History of Sport in Timeline
Sport encompasses a wide range of physical activities and games, often competitive and organized, that aim to utilize, maintain, or improve physical abilities and skills. Sports are enjoyed by participants and can be a source of entertainment for spectators. The number of participants can vary greatly from individual to team-based activities. While some sports allow for ties, others implement tie-breaking methods to determine a winner. Tournaments and leagues, which culminate in a champion, are common structures in sports.
1936: Hitler Uses 1936 Olympics to Promote Nazi Ideology
In 1936, Adolf Hitler used the Summer Olympics held in Berlin and the Winter Olympics held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to promote Nazi ideology.
1971: Olympic Athletes Allowed Compensation and Sponsorship
From 1971, Olympic athletes were allowed to receive compensation and sponsorship, marking a shift from strictly amateur competition.
1972: Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympics
In 1972, at the Munich Olympics, masked men attacked the Israeli Olympic team, resulting in the Munich massacre.
1986: IOC Allows Professional Athletes in Olympics
In 1986, the IOC decided to make all professional athletes eligible for the Olympics, with exceptions for boxing and wrestling.
1998: Emergence of Sports Engineering
In 1998, Sports engineering emerged as a discipline, focusing on materials design and technology use in sport.
1998: Good Friday Agreement and GAA Rule Changes
In 1998, the advent of the Good Friday Agreement led to the eventual removal of the GAA ban on members of the British security forces and the RUC from playing Gaelic games.
2000: Early Sport in China
Around 2000 BC, evidence suggests the existence of sport in China, with Gymnastics appearing to be popular in ancient times.
2006: 2006 FIFA World Cup Global Television Audience
In 2006, the FIFA World Cup final attracted an estimated worldwide television audience of well over 700 million viewers.
2008: Decision Review System Introduction in Cricket
Since 2008, a decision review system for players to review decisions has been introduced and used in ICC-run tournaments, and optionally in other matches.
2010: FINA Bans Full-Body Swimsuits
In 2010, FINA banned full-body, non-textile swimsuits due to their enhancement of swimmers' performances.
2011: 2011 Cricket World Cup Final India Audience
In 2011, the Cricket World Cup Final attracted an estimated audience of 135 million in India alone.
2013: Goal-Line Technology Premier League
From 2013-14 season, goal-line technology was implemented in the Premier League.
2013: Global Sporting Industry Value
In 2013, the global sporting industry was estimated to be worth up to $620 billion, according to A.T. Kearney.
2015: Super Bowl Advertising Costs
In 2015, advertising space during the Super Bowl in the United States was reported as being sold at $4.5 million for a 30-second slot.
