List of Olympic Sports

Olympic Games, an international multi-sport event that hosts a wide variety of sports is one of the most important and popular international events on the global scenario of sports. Sportspeople and sports lovers look forward to this event and nations across the globe are eager to host it. The seeds of the modern Olympic games were sown at the sports festivals conducted in Greece during the ancient times with intent to please God Zeus. Olympic games of today are rooted in the ancient Greek Olympics. Olympic sports of the modern times include the ones contested as a part of the Summer Olympic games as also those, which are a part of the Winter Olympics.

Summer Olympics hosts 26 sports, some of which comprise of various disciplines, summing up the number of Summer Olympic disciplines to 36. Winter Olympic games comprise of 7 sports with 15 disciplines. Each of the Olympic sports or disciplines of sport consist of a distinct number of events, which may vary every year. Following is a list of Olympic sports. Before moving ahead, you might like to browse through the Buzzle’s section of articles on Olympics.

List of Olympic Sports - Summer Olympics

Archery: It was introduced in the Summer Olympic games in 1900. The International Archery Federation regulates this Olympic sport.

Athletics: When the modern Olympic movement originated at the 1896 Summer Olympics, athletics began being a part of the Summer Olympic events. Several men's and women's athletic events have been a part of this Olympic sport. 100 to 10,000 meter races, hurdle races, relay races, 20 and 50 km walks, marathon races, long jump, high jump, triple jump, pole vault and shot put as also decathlon, discus throw, javelin throw and hammer throw are the events, which are included in athletics. You might want to know the person behind the name Marion Lois Jones, the former world champion and a winner of five medals at the Summer Olympics. You may also like to know all about Paula Radcliffe, a British long-distance runner with many world records and some noteworthy achievements at the Olympic games, to her account.

Aquatics: This Olympic sport has been divided into four disciplines, namely, diving, swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo. The International Swimming Federation, the international federation for aquatic sports, regulates all these disciplines. Take a look at each of these disciplines.

Diving: It was first introduced in the 1904 Games of St. Louis and is a part of the Summer Olympics since then. It will be interesting to go through some interesting articles on diving.

Swimming: It has been contested at the modern Summer Olympics. Women have been allowed to participate in swimming since 1912. It is one of the Olympic sports with a very large number of events. Read about some of the very famous Olympic swimmers. I am sure you would like to know all about Michael Phelps, the winner of 8 medals at the Summer Olympics of 2008. You might like to read about Ryan Lochte, a notable name in the list of American Olympic swimmers and Ian Thorpe, a former freestyle swimmer.

Synchronized Swimming: A part of the Summer Olympics since 1984, synchronized swimming is contested as a duet as well as a team event.

Water Polo: It was introduced in the Summer Olympic Games in 1900 and was made open for women only in 2000.

Badminton: It was introduced in the Summer Olympics in the 1992 Olympic games at Barcelona where 4 badminton events comprising of singles and doubles for men and women were held. The mixed doubles event was added in 1996. The Badminton World Federation is in charge of this Olympic sport. For all you badminton lovers, here are some tips to badminton-playing.

Basketball: It is a part of the Summer Olympics since 1936. It was played as a demonstration sport in 1904 and 1924. I am sure you would want to know everything about basketball.

Boxing: Since 1904, boxing has been a part of the Summer Olympics. It was excluded in the 1912 Summer Olympics. From 2012, it is going to be open for women contestants. You might want to know about the history of boxing and the boxing tips and techniques.

Canoeing: The activity of paddling a canoe is known as canoeing. It is classified into two disciplines, namely, flatwater canoeing and slalom canoeing. The two types of boats used in this sport are canoes with canoers or kayaks with 1, 2 or 4 kayakers. Do you wish to know all about kayaking?

Cycling: This Olympic sport is contested in the form of a group of four disciplines, namely, BMX, mountain biking, road cycling and track cycling. Cycling is a part of the Summer Olympic games since 1896. There are men's and women's events for each of the disciplines of cycling.

Equestrian: It became a part of the Summer Olympic games in 1900 and has been contested till date except for the 1912 Olympics when it was excluded. Dressage, Jumping and Eventing make up the disciplines of Equestrian category.

Fencing: Ever since the origin of the modern Olympic movement, fencing is a part of the Summer Olympic games. It is carried out by means of one of the three weapons, namely, a foil, an epee or a sabre. Fencing is contested in the form of individual and team events for men and women.

Field Hockey: It became a part of the Olympics in 1908 after which it was removed in 1924. However, it was brought back to Olympics in the very next Summer Olympic games in 1928. India and Pakistan were Olympic champions in hockey. If you want to know about how hockey originated, delve into the history of hockey. You might also like to know about the hockey equipment.

Football: It has been a part of every Olympiad except for the years 1896 and 1932. It used to be a men’s sport. Women’s football was introduced in 1996. Here is an informative article about the various football accessories.

Gymnastics: It is divided into three forms, which make up the disciplines of this sport. Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline gymnastics are the three disciplines of this Olympic sport. Artistic gymnastics comprise of a wide variety of events for men and women. Rhythmic gymnastics consists of individual and team events for women while trampoline includes individual events for men and women. The gymnasts out there will definitely want to unearth the history of gymnastics.

Handball: It debuted in the 1936 Summer Olympics after which it was excluded. After a long gap of 36 years, it returned to Olympics in 1972. Women’s handball was introduced in 1976.

Judo: It became a part of Summer Olympics in 1964 in Japan. Till 1988, only men were included and women took part in the demonstration sport. Female judoka were recognized for the first time in 1992.

Modern Pentathlon: Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Games introduced modern pentathlon to the Summer Olympics. It is an unusual blend of five disciplines, namely, epee fencing, pistol shooting, show jumping on horseback, 3 km cross-country running and 200 m freestyle swimming.

Rowing: Since the Summer Olympics of 1900, rowing is a part of Olympic events. Women’s events were introduced in 1976 and lightweight-rowing events began being a part of Olympics in 1996.

Sailing: This sport debuted at the Summer Olympics of Paris, France in 1900. It was introduced as a men’s sport that comprised of 10 events. Since 1992, women are also a part of the Summer Olympics. Read all about sailing.

Shooting: Since the origin of the modern Olympic movement, shooting has always been a part of Olympic games. It was excluded in 1904 and 1928.

Table Tennis: Dominated by the Chinese expertise, table tennis became a part of the Summer Olympics in 1988. It is practiced in the form of singles and doubles for men and women. The history and facts about table tennis are a must-read.

Taekwondo: After being a demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992, Taekwondo found a place in the list of Olympic sports in the Summer Olympics of 2000. To know all about the forms and patterns of taekwondo, you must go through the taekwondo techniques.

Tennis: Tennis is a part of the Summer Olympics since 1896. After being excluded in 1924 and being played as a demonstration sport twice, it reappeared as a part of the Summer Olympics in 1988. Those of you who love watching tennis will surely enjoy reading about the female tennis stars. You might like to go through the tennis rules and learn all about the tennis equipment.

Triathlon: It was introduced into the Summer Olympics in 2000. The International Triathlon Union is in charge of the management and regulation of this sport.

Volleyball: This Olympic sport has two disciplines, namely, beach volleyball and indoor volleyball. Both of these forms have events for men and women. You may like to know more about volleyball.

Weightlifting: It made its first appearance in the Summer Olympics in 1896 and reappeared in 1904. It has become a part of the Olympic games since the Summer Olympics of 1920. I am sure you would want to know about weightlifting.

Wrestling: It is a part of the Summer Olympic games since the birth of the modern Olympic movement. It consists of events for both men and women.

List of Olympic Sports - Winter Olympics
Before going through the Winter Olympic sports, you may like to browse through some articles on Winter Olympics.

Biathlon: The men’s individual event of 20 km first appeared in the 1960 Olympic games. Men’s relay was introduced in 1968 while the sprint event of Biathlon debuted in the Winter games of 1980. Women made an appearance in the 15 km individual event and the sprint in 1992. Military patrol, one of the events of Biathlon became a medal event in 1924.

Bobsleigh: It is an Olympic sport that consists of two disciplines, namely, bobsleigh and skeleton. Take a look at each of the two.

Bobsleigh: It was introduced in the Winter Olympics in 1924. It comprises of the four-man and two-man events as also the two-women events.

Skeleton: It was included in the Winter Olympics of 1928 and 1948, after which it was excluded from the Olympic games. It reappeared in 2002. It consists of Olympic events for men and women.

Curling: It debuted in the Winter Olympic games of 1924. It was contested as a demonstration sport in 1932 and added to the official Olympic program in 1998.

Ice Hockey: It was a part of the Summer Olympics since 1920 but was transferred to the Winter Olympic Games in 1924. Since 1998, women’s ice hockey tournament is a part of the Olympic event. You may want to know about who invented ice hockey and find all the information about the ice hockey equipments.

Luge: A part of the Winter Olympic Games since 1964, luge consists of events for both men and women and mixed doubles.

Skating: Skating that is enlisted as one of the popular Olympic sports is divided into three disciplines, namely, figure skating, short track speed skating and speed skating. Take a look at each of them. Before going ahead, you may like to take a quick look at some articles on ice skating.

Figure Skating: In 1908, it was a part of the summer Olympics. However, since 1924, this sport is a part of the Winter Olympic Games. If you are eager to know more about this sport, go through these articles on figure skating.

Speed Skating: Governed by the International Skating Union, it is included in the list of Winter Olympic games since 1924. Women’s events were introduced in 1960. You might be interested in speed skating.

Short Track Speed Skating: After being a demonstration game in 1988, it became an official part of the Winter Olympics in 1992. It comprises of both men’s and women’s events.

Skiing: It is a group of sports consisting of disciplines such as alpine, cross-country and freestyle skiing as also snowboarding, ski jumping and Nordic combined. Know all about snow skiing.

Alpine Skiing: It was introduced into the Winter Olympics in 1936. It consists of combined, downhill and slalom events for both men and women.

Cross-country Skiing: It is a part of the Winter Olympics since 1924. Women’s events were introduced only in 1952.

Freestyle Skiing: After being a demonstration game at the Winter Olympics of 1988, it is an official part of the Olympic games since the 1992 Winter Games.

Nordic Combined: These events are a part of the Winter Olympics since 1924. It has often been contested as a pair of two sports, namely cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

Ski Jumping: Starting from 1924, till 1956, ski jumping involved jumping from a hill whose length varied every time. It was only in 1960 that the height of the hill to jump from was standardized to 80 m.

Snowboarding: It is being contested since the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. It consists of events for both men and women. You might like to go through some articles on snowboarding.

To relive the golden and thrilling moments of the Beijing Olympics, you must go through Buzzle’s collection of articles on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Olympics have always been and shall remain being an event that is looked forward to by all the sports lovers across the globe.