2012 Olympics: What Sports Are Being Played?
Contents
Get a full list of the sports that will be played during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
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Introduction
The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad, are set to take place in London, United Kingdom from July 27 to August 12, 2012. A total of 26 sports will be represented at these Games.
This will be the first Summer Olympics held in the United Kingdom since 1948. London was selected as the host city on July 6, 2005, during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore beating Madrid, Moscow and New York City.
These will also be the first Olympic Games held under the IOC’s new naming conventions for sponsorships; London 2012 is sponsored by Lloyds TSB, while Acer is sponsoring the torch relay.
A Brief History of the Olympics
The 2012 London Olympics will feature 26 different sports, with a total of 39 disciplines. This is actually a decrease from the 28 sports and 38 disciplines that were featured in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The two sports that were cut for 2012 were baseball and softball, which, ironically, were originally scheduled to make their return to the Olympics in London after being absent for 112 years.
The decision to cut baseball and softball from the 2012 games was made by the International Olympic Committee in 2005, much to the disappointment of fans of those sports. The IOC cited a lack of worldwide participation in baseball and softball as the primary reason for their exclusion from the 2012 games. However, there is still hope that both sports will be reinstated for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The first modern Olympics took place in Athens, Greece in 1896 and featured just nine sports: athletics (track and field), cycling, fencing, gymnastics, lawn tennis, shooting, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling. Since then, the Olympics have grown exponentially both in terms of the number of sports contested and the number of countries participating. The most recent games prior to London, Beijing 2008, featured 28 sports with athletes representing 204 countries.
The 2012 Olympics
The 2012 Olympics are being held in London, England from July 27 to August 12. A variety of sports will be played at the 2012 Olympics. Some of the sports that will be played are basketball, gymnastics, swimming, and track and field.
The sports being played
The 2012 Olympics will feature a total of 26 different sports, with some new additions such as golf and rugby sevens. A total of 39 disciplines will be contested, with over 10,000 athletes expected to take part. Here is a complete list of the sports and disciplines that will be featured at the 2012 Olympics:
Archery
Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Boxing
Canoeing
Cycling
Equestrian
Fencing
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Handball
Hockey Judo
Kayak Modern Pentathlon Rowing Sailing Shooting Softball Swimming Synchronized Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Trampoline Triathlon Volleyball Water Polo
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2012 Olympics will feature a variety of different sports, ranging from traditional Olympic events such as swimming and track and field, to more modern additions such as BMX racing. With so many different sports to choose from, there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. So whether you’re a fan of watching the athletes compete, or you just want to check out some of the new sports being played, make sure to tune in to the 2012 Olympics.
