The post-World War II era saw a proliferation of international sports competitions. This expansion accompanied the growth of international sports organizations, which grew out of the need to promote and regulate sporting exchanges.
These federations monopolized international involvement in their respective disciplines and standardized rulebooks, usually in a peculiar mix of cooperation and competition with the IOC.
Track-and-field athletics
Track and field is a sport that involves sprinting, jumping, throwing, hurdling and race walking. It is one of the most popular sports in the world, and is a signature event at the Olympic Games. It has produced legendary athletes like Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens and Usain Bolt. It has also undergone significant changes and adaptations to stay competitive, including advancements in sports science and training methods.
Many track and field events take place in a stadium. Athletes wear special shoes with spikes to help them grip the ground and run faster. They compete in individual events that are ranked by their performance, and in relay races where teams of four athletes compete against other teams. Most races feature heats or some other form of qualifying ahead of the final.
Soccer
The sport of soccer (or football as it is referred to in England) is played with a spherical ball by two teams of eleven players. Each team tries to score by kicking the ball into the opponent’s goal. Players may move the ball by dribbling, kicking, or striking it with their head.
The modern game of soccer dates back to the 19th century in England, when it began as association football. The Federation Internationale de Football Association was founded in 1904 to provide unity among national soccer associations. The organization now has 205 member associations, and over 240 million players worldwide.
The popularity of soccer is rising in the United States. Major League Soccer has seen a boost in viewership, European league games are readily available via streaming, and sports bars that were once dominated by NFL broadcasts now fill up with soccer fans.
Rugby
Rugby is a fast-paced, hard-hitting sport that requires players of all shapes and sizes. It is played at a very high intensity with no timeouts or a 15-minute halftime. It is also a gender equity sport and has positions for all ages and abilities.
The game of rugby was invented in 1823 by William Webb Ellis, a student at Rugby School in England. He disobeyed the rules of football and picked up the ball with his hands to run with it. This is said to be the first recorded instance of the sport.
There are two primary forms of rugby, rugby fifteens and rugby sevens. The latter is a shorter, faster version of the game with seven players on each team. Both versions of the game are very popular worldwide.
Tennis
Tennis is a racket sport played by two or four players on a rectangular court with a net across the middle. It developed from earlier racket games and is primarily an individual competition, though international team tournaments such as the Davis Cup for men and Federation Cup for women are also held. A match consists of three or five sets, with the first player to win six games winning the set. The game’s scoring system is based on the number of points won in each set and has evolved over time to include 15 and 30 and now 40 (it was originally 45, but was simplified). Find out more by visiting 해외스포츠중계.
Although it is traditionally considered a gentleman’s sport, tennis has become increasingly popular among women. The sport also has a large following in Asia.
Golf
Golf is a sport played on a variety of courses using a ball and club. It is generally played on an individual basis, although it can also be competed in a team or in match play. Stroke play is the most common form of competition at all levels.
The game of golf is governed by a set of strict rules, which are largely guided by one overwhelming principle: play the ball where it lies. There are a number of penalties, such as disqualification, for violations of the rules.
The French concept of grands evenements sportifs internationaux (GESI) offers a more concise approach to characterizing large-scale international sports events than the myriad Anglo-Saxon terms used in the literature. The definitional scope of GESI continues to expand as the field of research develops.