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One of the most eagerly anticipated athletic events around the world is the Olympic Games. As far as we know, this happens every four years. Many prestigious athletic events are held in the Olympics. It turns out that the event list of the Olympic Games does not include every sport played around the world. Furthermore, not every Olympic sport attracts a large audience or is very popular. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is all set to begin and sports fans around the world are excited about it.
Tokyo Olympics 2020: All You Need to Know About the Summer Olympics in 2021
The top 10 Olympic sports in the world both currently and historically.
1. Gymanstics:
Most sports around the world require a player to compete well. However, not all sports require great technique in addition to athleticism and creativity. One of these sports is gymnastics. Athletes in these sporting events demonstrate their extreme fitness by pulling off nearly impossible feats that require great body control and flexibility.
Since the 1896 edition of the first modern games in Athens, gymnastics has played an important role. Under his leadership, three different disciplines are covered. They are as follows
Artistic Gymnastics
Men and women compete in the artistic gymnastics division. They perform quick routines using the equipment provided. The intricacy and skill with which each action is performed determines how it is evaluated. The judges’ scoring system is based on the complexity and artistic quality of the methods used. It also emphasizes other factors such as balance and stability.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
In the rhythmic gymnastics division, there are only female competitors. They perform acrobatic tricks using a set of portable equipment, such as a ball, hoop, pair of clubs, or ribbon. Along with good technique, contestants should also focus on the beauty of their performance. Performers are assessed on their ability to execute complex physical movements and create music with great precision.
Trampoline Gymnastics
Are you curious about the twists, leaps and somersaults you often see at the Olympics? These feats performed at great heights are classified as trampoline gymnastics. Open to male and female competitors, the sport is one of the most fascinating spectacles for gymnastics spectators.
Athletes jump up to about eight meters off the ground and perform a series of fast-paced exercises. Greater body control with flawless technique is the secret to success. Evaluation is based on the following criteria: execution, flight time, horizontal displacement and difficulty.
2. Swimming:
When we think of the Olympics, one of the leading athletes comes to mind. It’s Michael Phelps, to be exact. Perhaps it is clear by now that swimming is one of the top ten most popular Olympic sports. During this time of the year, people look forward to this highly anticipated event.
All separate events under this discipline are open to players of both sexes. Strokes are specified in each event. Swimming strokes such as backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and breaststroke are all part of the wider sport. According to the event’s official stroke rules, swimmers compete against each other and against the clock to complete a certain distance in the fastest time.
Since there are no set strokes in freestyle events, swimmers are allowed to choose the strokes they choose.
3. Athletics (Track & Field):
The Olympic Games are closely associated with the remarkable personality of Usain Bolt. Undoubtedly, we all understand why he is popularly known as “The Lightning Bolt” to his followers. Bolt has become the fastest runner in the history of athletics events. It is also one of the most watched Olympic Games in history. In this sport, participants of both sexes compete equally.
Track, field and road events make up the three divisions of athletics, the largest single sport discipline in the Olympics. The assessment is based on the simple assumption that the runner who crosses the finish line the fastest wins the gold. Speed requires an extremely high level of physical fitness in addition to precisely managed physical balance.
When competing in field events, each competitor’s goal is to either run a faster time or throw a better object than their opponent in a set event of the discipline.
Two days will be dedicated to the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon events, to determine who the best runners are.
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4. Weightlifting
Despite appearances, weightlifting is a relatively straightforward idea. As the name suggests, the aim of the game is to outshine your opponents. Due to its popularity among spectators, this sport is included in the top 10 most popular Olympic sports. Both male and female competitors compete in this event, and each must complete a “snatrach,” or bar lift, in a single movement from the floor to overhead.
In addition to the “snatch” there is another component of performance called the “clean and jerk”. This suggests that the bar is brought up to the chest and then suddenly jerked overhead. Competitors pit athletes against each other by executing each of these lifts thrice. The evaluation is based on the sum of the highest weights lifted in each of the three attempts.
5. Basketball
Fans of the National Basketball Association (NBA), its teams or players should not have any problems with the idea of a basketball game. Experienced by audiences around the world, the game features two teams of five players on each side. The interesting aspect is that NBA players who are loved by basketball fans will not be representing their respective teams this time. Instead, players return home to represent their homeland.
The tournament is organized into two divisions, the 12-team tournament for men and the 12-team tournament for women, with teams divided individually.
6. Soccer
Football fans around the world wait all year to watch their favorite soccer league. However, football or soccer as it is known, is also an important element of the Olympics. During this historic Olympic event, global followers of the sport do not miss a single match.
Men and women players can once again enter the team category, which consists of two divisions: a 16-team tournament for men and a 12-team tournament for women.
7. Volleyball
Volleyball gets enough attention during the Olympics. Six players from each team take part on the court in this game. Each team can have twelve players. Players from each team must make contact three times for the ball to go through the net and land on the other team’s court. Whoever misses drops a point, which leads the opposing team to victory.
8. Judo
Martial arts is a worldwide sport discipline practiced in many nations. Judo, which literally translates to “gentle way”, is a basic branch of martial arts. However, judo is a combat sport, which requires quick reflexes, strategic thinking and intense focus. The goal of the competitors in a judo face-off is to pin their opponent or knock them to the ground. Another winning strategy is to use a choke or joint lock to force the opponent to submit.
The sport is played by athletes of both sexes, and competitors use their fastest speed to complete these routines. In the final seconds, a contestant with a low score can make a significant impact and win. The game draws the attention of the audience as the slightest break in focus can have disastrous consequences for the team.
9. Tennis
Tennis is a year-round sport that takes place in conjunction with different seasons. The Olympics and tennis tournaments are held every four years. The top ranked tennis players participate in this tournament. Fans love this game a lot.
Three divisions—men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles—competition includes players of both sexes.
10. Rugby
Rugby is a sport that receives international recognition in the Olympics. As a result, it is among the top 10 most popular Olympic sports. The object of the game is to place the oval shaped ball at the end of the goal line of the opponent’s field. Players accomplish this goal through a variety of movements, including running, passing, and hitting the ball. Each team or side consists of fifteen players. Athletes of both genders are welcome to participate.
There are two competition categories: 12-team men’s competition and 12-team women’s competition.