Football (Soccer)
1
The origins of football date back to ancient civilizations, but modern soccer as we know it began in England in the 19th century with the establishment of the Football Association in 1863.
Basketball
2
Invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, basketball was created as an indoor activity to keep athletes in shape during winter.
Baseball
3
Baseball’s origins are debated, but it became formalized in the United States in the 19th century, with the National Association of Base Ball Players established in 1857.
American Football
4
Evolving from rugby and soccer, American football began to take shape in the late 19th century, with the first intercollegiate game played between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869.
Hockey
5
Ice hockey’s roots can be traced to indigenous Canadian games played on ice. The modern version of the sport began in Canada in the 19th century, with the first organized game played in 1875 in Montreal.
Tennis
6
The game of lawn tennis originated in England in the late 19th century. The first rules were codified in 1873 by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield.
Golf
7
Golf is believed to have originated in Scotland in the 15th century. The first known rules of golf were established in 1744 by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.
Rugby
8
Rugby football originated in England in the early 19th century at Rugby School, where it was said that William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball and ran with it in 1823.
Cricket
9
Cricket’s origins are in England, with the earliest known reference to the game dating back to 1598. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787 and helped formalize the rules.
Volleyball
10
Invented by William G. Morgan in 1895, volleyball was created as a less physically intense alternative to basketball, originally called “mintonette.”
Table Tennis
11
Also known as ping-pong, table tennis originated in England in the 1880s as a miniature version of tennis, played on a table with a net.
Boxing
12
The origins of boxing date back to ancient Greece, where it was a part of the Olympic Games. Modern boxing, however, was formalized in England in the 18th century with the introduction of the Marquess of Queensberry Rules.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
13
MMA’s roots can be traced to ancient Greek pankration, but modern MMA began in the early 1990s with the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Swimming
14
Competitive swimming dates back to the 19th century, but it has ancient origins, with early forms practiced by Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The International Swimming Federation (FINA) was founded in 1908.
Track and Field
15
Track and field events have ancient origins, with the first recorded Olympic Games in ancient Greece featuring running, jumping, and throwing events. Modern track and field began to take shape in the 19th century.