Sports have been a part of human culture since its inception. Today, many sportsmen around the world have made it their full-time profession.
Even though it was originally invented as a way of enjoyment and entertainment.
Have you ever wondered about older forms of competitive sports? This article will help you find out. We have put together a list of 10 of the world’s oldest sports.
10. Football
- Early Evidence: 100/800 years ago
- Origin: England/China
While modern football history began only 100 years ago, the sport dates further back. Historians dictate that kicking football has been a form of entertainment among cultures since ancient times.
The longest trackable history of football is from China, which was approximately 800 years ago. Back then, people called it Tsu’ Chu. The game involved kicking a ball within a 30cm opening.
9. Chess
- Early Evidence: 1000 years ago
- Origin: India/Persia/China
Some historians debate that Chess dates to the 6th century. However, evidence suggests that multiple countries had games resembling chess around 1000 years ago.
Countries like India, Persia, and China each had their chess iteration back then.
Later, these different versions reached Europe in 1350. While some formations and rules are like modern chess, most old chess formats were unique based on their geography.
8. Gymnastics
- Earliest Evidence: 1000 years ago
- Origin: Ancient Greece
Gymnastics is the oldest Olympic sport. This game tests an individual’s flexibility, agility, balance, and physical strength. The earliest evidence suggests that ancient Greek people invented it.
The Modern Olympics included the game in 1896. The game now has six different events: floor exercise, still rings, vault, high bar, parallel bar, and pommel horse.
7. Boxing
- Earliest Evidence: 1200 years ago
- Origin: Sumerian civilization (Modern Iraq)
Boxing is a popular modern sport. The most recent iteration, bare-knuckle boxing, dates to the 17th century, but the sport existed even before that.
There is proof that ancient Greeks and Romans had a similar sort of sport.
The oldest evidence suggests that the original form of bare-knuckle combat was developed by the Sumerian civilizations, who are the ancestors of modern-day Iraqi residents.
6. Hurling
- Earliest Evidence: 3000 years ago
- Origin: Ireland
Hurling is one of the oldest sports in the world. The modern iteration originated in Ireland around 3000 years ago. The concept was popular there even before, but it became popular after the English adopted it.
Experts say that football originated from hurling in England. While its younger iteration became a global phenomenon, it is still mostly unknown. Therefore, it is one of the most ancient sports in the world.
5. Horse Riding
- Early Evidence: 6000 years ago
- Origin: Central Asia
Humanity domesticated horses around 6000 years ago. Since then, these animals have been a major part of our culture and lifestyle.
People of different demographics and cultures have made horses a part of their lifestyle since the old times.
Ancient Romans and Greeks were very fond of various horse shows. Over time, horse riding became what it is today. The Olympics added horse riding to their roster in 1900.
4. Swimming
- Earliest Evidence: 6000 years ago
- Origin: Libyan Desert
Swimming is a human instinct. This activity has been part of human lifestyles since the dawn of humanity.
However, the activity’s origin as a form of entertainment supposedly began among the residents of the Libyan desert. Various wall writings in the “Cave of Swimmers” of the Gilf Kebir plateau suggest this.
3. Archery
- Earliest Evidence: c10,000 years ago
- Origin: Africa
Bows and Arrows were originally invented for ranged hunting and self-defense. It dates to the end of the Upper Paleolithic era. Africans developed the earliest form of archery.
Later, as Archery spread worldwide, some utilized it as a form of sport. The earliest historical record suggests that it was part of the ancient Olympics.
The modern Olympics added archery in 1900. But it was withdrawn after 1920 and added back in 1972.
2. Running
- Earliest Evidence: c15,300 years ago
- Origin: France
Running is a part of life and a popular form of athletics in modern times. It has always been an essential human instinct. However, people embraced it as a sport in the Upper Paleolithic era.
The earliest evidence is found in the Lascaux caves situated in France. Ancient Olympics added it around 770 BCE. The sport was divided into two sections.
One assessed an athlete’s speed, and the other checked for endurance. The first-ever recorded running competition debut was in Ireland in 1831.
1. Wrestling
- Earliest Evidence: c15,300 years ago
- Origin: Greece/ France
Wrestling is the world’s oldest sport. Choosing the strongest person in a group is a natural human instinct, which helped the sport rise as a popular form of entertainment very early on.
There is even evidence to support this. Wrestling involves various grappling and throwing techniques to take down the competitor.
Ancient wrestling was a competitive sport between 100 and 200 AD. It later spread worldwide with the help of the Greek Olympics. Modern wrestling can be traced back to 1800 in France.
Conclusion
This concludes our list of the top 10 oldest sports in the world. While more sports can be called ancient, these are the sports with proper documentation suggesting their origin.
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