TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Most of the sports we know today trace their origins back tens of thousands of years. More than just entertainment, the oldest sport in the world stands as a testament to the development of human civilization, reflecting mankind's cultural, traditional, and historical evolution.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint exact timelines, wrestling is widely believed to be the oldest sport in the world. Evidence from ancient cave paintings across various continents suggests that the sport has been practiced for millennia, and continues to thrive in the modern day.
Here’s a look at the oldest sports in the world, according to Catawiki.
What Is the Oldest Sport in the World?
1. Wrestling
While its exact origins remain unclear, wrestling is widely recognized as the oldest sport in the world. Evidence of its existence has been found in various forms across every corner of the globe, with one of the most notable being the stone paintings found in Lascaux, France, estimated to be around 15,300.
But that’s not all—in ancient Egypt, wrestling appeared to have enjoyed widespread popularity, as proven by the illustration of the sport dating back to around 2500 B.C., discovered in the ornate tombs of kings and high-ranking officials. The same was true in ancient Greece, where wrestling was a celebrated event, as famously described by the poet Homer as the final and decisive competition in the pentathlon.
2. Running
The origins of running, much like wrestling, can be traced back to prehistoric times—evidenced by cave paintings from the Stone Age. As old as humanity itself, running was an essential survival skill for our ancestors, especially in activities like hunting
According to Red Bull, many historical leaders recognized and utilized this skill. In ancient Egypt, Pharaohs reportedly had royal surveyors walk the borders of their empire to measure land, while Alexander the Great is said to have used early pedometers to help map his conquered territories.
As a competitive sport, however, running was first officially recorded at the inaugural Olympic Games in 776 BCE.
3. Javelin Throwing
Europe is often considered the birthplace of yet another of the oldest sports in the world, the javelin throw. Originally used as a hunting tool, it was a test of physical skill in ancient Greece before eventually developing into the modern sport we know today.
In 708 BC, the Javelin Throw was included in the Ancient Olympic Games as part of the pentathlon and remained popular until the Middle Ages. It wasn’t revived until the 19th century, within Swedish athletic culture, and gained widespread popularity across Europe by the early 20th century.
4. Polo
Between 600 BC and 100 AD, Central Asia cultivated a unique bond between humans and horses known as polo. Originally a national sport of Persia, polo served as a dynamic blend of sport and war training, played primarily by nobility and military men. Over time, the game was formalized and spread west to Constantinople, east to Tibet, China, and Japan, and south to India, which would later become the birthplace of modern polo.
In the 19th century, British tea planters discovered the game in Manipur, India. Embracing it enthusiastically, they established the first polo club there in 1859 which marked the sport’s modern revival. Soon after, polo was introduced to England, where it was refined and quickly gained popularity among the British aristocracy and military establishment.
5. Hockey
Hockey is widely considered one of the oldest sports in the world, with origins believed to date back around 4,000 years in ancient Egypt, Iran, and Greece. Modern hockey, however, was formalized in the United Kingdom in 1876 — not long after the founding of key clubs such as the Blackheath Club in 1861 and the Teddington Hockey Club in 1871.
According to the International Hockey Federation, the sport made its Olympic debut in 1908, with teams from England, France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales competing. Since then, hockey has remained a staple in all but two Summer Olympic Games, and was played and celebrated by 45 nations on one or more occasions.
From cave paintings to Olympic stadiums, the evolution of sport mirrors the development of human civilization itself. Whether revived through ancient empires or reshaped by modern nations, these time-honored sports continue to unite people across borders and generations. If you’re looking for a similar discovery, let’s take a look at the 5 most popular sports in America.
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