A sport is considered international when its participants represent more than one country, which is typically the case in competitions like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. But many other sports are also played at an international level, with global leagues and teams competing across borders. The popularity of international sports is often fueled by the fact that they offer an opportunity to experience another culture, whether it’s through attending a football match in Brazil or taking part in a karate competition in Japan.
The appeal of international sports has long been a source of fascination for politicians, academics, and the general public. As early as the ancient Olympics, city-states of Greece would travel to Olympia to compete, putting their internal struggles on hold for the duration of the event. This set a precedent for the modern world of international sport, and today, the spectacles of the Olympics and the buzz of the World Cup are global phenomenons.
We’ve scoured the globe for the latest rankings of international sports, with data from authoritative sports federations and research reports. Our results highlight the popularity of different sports around the world, and illustrate clear patterns in regional preferences.
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