Popularity of Different Sports in the World
Sports are popular for a number of reasons. Keeping healthy, for example, is often cited as a reason for participating in sports. Others will tell you that they do sports for recreational purposes. Sports are even more popular with people who do not necessarily participate in them, but love being spectators. Since time immemorial, people have been awed and inspired by extraordinary human beings who are able to perform tremendous athletic feats. Here is a brief discussion of the most popular sports in the world.
Football, better known as soccer in the US and Canada, is the most popular sport in the world, with an estimated four billion fans. The origins of football as we know it are in England in the 19th century, though history points to people playing similar games as far back as two thousand years, beginning in China. One reason for football's popularity is that unlike other sports that require expensive equipment, all you need to play football is a ball and your foot. Hence, anyone, rich or poor, can enjoy the sport. It is played all over the world, but is particularly popular in Europe, Central and South America, and Africa.
Cricket boasts a fan base of 2.5 billion. The game is most popular in the UK and some other countries, notably India, Pakistan and Australia. Like baseball, it involves two teams, a bat, a large field, and scoring runs. There are significant differences, however, including a long rectangular pitch at the center of a cricket field, where the ball is thrown to a batsman, as opposed to a mound at the center of a baseball diamond facing a batter at home plate.
Hockey, both on ice and in a field, boasts a following of two billion people. Field hockey is mainly played in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, whereas ice hockey is particularly popular in Canada, the US, and Northern Europe. The game involves two teams trying to put a ball into the opposing team's net with a hockey stick. Unlike ice hockey, field hockey usually does not involve body contact in the form of checking.
An estimated one billion people worldwide follow tennis, tuning in from around the world. In tennis, players on both sides of an elongated net try to hit a ball with a racket so that it either goes past their opponents or bounces on their opponents' side twice to score points. Pro tennis players, like Roger Federer and Serena Williams, are popular household names around the world.
Volleyball involves two teams, each on one side of a raised net, trying to "volley" a ball onto the ground of the opposing team's side for points. The game has a following of 900 million people, mostly in North America and Western Europe but also in Asia, Australia, and South America. One popular variant of the game, known as beach volleyball, is played on sand with two people on each team, as opposed to regular volleyball, where there are normally six players on each team.
Also known as Ping Pong, table tennis originated in England in the early 20th century, the game is now popular worldwide, with an/ estimated following of 875 million. It is especially popular in Asia/ but is also followed in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Invented by James Naismith, a Canadian teaching at a school in the US in the late 19th century, basketball is now played worldwide, and has an estimated following of 825 million. In basketball, two teams attempt to dribble a ball up a court and shoot it into a raised, hoop- shaped net to score points. If you like to run, jump, and shoot, then you'll love the game of basketball. Like football, it is particularly popular because not much equipment is needed besides two baskets and a ball, and so is an accessible sport regardless of class.
America's national pastime is thought to have descended from the English sports, rounders and cricket. Baseball involves two teams trying to hit a ball with a bat between two white lines, with the batters running around a series of bases to score runs. Today, baseball is popular, not only in the US, but also in East Asia and Latin America. The sport has an estimated 500 million fans.
Rugby has an estimated following of 475 million people. The sport originated in England and is now most popular in the UK and other Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand. In rugby, two teams try to kick, carry, or pass a ball over the goal line to score points. Rugby is a contact sport involving a lot of tackling, similar to American football. But American football players wear a lot of padding and hard helmets to protect themselves, rugby players wear very little protection.
An estimated 450 million people are fans of the game that involves trying to put a small ball in a hole with the fewest strokes possible. Golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century. Interestingly, however, the word golf originated in the Netherlands, from the word "kolf" or "kolve," which translates to "club." Golf is particularly popular in Western Europe, East Asia, and North America.
(https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-most-popular- sports-in-the-world.html)
A. Fill in the crossword puzzle with the correct words from the text.
ACROSS
1. a person who works as a professional, especially in a sport:athlete |
4. existing for longer than people can remember; very old:immemorial |
6. possible to approach, enter, or use: accessible |
9. long and thin, often in a way that is unusual: elongated |
DOWN
2. a British game by two teams using a bat and ball: cricket |
3. connected with activities that people do for pleasure when they are not working: recreational |
5. a hit of the ball before it touches the ground: volley |
7. a large pile of earth or stones; a small hill: mound |
8. showing or feeling respect and slight fear: awe |
B. Choose the correct alternative and answer the questions.
a. Which two games are popular in the world for their cheap equipment? |
i. football and hockey |
ii. football and basketball |
iii. basketball and volleyball |
Answer: ii. football and basketball |
b. In which countries is cricket particularly popular? |
i. Canada, America and Africa |
ii. UK, American and Australia |
iii. India, Pakistan and Australia |
Answer:iii. India, Pakistan and Australia |
c. What is the significant difference between regular volleyball and beach volleyball? |
i. the number of teams |
ii. the number of players |
iii. the size of playground |
Answer:ii. the number of players |
d. Which of the following games involve the use of ball and bat? |
i. baseball and cricket |
ii. rugby and cricket |
iii. hockey and cricket |
Answer:i. baseball and cricket |
e. Which country is supposed to have named 'golf’? |
i. Scotland |
ii. England |
iii. the Netherlands |
Answer:iii. the Netherlands |
e. Which of the following games have their varieties in terms of the places they are played? |
i. rounders and baseball |
ii. hockey and volleyball |
iii. football and cricket |
Answer:ii. hockey and volleyball |
C. Answer these questions in short.
a. Mention any two reasons behind the popularity of sports in the world. |
Answer: Sports are popular worldwide due to reasons such as promoting physical health and providing recreational enjoyment. |
b. What do historical evidences say about the origin of football? |
Answer: Historical evidence suggests that the origins of football can be traced back to England in the 19th century, while similar games were played in China as early as two thousand years ago. |
c. What is the main difference between cricket and baseball? |
Answer: The main difference between cricket and baseball lies in the fact that cricket involves a long rectangular pitch where the ball is thrown to a batsman, whereas baseball features a mound at the center of a diamond facing a batter at home plate. |
d. How is regular volleyball played? |
Answer: In regular volleyball, two teams positioned on opposite sides of a raised net attempt to volley a ball onto the ground of the opposing team's side to score points. |
e. Who originated basketball and when? |
Answer: Basketball was originated by James Naismith, a Canadian teacher, in the late 19th century. |
f. What risk is involved in rugby? |
Answer: Rugby involves the risk of physical contact and tackling, unlike American football where players wear protective padding and helmets, as rugby players wear minimal protection. |
Word Meaning
Word & Phonetic Transcription |
cited /saɪtɪd/ |
mentioned |
Mentioned or referred to |
recreational /ˌrekriˈeɪʃ(ə)nəl/ |
leisure |
Done for enjoyment or relaxation |
spectators /spɛkˈteɪtərz/ |
audience, viewers |
People who watch an event or performance |
awed /ɔːd/ |
amazed, impressed |
Filled with wonder or admiration |
tremendous /trɪˈmɛndəs/ |
enormous |
Very large or great |
feats /fiːts/ |
accomplishments |
Impressive or remarkable achievements |
boasts /bəʊsts/ |
has, possesses |
Has or possesses proudly |
fan base /fæn beɪs/ |
followers, supporters |
Group of fans or supporters |
notably /ˈnəʊtəbli/ |
particularly, especially |
Especially or particularly |
significant /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/ |
important, notable |
Important or notable |
mound /maʊnd/ |
hill, elevation |
A raised area or hill-like structure |
elongated /iːˈlɔːŋɡeɪtɪd/ |
extended, stretched |
Stretched or extended in length |
variant /ˈveəriənt/ |
version, form |
A different version or form |
dribble /ˈdrɪb(ə)l/ |
bounce, control |
Bounce or control the ball with small, frequent touches |
hoop /huːp/ |
ring |
A circular or round-shaped object |
descended /dɪˈsɛndɪd/ |
originated, came |
Originated or came from a particular source or ancestry |
padding /ˈpædɪŋ/ |
protection, cushioning |
Material used for protection or cushioning |
Extra Questions to Practice
Expandable FAQ Section
Who invented basketball?
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Basketball was invented by James Naismith, a Canadian teaching at a school in the US in the late 19th century.
What are the origins of baseball?
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Baseball is thought to have descended from the English sports of rounders and cricket.
Where is rugby most popular?
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Rugby is most popular in the UK and other Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand.
Which sport originated in Scotland?
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Golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century.
What are some regions where football (soccer) is particularly popular?
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Football (soccer) is particularly popular in Europe, Central and South America, and Africa.
Which sport is considered America's national pastime?
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America's national pastime is baseball.
What are the significant differences between cricket and baseball?
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The significant differences between cricket and baseball include the presence of a long rectangular pitch in cricket where the ball is thrown to a batsman, as opposed to a mound at the center of a baseball diamond facing a batter at home plate.
In which regions is field hockey mainly played?
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Field hockey is mainly played in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Which sport involves hitting a ball with a racket over an elongated net?
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Tennis involves hitting a ball with a racket over an elongated net.
Where did table tennis (Ping Pong) originate?
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Table tennis (Ping Pong) originated in England in the early 20th century.
What equipment is needed to play basketball?
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To play basketball, you need two baskets and a ball.
Besides the US, where else is baseball popular?
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Besides the US, baseball is also popular in East Asia and Latin America.
How is rugby similar to American football?
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Rugby is similar to American football in terms of being a contact sport involving tackling. However, rugby players wear very little protection compared to American football players.
Where did golf originate and what is the meaning of the word "golf"?
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Golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century, and the word "golf" originated in the Netherlands, from the word "kolf" or "kolve," which translates to "club."
Which sport is the most popular in the world?
▼
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in the world with an estimated four billion fans.
Where did football originate?
▼
Football as we know it originated in England in the 19th century, but similar games were played as far back as two thousand years ago in China.
How many fans does cricket have?
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Cricket has a fan base of 2.5 billion.
Which sports involve teams trying to put a ball into the opposing team's net?
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Hockey and volleyball both involve teams trying to put a ball into the opposing team's net.
Who are some popular tennis players mentioned in the text?
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Roger Federer and Serena Williams are mentioned as popular household names in the world of tennis.
How is beach volleyball different from regular volleyball?
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Beach volleyball is played on sand with two people on each team, whereas regular volleyball typically has six players on each team.
Where did table tennis (Ping Pong) originate?
▼
Table tennis originated in England in the early 20th century.