Dive into the lesser-known corners of the Olympics, where the spotlight is less bright but the excitement is just as intense. While swimming and gymnastics are gaining traction, the entire world of Olympic sports is waiting to be explored.
From the lightning thrills of roller speed skating to the jaw-dropping moves of breakdancing, these sports are Olympic rebels, thriving in the shadows of obscurity. Join us on a journey where athletes defy expectations and compete in fields that make you want to root for more. Get ready to discover the hidden gems of the Olympics – 10 sports that will surprise you and make you want to know more.
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Ten skateboard
Born from the waves and streets of California in the 1950s, skateboarding emerged as a thrilling expression of freedom and rebellion. Initially, it was the domain of surfers seeking to bring the sensation of riding a wave and landing. By the 1980s, skateboarding had become deeply ingrained in underground culture, becoming synonymous with individuality and boundary-pushing values.
At Tokyo 2020, the world's top skateboarders showed off their skills in two exciting disciplines: park and street. In the park competition, athletes navigated a dynamic course filled with bowls and curves, performing gravity-defying tricks while maintaining speed and control. The judges scrutinized every aerial maneuver and recognized creativity, height and technical proficiency. And the course mimicked real-world scenery. Contestants showed off their mastery of the cityscape, navigating everything from stairs to railings.
Skateboarding's Olympic debut wasn't just a podium finish. It celebrated the evolution, innovation and individuality of the sport. With each flip, grind, and aerial twist, skateboarding cemented its place not only at the Olympics, but in the hearts of audiences around the world.
9 badminton
Badminton is a sport of amazing strategy, born from the old pastime of battledores and shuttlecocks. While popular among Europe's elite, the game's transition to competitive badminton is a bit murky. One of the more compelling stories is that the sport began around the early 1860s at the Duke of Beaufort's famous estate in Gloucestershire, and the sport was named after his magnificent House of Badminton. It suggests that.
Badminton crossed the shores of Europe and gained a cult following in the military camps of India, then spread across the British colonies and beyond. Today, it has become a worldwide phenomenon, transcending borders and cultures with its universal appeal.
Amid graceful volleys and lightning-fast exchanges, the rules of badminton are clear. In both singles and doubles, players vie for supremacy on a court divided by a net, aiming to either hit the shuttle accurately or force their opponents into errors.
Since its first appearance as an exhibition sport in 1972, badminton has carved out a place in Olympic history. Although it started modestly, it eventually grew into a major event. At his upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, 172 athletes will compete for glory in his five exhilarating events, continuing the tradition of excellence that characterizes this fascinating sport.
8 marathon swimming
Marathon swimming is a thrilling Olympic event that debuted at the 2008 Beijing Games. The athletes take on his challenging 10km course in the open waters of oceans, rivers and lakes.
In the early days of the Olympics, until 1908, pools were still under consideration and all swimming competitions were held in natural water. Marathon swimming made a reappearance in his 1991 FINA World Aquatics Championships, which featured a grueling 25 km showdown lasting over five hours. . Starting with his FINA World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka in 2001, a 10 km race was added.
Marathon swimming is a true sport that tests an athlete's mettle against the backdrop of open water environments such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. Completing the 10-kilometre course requires not only physical ability but also mental fortitude. Swimmers must navigate changing tides while strategically conserving energy for the final sprint to the finish line.
About 3km left? After about 2 hours of swimming, prepare for a breathtaking sprint finish.
7 sport climbing
Sport climbing, which was born from traditional rock climbing, was a huge success at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The athletes flexed their climbing muscles in his three disciplines: boulder, lead, and speed. What was their final score? A combo platter of boulder, lead, and speed will determine medal-worthy champions. Multiplying the rankings in these areas creates a unique scoring system. The climber with the lowest total score wins the gold medal.
Hold on to your carabiners, because things are changing dramatically for Paris 2024. We're talking about his two showdowns in sport climbing. A combined event featuring boulder and lead disciplines, and a separate speed event. This Olympic inclusion has brought attention to sport climbing and a new audience eager to witness the challenges that make the sport so special.
The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) will act as referee, ensuring fair play with standardized rules and a world-class competition infrastructure. Climbers scale artificial walls decorated with fixed anchors, with an emphasis on environmental protection and responsible climbing practices. The popularity of this sport has reached new heights, and further expansion and innovations are planned for future Olympic Games.
6 handball
Olympic handball began in Berlin in 1936 as a men's field sport. After a brief hiatus, handball resumed in 1952 as a demonstration sport. The 1972 Munich Olympics officially returned to a seven-athlete indoor format.
Women's handball entered the Olympic lineup at the 1976 Montreal Summer Games, marking an important step toward gender inclusion in the sport. From 2008 to her 2020, outstanding athletes such as Michael Guigou, Nikola Karabatić and Luc Abarro made headlines for France, each winning her three gold medals and her one silver medal at the Olympics. .
The sport is governed by the International Handball Federation (IHF), which controls shots from the sideline. Handball's roots are in Europe, with European countries dominating the world championships since 1938, but success stories have also emerged from countries such as South Korea and Brazil.
Handball is growing globally, boasting over 27 million registered players worldwide as of 2016. Its popularity has spread beyond the borders of Europe to regions such as East Asia, North Africa, and parts of South America, making it a sport that transcends continents and cultures.
Five roller speed skates
Roller speed skating is a high-pressure sport in which athletes reach incredible speeds of up to 31 miles per hour (50 km per hour). The history of the sport dates back to 1937, when the first World Roller Speed Skating Championships were held in Monza, Italy.
Athletes wear inline skates with up to five wheels not exceeding 110 mm in diameter and tear through an outdoor or indoor rink with an embankment or a circuit with closed roads. What matters is accuracy and speed.
Roller sports were first introduced at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992, when quad rink roller hockey was shown as a demonstration sport. Years of efforts to get Olympic recognition for roller sports have borne fruit, leading to skateboarding being included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The sport continues to be fiercely competitive, attracting athletes and enthusiasts around the world with its engaging competition and physical challenge.
Four ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering, affectionately known as “skimo,'' is an event you can't miss. Competitors ski uphill and downhill, deftly navigating snow-covered mountains. The roots of this sport date back to prehistoric times, when the Nordic people created skis to efficiently travel across snowy terrain.
The story of ski mountaineering unfolds in Europe with German pioneer Wilhelm Paulke. In 1897, he completed the first alpine traverse on skis across the Bernese Oberland. This was the birth of modern ski mountaineering, a sport that has since enjoyed worldwide acclaim. International events have been held in Switzerland, France, Italy, the Americas, Russia, Scandinavia, China, South Korea and Japan.
Ski mountaineering took the Olympics by storm from 1924 to 1948 and is set to make a triumphant return in 78 years at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. The Olympic stage will feature men's and women's sprint races and mixed relay events. This return to the Olympics is a milestone for the sporting world and a great opportunity for athletes to show off their skills on the world stage.
Ski mountaineering is governed by the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), which includes 38 national federations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The sport has a unique blend of physical challenge and mountain exploration, and attracts athletes from a variety of backgrounds, including cyclists, swimmers, runners, hikers, and mountaineers.
3 surfing
Did you know that the roots of surfing as a sport can be traced back to Peru and Polynesia? In fact, James King recorded surfing in Hawaii in 1779.
The dream of Olympic surfing took shape thanks to Duke Kahanamoku, a Hawaiian legend and three-time Olympic freestyle champion who championed the surfing cause in the 1920s. That dream came true at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where surfers from all over the world competed for gold, silver and bronze on Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
To create the spectacle of wave riding, the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the World Surf League (WSL) worked together to shape the Olympic surfing competition. In the shortboard category, his 40 surfers, 20 men and 20 women, showed off their skills, marking a milestone in a sport that has been embraced by more than 25 million enthusiasts worldwide. Did.
Surfing's encore awaits at the Paris 2024 Games, with Te Aupoo on the island of Tahiti chosen as the venue for the surfing competition. From July 27th to August 4th, the waves will witness fierce competition, highlighting the sport's increasing popularity on the world stage.
2 Break dance
Get into the rhythm of breakdancing, also known as breakdancing. Breakdancing debuted at his 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and will appear at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Born in the United States in the 1970s, breaking emerged from block parties in the Bronx, New York, and became an integral part of hip-hop culture.
The inclusion of breaking in the Olympics marked a turning point for this dance form, elevating it from street culture to a recognized sport. In Paris 2024, the competition format will focus on two separate events for men and women, with 16 B-boys and 16 B-girls competing in shocking solo battles.
Breakbattle judges dancers based on creativity, individuality, technique, versatility, performance, and musicality. A panel of five judges carefully scrutinizes each breaker's moves, with scores adjusted based on reactions to opponents and penalties for conduct violations such as copying moves or unsportsmanlike behavior.
The introduction of breaking at the Olympics caused mixed reactions within the breaking community. Some celebrate its inclusion as an opportunity to introduce the art form to a wider audience. Some have expressed concerns about maintaining its authenticity and cultural roots in the transition to an Olympic sport.
1 Futsal
Futsal is an indoor soccer game played on a basketball-type court. It began in the 1930s when Juan Carlos Ceriani invented the sport for his YMCA competitions in Uruguay. Futsal quickly gained attention in South America, especially in Brazil, producing legends like Pele, Zico, and Socrates, and providing a fertile ground for outstanding soccer skills.
Despite receiving worldwide attention and widespread participation, futsal is not currently included in the Olympic Games. Enthusiasts and organizations advocating for participation in the Olympics emphasize its huge audience, popularity and potential to attract a wider audience to the Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is cautious about expanding the number of Olympic sports due to cost concerns and restrictions on competition. However, futsal's success at events such as the 2018 Youth Olympics has fans hopeful that futsal may be featured in future Olympics as well. Although futsal in the Olympics is still under the radar, futsal's global appeal and grassroots development efforts paint a promising picture for the sport's future.
