What Sports Were Added to the Olympics?
The Olympics are always adding new sports to keep things fresh, and this year is no different. Here are the sports that have been added to the lineup for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
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Introduction
The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Since then, the Olympics have been held every four years (with a few exceptions), making the 2016 Summer Olympics the 27th “Games of the Olympiad.”
Over the years, many new sports have been added to the Olympics lineup. In 1900, for example, golf and tennis made their debuts; in 1904, football (soccer); in 1908, rugby; in 1920, ice hockey; and so on. Some sports have come and gone as well — tug of war was an Olympic sport from 1900 until 1920, for instance.
Here is a complete list of all the sports that have been part of the Olympic Games at some point since their inception. If a particular sport was part of more than one Olympiad, we have listed each individual appearance separately.
Archery
-1900
-1904
-1908
-1912
-1920
-1924
-1928
-1932
-1936
-1948
-1972
-1976
-1980
-1984
The Early Years
The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. At that time, only nine sports were on the program: track and field, swimming, gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling, fencing, shooting, croquet and sailing.
In subsequent years, more sports were added to the program including Cycling (1900), Rugby (1900), Modern Pentathlon (1912), Figure Skating (1920), Boxing (1904), Alpine Skiing (1936) and Bobsledding (1924).
With the addition of these new sports, the Olympics became increasingly popular around the world. Today, the Olympic Games are held every four years and feature more than 30 different sports.
The Modern Era
The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Since then, the Olympics have been held every four years (with a few exceptions) and have grown to include athletes from all over the world competing in a variety of sports.
Over the years, many different sports have been added to and removed from the Olympics program. Some of the most recent additions include BMX racing, golf, rugby sevens, and surfing; while baseball, softball, and tug-of-war were among the sports that were removed after the 2008 Olympics.
The 2020 Olympics will be held in Tokyo, Japan, and will feature 33 different sports – with a few new additions like skateboarding, karate, and sport climbing. Here’s a complete list of all the sports that will be contested at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics:
Archery
Badminton
Basketball
Boxing
Canoeing
Cycling
Diving
Equestrian
Fencing
Field hockey
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Handball
Judo
Karate
Modern pentathlon
Rowing
Conclusion
The sports that have been added to the Olympics over the years reflect changing social norms and the evolution of technology. From early games that only featured running, jumping, and throwing, the Olympics have grown to include sports that require specialized equipment and skills. As the games have become more international, new sports have been added to appeal to a wider range of athletes and fans.
