get interested in the sport, but there are efforts being made to change this situation.
Lacrosse has seen a recent resurgence thanks to its popularity on social media platforms like YouTube and Twitch TV. The lack of organized leagues and tournaments can be frustrating for players and coaches, but grassroots initiatives are helping the game grow nonetheless.
With more people getting involved, lacrosse has a bright future ahead as an exciting sport enjoyed by all
Lack of Awareness Means That Fewer People are Playing Lacrosse
Lacrosse is an ancient sport that originated in North America and has been played for centuries.
Despite its popularity, lacrosse lacks widespread awareness which means there are fewer people playing the game each year.
There are a few ways to increase awareness of lacrosse and get more people involved in the sport. One way is to create educational materials about lacrosse so that more people can learn about it. Another way is to participate in events or clinics hosted by organizations dedicated to promoting lacrosse as a recreational activity for everyone
More people need to get involved in the sport in order to grow it
Baseball has been around for over 200 years and is one of the oldest sports in North America. In order to grow baseball, more people need to get involved, as it’s not a popular sport among many people.
There are numerous ways that you can get involved with the game―from playing ball at local parks to being part of organized leagues or teams. It’s important to have fun while playing baseball if you want others to start taking an interest in the sport as well.
Keep practicing and growing your skills so that you can help make baseball even more popular in future generations.
What is the oldest main sport?
There are many different types of sports, but the oldest main sport is probably football. It was first played in ancient China and has been enjoyed by people all over the world ever since.
Other popular sports include basketball, ice hockey and soccer.
- Polo first appeared in Persia around 2,500 years ago. It is a sport for the rich and wealthy as team members had to have their own horse. The game involved riding a horse around a field and hitting balls with sticks into other players’ goals. There are different variations of polo that involve playing on either grass or sand courts, and using different types of ball.
- Polo is an outdoor game that involves riding a horse around a field. This means that it can be difficult to play if there are any rain or snow storms happening outside.
- Polo is considered one of the oldest main sports in the world, but there are also several variants which date back even further than this.
For example, cycloid polo was played in ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago and jeu de paume (or “game of hands”) was popularized during the Middle Ages in France . - As polo became more popular throughout the centuries, many wealthy people started sponsoring teams so that they could compete against each other in competitions sanctioned by governing bodies such as The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).
For example, cycloid polo was played in ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago and jeu de paume (or “game of hands”) was popularized during the Middle Ages in France .Today there are numerous international tournaments held every year where teams from all over the world compete head-to-head.
What was the first sport played in America?
The first sport played in America was probably football. It is believed that the game originated in England and was brought over to North America by British soldiers stationed there.
American colleges soon began playing it, and by 1876, the National Football League had been formed.
- The first sport played in America was lacrosse. Lacrosse was first observed by Europeans in North America in 1637, and it quickly became popular among the native people of the area. Today, there are many different sports to enjoy in the U.S., including football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey and soccer.
- European settlers were fascinated by American natives’ love for outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. This led them to observe other aspects of Native American culture that they would not have otherwise seen, such as their passion for lacrosse which they later introduced back home on their own soil.
- While today’s game of lacrosse is very similar to its original form throughout most of the world, there are a number of variations that exist based on region and culture – making it truly unique amongst all sports.
- In 1875, Harvard College fielded its first official team during what is now known as “The Game Of The Century”. Since then, amateur and professional leagues have been formed all over the United States with plenty more games still awaiting us ahead.
- There are countless ways Americans can get involved in sport every day – from playing organized sports at school or work facilities to joining neighborhood teams or participating in backyard pickup games with friends.
Today, there are many different sports to enjoy in the U.S., including football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey and soccer.
Is baseball the oldest sport in America?
Baseball is the oldest sport in America and has been played for centuries. The first ballgames were played on fields that looked a lot like those you see today.
America in 1869, two years after the American Association was formed. The National League was Formed Two Years Later Than The American Association, Which Is Why MLB Has More Teams .
Baseball Was Considered A Gentlemen’s Game Up Until The 1920s
What is the oldest sports team in America?
The Atlanta Braves are the oldest team in America, founded on April 15th, 1871. The Pittsburgh Pirates were founded on October 3rd, 1881. The St Louis Cardinals were founded on November 12th, 1892.
Boston Red Sox were founded as the Boston Americans in 1901 and became a successful MLB franchise in 1903 . New York Yankees were established as an American baseball club in 1898 and have won more World Series titles than any other team
Is MLB older than NFL?
The Major League Baseball (MLB) was founded in 1876, while the National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920.
However, there have been earlier leagues that preceded both of these organizations.
The first professional baseball league was organized in 1869 and the first professional football league was organized in 1895.
What is America’s oldest game?
America’s oldest game is a physical activity that was played by the indigenous people of North America thousands of years ago. The game, which was called ‘ballplay’, involved throwing a large hard-shelled object at a target to score points.
Lacrosse Origins From North America
Lacrosse originated from North America and is a sport with a history that spans ages. Played for fun or to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, and develop strong men, lacrosse has become one of the most popular sports in North America today.
Referred To As “The Creator’s Game” By Native Americans
Native American tribes referred to lacrosse as “the creator’s game.” This because it was believed that playing this sport helped people work together cooperatively while also developing their physical abilities.
Today, lacrosse is enjoyed by people all over the world and continues to play an important role in community building and culture.
It Is One Of The Most Popular Sports In North America
Lacrosse is one of the most popular sports in North America today, enjoying immense popularity across many regions of the country. Players can be found at any level, from recreational leagues right up to professional teams competing in major tournaments around the globe.
MLB is the oldest professional sports league in America
MLB was founded in 1869, which makes it older than the NFL (founded in 1920).
The MLB season, with 162-games, is the longest of all major American sports leagues. Additionally, National League and the other 15 in the American League are divided into two divisions each with six teams apiece. This system has been around since 1903.
Which country in the United States has a Major League Baseball franchise?
The us has three countries – Canada, Mexico and united states – that have major league baseball franchises.
Major League Baseball clubs can be found all across North America: Canada has ten teams while Mexico has eight and there are three in the United States (Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs). This unique geography helps to contribute to baseball’s popularity throughout these different countries.
National League and the other 15 in the American League
The history of baseball is rich with tradition dating back as far as 1876 when a group of players from various clubs got together to form an organized game we now know as “professional ball.” Over time this evolved into what we see today – 16 competing teams split into two leagues based on geographical borders (National and American Leagues).
To Recap
The oldest sport in North America is believed to be Lacrosse, which was first played in the 16th century. Other sports that have been around for a long time include cricket, golf, and baseball.
As new sports are invented, older ones may eventually be replaced by newer versions.
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Lacrosse (est. 1867) – Troy, NY – Oldest Sport In America
Lacrosse is the oldest sport in America. In fact it is considered as both the oldest team sport and oldest organized sport in Northern America. The International World Games Association recognizes Lacrosse as the oldest organized sport in North America. A 2013 documentary film called “America’s First Sport” led by Professor of Practice Dennis Deninger detailed the history of Lacrosse. History.com mentions Lacrosse as America’s oldest team sport.
Troy, New York is home to both the first official Lacrosse game and the first established Lacrosse team. In 1867, Indigenous Americans held an exhibition match in front of 10,000 people in Troy, New York.
This first official Lacrosse game was played in Rensselaer Park (1867 – 1917) which was eventually turned into the Troy residential neighborhood that exists today. Following this, the Mohawk Lacrosse Club (sometimes called Mohawk Club of Troy) was formed in Troy in 1868 by several baseball players.
Premier Lacrosse League Tickets
The feature of the game is the crosse (lacrosse stick), the implement used by the players to carry, catch, and pass the ball. The crosse is a staff that is bent at the top to form a hook from the end of which a thong is drawn and fastened to the shaft about 2 or 3 feet from the end of the handle, forming an oval triangle that is woven with a loose network of leather, nylon, or gut to form the pocket with which the ball is handled. In 1636 after seeing the Huron Indians play lacrosse as a medicinal rite near Thunder Bay, Ontario, Jean De Brebuef, a Jesuit missionary, is the first to document the game.
The Mohawk Club, of Troy, N. Y., pioneered the game in the United States.
In its first season in the summer of 1868, the Mohawk Lacrosse club lost 4 games to Canadian teams, including Montreal Lacrosse Club, Crescent, Dominion and Aurora. Later, the team played a combination of college varsity and club games. William George Beers, a Canadian dentist and patriot, is referred to as the “father of modern lacrosse” for his work establishing the first set of playing rules which was first used in the 1867 first ever organized Lacrosse game. In 1869 George Beers published the first book about the sport of lacrosse, entitled “LaCrosse: The National Game of Canada.”
In 1877 New York University is the first college in the United States to establish a lacrosse team. In 1904 Lacrosse is first played as an Olympic sport. Canada defeated the St. Louis AAA team, representing the USA, for the championship. Lacrosse has been on the official Olympic program twice, in 1904 and 1908, with a team from Canada winning both times. Lacrosse was also a demonstration sport at the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1948.
In 1998 US Lacrosse is founded by the merger of eight national organizations, becoming the unified national governing body for lacrosse.
*Note: The United States has the most sports stadiums of any country in the world with over 900.
American football, baseball and basketball are among the top three favorite sports in the USA – American football
Opinion Dynamics has identified Americans’ favorite sports.
Out of competition is American football, which is loved by 36% of US adults. The top three also included baseball (13%) and basketball (8%).
Unexpectedly, football (socker), which is loved by 5% of Americans, was unexpectedly in the fourth position football has never been among the most favorite sports before.
Auto racing also received 5% of the votes. Next on the list: tennis (3%), golf, hockey and speed skating (2% each), gymnastics, equestrian sports and volleyball (1% each). 9% of respondents have no favorite sport.
The ranking of sports that people in the United States like to do looks different. Baseball (10% of respondents), American football (8%), basketball and golf (7% each) excel here. The popularity of tennis and swimming is quite high (5% each). 4% of Americans play volleyball, 3% each play football and bowling. 24% of respondents said they do not play sports at all, according to Washington Profile.
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The most popular sports in the world, rating of sports
In the article we will name the most popular sports on a global scale, based primarily on the number of fans. The rating of popular sports turned out to be unusual: in second place is the sport, for fans of which to watch the entire match is already an achievement, while boxing and MMA are not at all included in the top ten most popular disciplines.
Content
- Sports rating: top 10 most popular
- 1. Football. 3.5 billion viewers
- 2. Cricket. 2.5 billion viewers
- 3. Basketball. 2.2 billion viewers
- 4. Hockey. 2 billion viewers
- 5. Tennis. 1 billion viewers
- 6. Volleyball. 900 million viewers
- 7. Table tennis. 850 million viewers
- 8. Baseball. 500 million viewers
- 9. American football and rugby. 410 million viewers
- 10. Golf. 390 million viewers
- Rating of sports by popularity: TOP-25
Baseball. 500 million viewersIn the modern world, sport has ceased to be just a sport: any public action becomes part of the media space, which is gradually replacing show business in its usual perception. Large TV channels and streaming services compete for the rights to broadcast sports events, the richest companies (including betting companies) sponsor sports clubs, and the athletes themselves often earn more from advertising contracts than on the field.
What types of sports are popular depends most of all on geographical factors: it is quite obvious that the popularity of hockey in the USA or Canada is much higher than the love of football, while in Latin America the situation is reversed.
Sometimes the scale of a particular individual interferes in the matter – if it were not for Fedor Emelianenko, many Russians would never fall in love with mixed martial arts.
Places paid
The “Paid places” mark means that the position (position) of the bookmaker in the list is determined on a commercial basis.
In turn, ratings on Legalbet are always compiled as honestly and objectively as possible, so we rightfully indicate them as “Not for Sale”.
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Sports Ranking: Top 10 Most Played
Introducing the Sports Rankings by Popularity Worldwide.
The number of spectators of sports competitions was taken into accountAccording to Sports Show. .
Location | Sport | Number of viewers |
1 | Football | 3.5 billion |
2 | Cricket | 2.5 billion |
3 | Basketball | 2.2 billion |
4 | Hockey | 2 billion |
5 | Tennis | 1 billion |
6 | Volleyball | 900 million |
7 | Table tennis | 850 million |
8 | Baseball | 500 million |
9 | American football and rugby | 410 million |
10 | Golf | 390 million |
1.
Football. 3.5 billion viewers
Few other sports are as controversial as the most popular sports game in the world. Some consider football an integral part of life, spend sleepless nights in front of the screen watching the matches of their favorite team, or go to the other side of the world to support their idols. And others point blank do not understand: what is interesting in watching 22 millionaires kick the ball?
One thing is for sure: football is the most watched sport in the world in terms of television coverage. According to Mediascope, in Russia, only the Olympic Games in Sochi have attracted more audience in recent years than the World Cups. and by the number of people involved in it at an amateur or professional level. According to the Ministry of Sports of Russia, more than 3 million people are involved in football in the country.
Money speaks for the fact that football is the most popular sport game in the world.
The top three highest paid athletes in the world, according to Forbes, includes two football players at once: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But in the top ten most expensive clubs in the world, football does not have such an impressive representation – only three teams, these are Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.
The main factor in the popularity of football is its accessibility. Enough ball and comrades in the game – and you can play, the rest is a matter of imagination and desire.
2. Cricket. 2.5 billion viewers
Cricket is exotic for the post-Soviet space, but it is the most popular sport in Asian countries that were once British colonies. Cricket has the most fans in India, a country with a population of 1.36 billion people. Almost 10 Russia. The main distinguishing feature of the discipline is the completely unrealistic duration of the matches. Tests Limited by time, not by the number of points scored or overs.
games can last five days for six hours!
Cricket is reminiscent of baseball, which is better known to the masses: it also uses a bat and a ball to play. Each team has 11 players who are divided into servers (bowlers) and reflectors (batsmen). The goal of the batsmen is to deflect the shot so that the ball reaches the boundaries of the field or travels far enough from the opponents to allow it to run to the other end of the Rectangular Playground pitch.
3. Basketball. 2.2 billion viewers
Basketball was invented in the 19th century by a college teacher in the US and has become one of the most popular sports today thanks to its crazy dynamics and spectacle. The geography of sports distribution covers almost the whole world: the USA, Argentina, Greece, Spain, Russia and even China.
Major league basketball is the American NBA, which attracts the most fans around the world. Three NBA clubs are among the five most valuable teams in the world at once: the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.
Will Golden State win the NBA title in 2023/24?
Although basketball does not top the list of the most popular sports, the interest in it is growing every year. It is unlikely that he will be able to catch up with football in popularity, but basketball is clearly capable of competing with cricket for second place.
Basketball rounds out the top five most popular sports in Russia among professional and amateur athletes — more than 1.5 million people play it.
4. Hockey. 2 billion viewers
Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere: in Russia, for example, according to a survey by the Ministry of Sports, more than half of the population is interested in and follows ice battles. Sports are attractive for their dynamism and aggression: aesthetic lovers enjoy abandoned pucks and elegant passes, while fans who prefer toughness and extreme sports follow hard power moves or fights on ice.
But what about the Southern Hemisphere? There, sports fans came up with the idea of playing field hockey with a ball, and competitions in this type of sport have been held since 1970: even the teams of Australia, India and Pakistan, exotic for classic hockey, managed to be world champions!
The richest and most popular league in hockey (yes, taking into account classical hockey, bandy, and field hockey) is the NHL: there are the best hockey players in the world, huge salaries, gigantic sums for broadcasting rights.
5. Tennis. 1 billion viewers
The first individual sport on our list. Tennis attracts spectators from all over the world, with the exception of African countries, where this sport is not well developed for one reason: it is considered one of the most expensive in the world, because African athletes rarely have the opportunity to achieve heights in tennis.
Tennis is a big money sport.
It is not for nothing that the Swiss Roger Federer got into the top ten of the highest paid athletes: and it’s not only about prize money at tournaments, but also about the tennis player’s personal brand, which brings him considerable income.
Another plus in favor of the popularity of tennis: it almost eliminates the difference between men’s and women’s competitions. When it comes to team sports, men’s competitions are much more interesting, and in tennis, men’s and women’s tournaments have approximately the same audience.
6. Volleyball. 900 million viewers
Volleyball is the most widespread sport in the world, as evidenced by one simple fact: there are 222 volleyball sports federations in the world. For comparison, in football, which is undoubtedly considered the number one sport, in the main international The FIFA organization includes 211 federations.
Despite its prevalence, there is not as much finance in volleyball as in football or hockey: only broadcasts of the Olympic Games and World Championships have a high rating.
Volleyball clearly lacks more media exposure to break into the top five.
7. Table tennis. 850 million viewers
Table tennis is spread all over the world, but it has gained particular popularity in Europe and the countries of Southeast and East Asia, which explains such a large number of regular viewers.
With a relatively small number of professional athletes, table tennis has a wide amateur reach: who didn’t have a person in school who was fond of this not quite typical sport?!
Only broadcasts from the Olympic Games are hugely popular, while the World Championships and other leagues do not attract such a large number of viewers outside of Southeast Asia.
8. Baseball. 500 million viewers
Residents of the CIS countries may get the impression that baseball is a purely American sport. They also heard something about Japan, but actually no one is interested in it anymore .
.. This is a huge delusion: there are 120 baseball federations in the world, and the sport is wildly popular in Cuba, Venezuela, China, South Korea, Mexico and even in the Czech Republic with the Netherlands .
The main league in the world, of course, is the American MLB, which is where most of the finances and spectator interest are concentrated. The New York Yankees baseball club is the second most valuable in the world.
9. American football and rugby. 410 million viewers
The testosterone, brutal and sometimes bloody sport of rugby is widespread all over the world, but it is especially popular in France, New Zealand and South Africa.
Interestingly, until 1995 the sport was not truly professional: due to pay restrictions, most clubs preferred to remain amateur. Broadcasts of rugby leagues are practically not sold abroad, they are watched almost exclusively within the country. This affects, among other things, the wages of players: the salary of rugby players in the world’s best leagues is about 60 thousand dollars.
A completely different situation with American football – the NFL sells broadcasts around the world, and in the USA the tournament is considered the most popular. With funding, everything is also very decent: the player Dak Prescott is one of the five highest paid athletes in the world.
But with the spread of American football, everything is not so great: at a more or less professional level, the sport lives in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, France, Austria and Sweden.
10. Golf. 390 million viewers
Golf is widespread only in the USA, Canada and Europe. It differs from other sports in that age is nothing to golf. If in football, tennis and hockey players can get a sports pension, then in golf everything depends only on the desire of the athlete himself.
The legendary Tiger Woods, thanks to whom golf became famous all over the world, has long been one of the ten highest paid athletes in the world.
