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Olympic Sports

Olympic Sports
The various international sports federations choose the disciplines, events, and sports for each of the Olympic Games. To qualify as an Olympic sport, that sport must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents, and by women in at least 40 countries and on three continents. Sports widely practiced in at least 25 countries and on three continents may be included in the Winter Games.

In the past, the host country occasionally has been allowed to include one or two demonstration sports. If there is enough interest, they may be selected as medal sports in future Games. For example, tennis and baseball were demonstration sports before becoming medal sports in the 1988 and 1992 Games, respectively.

Check out More Sports for all the action!


Team Handball
The Olympic sport of team handball is not to be confused with the game played against a wall with a small rubber ball. Imagine a sport that mixes soccer, basketball and waterpolo!
Sound crazy? Millions of people from around the world think it is exciting! We think you will join them when you learn more about Olympic Handball.

More sports



Archery

Badminton

Baseball

Basketball

Boxing

Canoeing & Kayaking

Cycling

Diving

Equestrian

Fencing

Field Hockey

Gymnastics

Judo

Paralympics

Pentathlon

Rowing

Sailing

Shooting

Soccer

Softball

Swimming

Synchronized Swimming

Table Tennis

Taekwondo

Team Handball

Tennis

Track & Field

Triathlon

Volleyball

Water Polo

Weightlifting

Wrestling

General Sports Links
Olympians will compete in dozens of sports this summer. Even though Gateway to the Summer Games can't feature them all, you can learn about each and every one by visiting the sites listed below.


Portions of the above text were excerpted from Share the Olympic Dream--Volume II.
© 2001 by Griffin Publishing Group/United States Olympic Committee.

For information on purchasing Griffin materials, please visit the Griffin Publishing Group Web site at http://www.griffinpublishing.com.

 

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