1
Alpine Skiing
A winter Olympic sport in which racers descend a snowy slope at high speed through a course marked by gates.
This is the full sports index — 141 detailed sports, each with its own profile. Click any name to open the full entry.
For sports, every profile covers origin, category, equipment, governing body, and Olympic status.
All Sports
2
American Football
A high-contact team sport played with an oval ball where teams advance downfield in scripted plays to score touchdowns.
3
Australian Rules Football
A free-flowing team sport played on a large oval where players kick and handball an oval ball through goalposts.
4
Badminton
A high-speed racquet sport played with a feathered shuttlecock that must clear a high net without touching the ground.
5
Bartitsu
A British self-defence sport blending boxing, savate kicking, jujitsu grappling, and walking-stick combat into one curriculum.
6
Baseball
A bat-and-ball team sport in which players score runs by hitting a pitched ball and rounding four bases.
7
Basketball
A fast-paced indoor team sport where players score by shooting a ball through an elevated hoop.
8
Beach Handball
A high-scoring sand version of handball played four-a-side on a small court, rewarding spectacular spin and in-flight passing shots.
9
Beach Soccer
A fast five-a-side football variant played barefoot on sand, with frequent acrobatic shots and overhead-kick goals.
10
Beach Volleyball
A two-on-two outdoor variant of volleyball played on sand under stripped-down rules.
11
Biathlon
A winter Olympic sport combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, demanding endurance and steady aim under fatigue.
12
Billiards
A pocketless cue sport played with three balls on a heated table, in which players score cannons by contacting both opponent balls.
13
Bobsleigh
A winter Olympic sport in which teams pilot a streamlined sled down a refrigerated ice track at high speed.
14
Bowling
An indoor target sport in which players roll a heavy ball down a wooden lane to knock over ten pins arranged in a triangle.
15
Boxing
A combat sport between two fighters who wear gloves and exchange punches in a roped ring over timed rounds.
16
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
A grappling combat sport emphasising ground control, joint locks, and chokes that allow a smaller fighter to defeat a larger one.
17
Canoeing
A paddle sport in which athletes propel an open canoe with a single-bladed paddle on flatwater sprint or whitewater courses.
18
Capoeira
An Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial movement, acrobatics, and music played in a circle called a roda.
19
Cheerleading
A judged team sport featuring acrobatic stunts, gymnastic tumbling, dance, and synchronised chants on a sprung mat.
20
Cricket
A bat-and-ball team sport played on a circular field with a central pitch where bowlers deliver to batters defending wickets.
21
Croquet
A precision lawn sport in which players knock balls through wire wickets in a set order using a mallet.
22
Cross-country Skiing
An endurance winter Olympic sport in which racers traverse a marked snow course using classic or skating technique.
23
Curling
A winter Olympic team sport in which players slide heavy granite stones down a sheet of ice toward a circular target.
24
Cycling
A multi-format sport raced on bicycles across road stages, track ovals, mountain trails, and BMX dirt courses.
25
Darts
A pub-born precision sport in which players throw small barbed projectiles at a segmented circular board from a fixed distance.
26
Decathlon
A two-day men's multi-event athletics competition combining ten track and field disciplines scored on a points table.
27
Discus Throw
A throwing Olympic field event in which athletes rotate inside a circle to fling a heavy circular disc for distance.
28
Diving
An aquatic Olympic sport in which competitors perform acrobatic dives from springboards and platforms judged on execution.
29
Dodgeball
A team sport in which players throw soft balls at opposing players to eliminate them while dodging incoming throws.
30
Drag Racing
A motor racing discipline in which two vehicles accelerate from a standing start along a straight quarter-mile or eighth-mile strip.
31
Dragon Boat Racing
A team paddling sport raced in a long ornate canoe with a drummer, helmsman, and 20 paddlers stroking in unison.
32
Endurance Riding
A long-distance equestrian sport in which horse and rider cover challenging trails of up to 160 kilometres in a single day.
33
Equestrian
An umbrella discipline in which a rider and horse compete as a team in dressage, jumping, or eventing on a course or arena.
34
Eskrima
A Filipino martial art and combat sport built around stick, blade, and improvised weapon techniques drilled at fighting speed.
35
Fencing
An Olympic combat sport in which competitors score by touching their opponent with a thin sword on valid target areas.
36
Field Hockey
A team stick sport played on grass or turf where players strike a small ball into a goal.
37
Figure Skating
A winter Olympic sport in which athletes glide on ice performing jumps, spins, and choreographed routines judged on technical merit and artistry.
38
Football (Soccer)
The world's most popular team sport - an eleven-a-side ball game played on a rectangular pitch with two goals.
39
Formula 1
The premier class of single-seater open-wheel motor racing, contested by elite teams on grand prix circuits worldwide.
40
Gaelic Football
An Irish team sport blending elements of soccer and rugby, played with a round ball on a large pitch.
41
Goalball
A Paralympic team sport for visually impaired athletes who roll a bell-equipped ball at the opposing goal while wearing eyeshades.
42
Golf
A precision club-and-ball sport in which players hit a small ball into a series of holes in as few strokes as possible.
43
Gymnastics
A judged sport featuring acrobatic routines on apparatus or floor, rewarding strength, flexibility, balance, and choreography.
44
Hammer Throw
A throwing Olympic field event in which athletes spin and release a heavy metal ball attached to a wire for distance.
45
Handball
A fast indoor team sport where players pass and dribble a ball by hand to throw it past a goalkeeper.
46
Heptathlon
A two-day women's multi-event athletics competition combining seven track and field disciplines scored on a points table.
47
High Jump
A vertical Olympic field event in which athletes leap over a horizontal bar set at increasing heights.
48
Hurling
An ancient Irish team stick sport in which players strike a small ball with a wooden hurley at high speed.
49
Iaijutsu
A Japanese sword art focused on the rapid draw, cut, and resheathing of the katana from a seated or standing posture.
50
Ice Hockey
A fast-paced team sport played on ice in which skaters shoot a puck into the opposing net with curved sticks.
51
Ice Skating
A winter sport of moving on ice using bladed boots, with competitive forms in speed, figure, and short track racing.
52
IndyCar
The premier American open-wheel motor racing series, blending oval, road, and street courses in a single championship.
53
Inline Hockey
A fast team sport played on inline skates with hockey sticks and a puck or ball on a smooth indoor or outdoor surface.
54
Jai Alai
A high-velocity Basque ball game played in a three-walled court with a curved wicker basket strapped to the hand.
55
Javelin Throw
A throwing Olympic field event in which athletes hurl a long spear-like implement for maximum distance after a running approach.
56
Jet Skiing
A motorised water sport in which riders race or perform freestyle on a personal watercraft over a buoyed course.
57
Jousting
A historic mounted combat sport in which two armoured riders charge at each other with lances and aim to strike a target.
58
Judo
A Japanese combat sport based on throws and ground grappling in which one decisive technique can win the bout.
59
Kabaddi
A South Asian team sport in which a raider holds breath while tagging defenders and returns home to score points.
60
Karate
A Japanese striking martial art emphasising punches, kicks, and open-hand techniques delivered with control.
61
Karting
A motor racing discipline contested in small open-wheel karts on short purpose-built circuits, often a stepping stone to higher categories.
62
Kayaking
A paddle sport in which athletes sit in a closed kayak and use a double-bladed paddle on flatwater or whitewater.
63
Kickboxing
A stand-up combat sport blending boxing punches with karate-style kicks under various rule sets.
64
Korfball
A mixed-gender team sport similar to basketball played with two posts and emphasising teamwork over individual scoring.
65
Lacrosse
A team stick sport in which players use netted sticks to catch, carry, and shoot a small rubber ball into a goal.
66
Lethwei
A Burmese bare-knuckle striking sport that permits headbutts alongside the punches, kicks, knees, and elbows of kickboxing.
67
Long Jump
A horizontal Olympic field event in which athletes sprint down a runway and leap into a sandpit, judged on distance jumped.
68
Luge
A winter Olympic sport in which sliders race feet-first on their backs down a refrigerated ice track on a small sled.
69
Marathon
A long-distance Olympic running event covering 42.195 kilometres, traditionally contested on city streets.
70
Mixed Martial Arts
A full-contact combat sport combining striking and grappling from boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
71
Motocross
A motorcycle racing discipline contested on closed off-road circuits with jumps, ruts, and natural obstacles.
72
MotoGP
The top class of motorcycle road racing, contested by purpose-built prototype bikes on grand prix circuits worldwide.
73
Muay Thai
A Thai striking martial art known as the "art of eight limbs" for its use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins.
74
Naginata
A Japanese martial art and modern sport practised with a long polearm tipped by a curved single-edged blade.
75
NASCAR
An American stock-car racing series in which drivers race heavily modified sedans on oval tracks at high speed.
76
Netball
A non-contact team sport derived from basketball played mostly by women in seven assigned court zones.
77
Nine-pin Bowling
A European bowling sport in which players roll a heavy ball at nine pins arranged in a diamond pattern on a narrow lane.
78
Nordic Combined
A winter sport that pairs ski jumping with cross-country skiing, with the jump result setting the starting order for the race.
79
Octopush
An underwater team sport in which snorkellers push a lead puck along a swimming-pool floor with a short curved stick.
80
Orienteering
A navigational endurance sport in which competitors race to find control points marked on a detailed topographic map.
81
Outrigger Canoeing
A Polynesian paddling sport raced in a long canoe with a lateral float that stabilises the hull through ocean swells.
82
Padel
A fast-growing doubles racquet sport played on a small enclosed court with glass walls that are part of the play.
83
Parkour
An urban movement discipline turned competitive sport in which athletes run, jump, and vault through challenge obstacle courses.
84
Pelota
A Basque ball-court family of sports played against a high stone wall with the bare hand, paddle, or a wicker scoop.
85
Petanca
A boules sport in which players throw metal balls toward a small target ball called a jack from a fixed circle.
86
Pickleball
A paddle sport mixing elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis played on a small court with a perforated plastic ball.
87
Pole Vault
A vertical Olympic field event in which athletes use a flexible fibre pole to vault over a crossbar set at extreme heights.
88
Polo
A team equestrian sport in which mounted players use long mallets to drive a small wooden ball into the opposing goal.
89
Quad Bike Racing
A motor sport in which riders race four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles over closed dirt circuits or open desert routes.
90
Quadball
A mixed-gender team sport adapted from the fictional game of Quidditch, played on foot with a broom between the legs.
91
Quoits
A traditional throwing sport in which players toss metal or rope rings at a fixed pin or peg from a set distance.
92
Racquetball
An indoor racquet sport similar to squash in which players use a short racquet and a hollow rubber ball on a fully enclosed court.
93
Rally
A timed motor racing discipline contested over closed public roads of gravel, tarmac, snow, or dirt in production-based cars.
94
Real Tennis
The ancestral indoor court game from which lawn tennis evolved, played on an asymmetric court with sloped roofs and odd angles.
95
Rowing
A power endurance water sport in which crews propel a long narrow shell with oars across a measured course.
96
Rugby League
A faster, more open variant of rugby played thirteen-a-side with a structured set of six tackles per possession.
97
Rugby Union
A full-contact team sport played with an oval ball where players advance by running, passing backward, and kicking.
98
Sailing
A wind-powered water sport in which crews race specialised boats around a course defined by buoys.
99
Sambo
A Soviet-developed combat sport blending jacket wrestling with judo throws and effective leg-lock submissions on the ground.
100
Sepak Takraw
A Southeast Asian team sport played over a net using only the feet, knees, chest, and head to volley a small woven ball.
101
Shot Put
A throwing Olympic field event in which athletes propel a heavy metal sphere from a small circle for maximum distance.
102
Shuffleboard
A precision sport in which players use a long cue to push weighted discs across a smooth court into scoring zones.
103
Skeleton
A winter Olympic sport in which competitors race head-first on their stomach down a refrigerated ice track on a small steel sled.
104
Ski Jumping
A winter Olympic sport in which athletes slide down an inrun, leap from a takeoff, and fly through the air for distance and style.
105
Snooker
A precision cue sport played on a large green table with 22 balls, where players pot reds and colours in a strict sequence.
106
Snowboarding
A winter Olympic sport in which riders descend snow on a single board, competing in racing, freestyle, and big-mountain disciplines.
107
Softball
A bat-and-ball team sport similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field.
108
Speed Skating
A winter Olympic sport in which skaters race across a 400-metre oval ice track at high speed in long, sweeping strokes.
109
Sport Climbing
A timed and judged Olympic discipline combining speed wall, boulder, and lead climbing on artificial vertical surfaces.
110
Sprinting
The shortest, fastest track events in athletics, contested over distances up to 400 metres from a starting block.
111
Squash
A racquet sport played in an enclosed four-walled court where players alternate hitting a small rubber ball against a front wall.
112
Sumo
Japan's traditional grappling sport in which two heavy wrestlers try to force each other out of a circular clay ring.
113
Surfing
A water sport in which athletes ride breaking ocean waves on a buoyant board, judged on style, power, and difficulty.
114
Swimming
An aquatic Olympic sport in which competitors race across a marked pool using one of four recognised strokes.
115
Synchronized Swimming
An aquatic Olympic sport blending swimming, dance, and gymnastics in choreographed routines performed in a pool.
116
Table Tennis
A fast indoor racquet sport played on a table with small paddles and a lightweight celluloid or plastic ball.
117
Taekwondo
A Korean martial art and Olympic combat sport famous for fast, high kicks and spinning techniques.
118
Tai Chi
A Chinese internal martial art practised as slow-flowing solo forms and as a competitive push-hands grappling sport.
119
Tennis
A racquet sport played on a rectangular court where opponents hit a felt ball over a net using strung racquets.
120
Triathlon
An endurance multi-sport race combining swimming, cycling, and running performed consecutively without breaks.
121
Triple Jump
A horizontal Olympic field event in which athletes perform a hop, step, and jump into a sandpit for maximum total distance.
122
Ultimate Frisbee
A non-contact team sport played by passing a flying disc, with points scored by catching the disc in the opposing end zone.
123
Underwater Hockey
A submerged team sport in which snorkellers push a heavy puck across a pool floor using short curved hockey sticks.
124
Underwater Rugby
A three-dimensional team sport in which divers wrestle a slightly negatively buoyant ball into a heavy basket at the pool floor.
125
Vaulting
An equestrian sport in which an athlete performs gymnastic and dance movements on the back of a cantering horse on a lunge line.
126
Volata
A historical Italian team sport blending elements of handball and field hockey on a rectangular pitch with central goals.
127
Volleyball
A team net sport where two sides volley a ball over a high net, allowing three touches before returning it.
128
Vovinam
A Vietnamese martial art combining strikes, throws, scissor kicks, and weapon forms in a unified sporting curriculum.
129
Water Polo
A demanding team sport played in deep water where players swim, pass, and shoot a ball into the opposing goal.
130
Wrestling (Freestyle)
An Olympic combat sport in which competitors use throws, takedowns, and pins, with attacks allowed across the whole body.
131
Wrestling (Greco-Roman)
A classical Olympic wrestling style in which competitors may only attack and grip above the waist.
132
Wushu
The standardised Chinese martial arts sport contested as judged forms and as a full-contact sparring discipline called sanda.
133
Xare
A Basque variant of pelota played with a leather glove that catches and hurls the ball against a court wall.
134
Xingyi Quan
A Chinese internal martial art built on linear striking and animal-form movements, with both performance and sparring competitions.
135
Xistera Pelota
A family of Basque pelota games played with a long curved wicker scoop used to catch and hurl the ball at a stone wall.
136
Yabusame
A Japanese mounted archery sport in which a rider gallops down a straight course and shoots three wooden targets in turn.
137
Yachting
A competitive sailing discipline raced on keelboats and large sailing yachts over inshore or offshore courses.
138
Yoga Sport
A judged competitive form of yoga in which athletes hold a sequence of postures and transitions evaluated on technique and grace.
139
Zorbing
A recreational and competitive sport in which a participant rolls downhill or across water inside a large transparent inflatable sphere.
140
Zui Quan
A Chinese martial art and wushu event styled on the off-balance gait of a drunken person, with judged performance routines.
141
Zumba Fitness
A Latin-inspired dance fitness activity now contested as a judged competitive event of choreographed routines to music.
About this sports index
That's our current full list of sports. We add new entries every week — if there's a sport you'd like us to cover, let us know and we'll write it up.
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