Summer Olympic Sports Summer Olympic Sports The Olympic Games are held The Olympic Games are held once every four years. once every four years.

To make it onto the Olympic To make it onto the Olympic programme, a sport first has to programme, a sport first has to be recognised: it must be be recognised: it must be administered by an International administered by an International Federation which ensures that Federation which ensures that the sport's activities follow the the sport's activities follow the Olympic Charter. Olympic Charter.

Summer Olympic Sports Summer Olympic Sports archery archery This sport consists of four This sport consists of four medal events: men's medal events: men's individual, women's individual, women's individual, men's team, and individual, men's team, and women's team. women's team.

In all four events, the In all four events, the distance from the archer to distance from the archer to the target is 70 meters. the target is 70 meters.

archery archery badminton badminton This sport was first held This sport was first held as a demonstration sport as a demonstration sport at the 1972 Summer at the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1988 it again Olympics. In 1988 it again appeared at the Olympics appeared at the Olympics as an exhibition sport. as an exhibition sport.

It then became a full- It then became a full- medal Olympic sport at medal Olympic sport at the 1992 Olympic Games. the 1992 Olympic Games. badminton badminton basketball basketball In 1936, the first ever In 1936, the first ever final of this sport was final of this sport was played on a dirt court in played on a dirt court in the rain, which made the rain, which made dribbling impossible. dribbling impossible.

The United States team The United States team beat Canada 19 to 8. beat Canada 19 to 8.

basketball basketball beach volleyball beach volleyball This sport began as a fun This sport began as a fun activity at Santa Monica activity at Santa Monica Beach, California, in the Beach, California, in the 1920s. 1920s.

It developed into a It developed into a competitive sport in the competitive sport in the 1950s and 60s and really 1950s and 60s and really took off in the late 1970s took off in the late 1970s after becoming after becoming professional. professional. beach volleyball beach volleyball boxing boxing This sport has two people This sport has two people in a ring. in a ring.

In 2009, the IOC voted to In 2009, the IOC voted to include women in the include women in the sport at the 2012 London sport at the 2012 London Games, so now there are Games, so now there are men and women men and women competing in all sports. competing in all sports.

boxing boxing canoe / kayak canoe / kayak This sports features races This sports features races at the Olympic Games at the Olympic Games that are held on both flat that are held on both flat water with competitors water with competitors assigned to lanes (Sprint assigned to lanes (Sprint Events), and in slalom Events), and in slalom events. events.

There are single, double There are single, double and four boats. and four boats. canoe / kayak canoe / kayak cycling cycling This sport is a core Olympic This sport is a core Olympic sport. sport.

There are four disciplines in There are four disciplines in to be competed in at the to be competed in at the 2012 Olympics. 2012 Olympics.

These are “Track”, “Road”, These are “Track”, “Road”, “Mountain-bike” and “BMX”. “Mountain-bike” and “BMX”.

cycling cycling diving diving There are several events There are several events as part of this Olympic as part of this Olympic program. program.

These are “10m platform”, These are “10m platform”, “3m springboard” “3m springboard” individual and individual and synchronized events synchronized events

diving diving equestrian equestrian This is one of the older This is one of the older Olympic sports. Olympic sports.

There are currently three There are currently three disciplines in this Program at disciplines in this Program at the Olympics. the Olympics.

These are “Showjumping”, These are “Showjumping”, “Dressage”, and “Eventing”. “Dressage”, and “Eventing”. equestrian equestrian fencing fencing This is one of only five This is one of only five sports have been contested sports have been contested at every summer Olympic at every summer Olympic games since 1896. games since 1896.

Three types of weapon are Three types of weapon are used in the sport today. used in the sport today.

These are “Foil”, “Épée” These are “Foil”, “Épée” and “Sabre”. and “Sabre”.

fencing fencing field hockey field hockey This Olympic sport is a This Olympic sport is a team sport in which two team sport in which two teams playing against each teams playing against each other on a field. other on a field.

They use sticks to control They use sticks to control the ball and score goals. the ball and score goals.

field hockey field hockey gymnastics gymnastics This is one of only five sports This is one of only five sports have been contested at have been contested at every summer Olympic every summer Olympic games since 1896. games since 1896.

There are three separate There are three separate disciplines at the Olympics disciplines at the Olympics

These are “Artistic”, These are “Artistic”, “Trampoline” and “Rhythmic” “Trampoline” and “Rhythmic” gymnastics gymnastics handball handball This sport is a team sport This sport is a team sport in which two teams of in which two teams of seven players each (six seven players each (six outfield players and a outfield players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball to goalkeeper) pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the throw it into the goal of the other team. other team.

handball handball judo judo This modern martial art This modern martial art was first included for men was first included for men at the Olympic Games in at the Olympic Games in 1964 Games in Tokyo. 1964 Games in Tokyo.

It is a weight class event It is a weight class event

judo judo modern pentathlon modern pentathlon The sport of Modern Pentathlon The sport of Modern Pentathlon includes five events held over includes five events held over two days. These events are two days. These events are Shooting, Fencing, Swimming, Shooting, Fencing, Swimming, Riding, and Running Riding, and Running ` ` In the final (Running) event, the In the final (Running) event, the competitors start with time competitors start with time penalties according to how penalties according to how many points they scored in many points they scored in previous events, with the leader previous events, with the leader starting first. The first athlete starting first. The first athlete across the line is the winner across the line is the winner overall. overall. modern pentathlon modern pentathlon rowing rowing This water sport currently This water sport currently has 14 events. has 14 events.

These events are Men: quad These events are Men: quad sculls, double sculls, single sculls, double sculls, single sculls, eight, coxless four, sculls, eight, coxless four, coxless pair, Lightweight coxless pair, Lightweight Men: coxless four, double Men: coxless four, double sculls, Women: quad sculls, sculls, Women: quad sculls, double sculls, single sculls, double sculls, single sculls, eight, coxless pair, eight, coxless pair, Lightweight Women: double Lightweight Women: double sculls. sculls. rowing rowing sailing sailing This water sport, also This water sport, also sometimes sometimes Known as “yachting” is one Known as “yachting” is one of only two Olympic sports of only two Olympic sports where men and women where men and women compete against each compete against each other, (though in sailing it other, (though in sailing it is only the 49er class that is only the 49er class that is still open to both sexes). is still open to both sexes). The other sport is The other sport is equestrian. equestrian.

sailing sailing shooting shooting In this Olympic Sport, In this Olympic Sport, participants fire a weapon participants fire a weapon at a target. at a target.

In the earlier Olympic In the earlier Olympic Games they actually shot Games they actually shot at live pigeons, but at live pigeons, but fortunately this practise fortunately this practise was discontinued after was discontinued after 1900. 1900.

shooting shooting football football This Olympic sport is a This Olympic sport is a team sport in which two team sport in which two teams playing against each teams playing against each other on a field. other on a field.

They use their feet to They use their feet to control the ball and score control the ball and score goals. goals.

In 1996, the American In 1996, the American women's teams won the women's teams won the first-ever women's event first-ever women's event

football football swimming swimming This is one of only five sports This is one of only five sports have been contested at have been contested at every summer Olympic every summer Olympic games since 1896. games since 1896.

In 1896, a boat dropped In 1896, a boat dropped everyone into the icy waters everyone into the icy waters of the Mediterranean, and of the Mediterranean, and the first participant to make it the first participant to make it to shore won. to shore won.

swimming swimming synchronized swimming synchronized swimming The water sport was The water sport was introduced to the Olympic introduced to the Olympic Games for the 1984 Games in Games for the 1984 Games in LA. LA.

Only women compete in the Only women compete in the these events at the Olympic these events at the Olympic Games. Games.

The current Olympic program The current Olympic program has competition in duet and has competition in duet and team events, but in past team events, but in past games, a solo event was also games, a solo event was also contested. contested. synchronized swimming synchronized swimming table tennis table tennis This sport is also This sport is also commonly known as “ping commonly known as “ping pong”. pong”.

It is a sport in which two or It is a sport in which two or four players hit a ball back four players hit a ball back and forth over a net to and forth over a net to each other with paddles, each other with paddles, on a specially marked table on a specially marked table top top table tennis table tennis taekwondo taekwondo This sport is a modern This sport is a modern martial art. martial art.

It was first introduced to It was first introduced to the Olympic Games in the Olympic Games in 2000. 2000.

taekwondo taekwondo tennis tennis This sport is one of the most This sport is one of the most popular sports around the popular sports around the world for both watching and world for both watching and playing. playing.

It is a sport in which two or It is a sport in which two or four players hit a ball back four players hit a ball back and forth over a net to each and forth over a net to each other with racquets, on a other with racquets, on a grass or clay court. grass or clay court.

tennis tennis track and field track and field This is one of only five This is one of only five sports have been contested sports have been contested at every summer Olympic at every summer Olympic games since 1896. games since 1896.

The events include 100 m, The events include 100 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1,500 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1,500 m, 110 m hurdles, marathon, 110 m hurdles, marathon, high jump, pole vault, long high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, jump, triple jump, shot put, and discus throw. and discus throw. track and field track and field triathlon triathlon The Olympic Sport includes The Olympic Sport includes three events. three events.

The event distances used The event distances used at the Olympics are a 1.5 at the Olympics are a 1.5 kilometre swim, 40 kilometre swim, 40 kilometre cycle, and a 10 kilometre cycle, and a 10 kilometre run. kilometre run.

triathlon triathlon volleyball volleyball This sport is a team sport in This sport is a team sport in which two teams of six which two teams of six players are separated by a players are separated by a net. Each team tries to net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a score points by grounding a ball on the other team's ball on the other team's court under organized court under organized rules. rules.

It has been a part of the It has been a part of the official program of the official program of the Summer Olympic Games Summer Olympic Games since 1964. since 1964. volleyball volleyball water polo water polo This sport is also known as This sport is also known as Water ball, and it is a team Water ball, and it is a team water sport. The playing team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. and one goalkeeper.

Game play involves Game play involves swimming, treading water swimming, treading water using a sort of kicking motion using a sort of kicking motion known as "eggbeater kick” known as "eggbeater kick” water polo water polo weightlifting weightlifting This Sport includes This Sport includes Olympic weight lifting, Olympic weight lifting, power lifting, and power lifting, and bodybuilding. bodybuilding.

It requires a combination of It requires a combination of power, speed, technique, power, speed, technique, concentration and timing. concentration and timing.

weightlifting weightlifting wrestling wrestling The organizers of the Olympics The organizers of the Olympics introduced Greco-Roman style introduced Greco-Roman style of this sport they believed to be of this sport they believed to be an exact carryover from the an exact carryover from the styles used in ancient times. styles used in ancient times.

In 1904, the Olympic Games In 1904, the Olympic Games added the second event and added the second event and called it "freestyle", which called it "freestyle", which allowed the competitors to use allowed the competitors to use their legs for pushing, lifting and their legs for pushing, lifting and tripping, and they could also tripping, and they could also hold their opponents above or hold their opponents above or below the waist. below the waist. wrestling wrestling