History of Sport in Timeline

Sport is a diverse realm of physical activities, ranging from individual pursuits to team-based competitions, that aim to enhance physical abilities and provide entertainment. These activities are often organized with rules and involve varying numbers of participants. While some sports allow for ties, many employ tie-breaking mechanisms to determine a winner. Tournaments and leagues are common formats for crowning champions, featuring regular seasons and playoffs.

1934: Mussolini and the 1934 FIFA World Cup

In 1934, Benito Mussolini used the FIFA World Cup, held in Italy, to showcase Fascist Italy.

1936: Hitler and the 1936 Olympics

In 1936, Adolf Hitler used the Summer Olympics in Berlin and the Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to promote the Nazi ideology.

1971: Olympic Athletes Allowed Compensation

From 1971, Olympic athletes were allowed to receive compensation and sponsorship, shifting away from the principle of strictly amateur competition.

1972: Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympics

In 1972, during the Olympics in Munich, masked men entered the hotel of the Israeli Olympic team and killed many team members in an event known as the Munich massacre.

1986: Professional Athletes Eligible for Olympics

From 1986, the IOC decided to make all professional athletes eligible for the Olympics, with the exceptions of boxing and wrestling.

1998: Sports Engineering Emerges as a Discipline

In 1998, Sports engineering emerged as a discipline with an increasing focus not just on materials design but also the use of technology in sport.

1998: Good Friday Agreement and GAA Rules

In 1998, the advent of the Good Friday Agreement in Ireland led to the eventual removal of the GAA ban on members of the British security forces and the RUC playing Gaelic games.

2000: Early Sport in China

As early as 2000 BC, artifacts and structures suggest the existence of sport in China.

2006: 2006 FIFA World Cup Viewership

In 2006, the FIFA World Cup final attracted an estimated worldwide television audience of well over 700 million viewers.

2008: Introduction of Decision Review System 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, full-body, non-textile swimsuits were banned by FINA because they were enhancing swimmers' performances.

2011: 2011 Cricket World Cup Final Viewership

In 2011, the Cricket World Cup Final attracted an estimated audience of 135 million viewers in India alone.

2013: Goal-Line Technology in Premier League

From 2013-14, goal-line technology was used in the Premier League to make decisions on whether a ball has crossed the goal line.

2013: Global sporting industry worth

In 2013, the global sporting industry was estimated to be worth up to $620 billion, according to A.T. Kearney, a consultancy.

2014: Goal-Line Technology at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

In 2014, goal-line technology was used at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil to make decisions on whether a ball had crossed the goal line.

2015: Super Bowl Advertising Costs

In 2015, during Super Bowl Sunday, advertising space was reported as being sold at $4.5 million for a 30-second slot, highlighting the event's massive viewership.