The Oldest Sports in History That Are Still in Action

While the 2024 Summer Olympics loom, it’s important to recognize that sports have existed since before recorded history. Cave paintings from at least 15,000 years ago depict people swimming and running in what seem like competitions. As a naturally ambitious and physically capable species, it’s unsurprising that humans engage in acts of athletic prowess regardless of time or place. While many modern contests bear little resemblance to more ancient, informal forms, some continue to be the oldest sports in history that are still played.

For thousands of years, sports existed as a more spontaneous and informal series of contests or recreation. The ancient Greeks, however, invented the modern idea of regulated sports competitions. Due to their peculiar relationship with their gods, the Greeks devised a series of competitions to show how they could physically progress and evolve in the form of the Olympics. Remarkably, many of the first sports recorded in the ancient Olympics still exist in similar forms today. In this article, we will explore some of the oldest sports in history that are still played. (For more on Olympians, discover the oldest Olympic athletes in sports history .)

To compile a list of the oldest sports in history that are still in action, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of databases and history sports publications including Oldest.org, Sports Brief, and Britannica. Next, we selected sports that appeared in records from thousands of years ago. After that, we confirmed aspects of each sport and its history using sites like The History of Fighting and The World History Encyclopedia.

Boxing

No matter how you slice it, humans tend toward violence and have engaged in hand-to-hand combat since before recorded history. Anthropologists believe boxing first took shape in modern-day Ethiopia some 8,000 years ago. After the ancient Egyptians invaded nearby Nubia, they took up the combat sport and exported it back to their homeland. The roots of this pugilist sport trace back to the Sumerian Civilization in ancient Mesopotamia where we see the first depiction of boxing on a Sumerian relief (a type of sculpture carved into a wall).

Found in modern-day Tell Asram, Iraq, and dated to the e arly third or second millennium BCE, this relief depicts two bearded boxers wearing tunics as they square off against each other with clenched fists. The second-earliest depiction comes from 1350 BCE in Egyptian Thebes. This relief depicts three pairs of men, engaging in boxing-style combat with bare fists in front of the pharaoh. However, a codified set of boxing rules first appeared in ancient Greece. Boxing showed up at the 23rd Olympiad in 688 BCE, with combatants wearing an early form of boxing gloves. The modern iteration of boxing is in debt to these ancient events. However, it most closely resembles prize fights that took place in 16th and 17th century Britain.

Gymnastics

While humans have always used their physical flexibility, one of the oldest sports still played is gymnastics. Experts believe that gymnastics was first developed around 500 BCE as an exercise routine to prepare men for warfare. Over the next couple hundred years, the sport gained favor with civilians and eventually found its way into the ancient Greek Olympics. As evidenced by the orator and sophist Philostratus’ book, “Gymnastics: The Ethics of an Athletic Aesthetic,” the sport codified into a set of practices by 200 AD.

Upon the Roman invasion of Greece, the legions adopted gymnastics as a solid set of physical training practices. However, the sport was almost lost once the Olympics were banned in 393 AD. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Johann Friedrich GutsMuths and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn revived the sport as a training routine for boys. From them, we get modern iterations of gymnastic competitions. These include foundations like the balance beam, pommel horse, parallel bar, and vaulting horse.

Mesoamerican Ballgame

No one is quite sure when the Mesoamerican ballgame took shape. Anthropologists believe it originated earlier than 2000 BC, somewhere in low-lying tropical zones where rubber trees grow. Called “ ōllamaliztli” in the Aztec language Nahuatl or “Pitz” in Classical Maya, the sport involves a rubber ball, multiple players, and a horizontal goal opening. Beyond that, experts disagree on the exact form “Pitz” took. Some say players used sticks or their hips to keep the ball in play and pass through the goal. They also used a ball weighing up to 9 pounds, suggesting a bloody, vicious style of play.

Whatever the case, the Mesoamerican ballgame featured a heavy ritual aspect, as competitive games often occurred within major rituals. As the centuries progressed and the game evolved, some cultures combined the racquetball-like sport with human sacrifices. Upon the conquest of Mesoamerica, the Spanish quickly suppressed the game. In areas around modern-day Sinaloa, Mexico, however, it survived due to limited Spanish presence. A modern form of the game called Ulama continues to rise in popularity among locals. As such, it remains one of the oldest sports still played.

Tsu Chu

While modern soccer counts a legion of fans across the globe, its early iteration called Tsu Chu suggests it’s one of the oldest sports still played. The ancient Chinese called it Cuju or Ts’u-chü. This competitive team sport involved players kicking a ball into a hoop while using their hands to keep the ball off the ground. Functioning as a mix of hacky-sack and soccer, the game first appears as a military exercise in the “Zhan Guo Ce,” a historical text referring to the Warring States period of ancient China.

During the Han Dynasty, the sport spread from the army to the upper classes and even the royal court. Han Emperor Wu Di was said to enjoy playing the game. Simultaneously, people standardized a set of rules for Tsu Chu. After that, the sport increased in popularity and saw various refinements until the Ming dynasty, when it fell out of favor and into obscurity. Due to earlier trading on the Silk Road, the sport found its way out of China and slowly developed into the modern idea of soccer. Indeed, FIFA considers Tsu Chu or Cuju the earliest form of soccer in history.

Archery

Unlike other sports on this list, archery’s status as a competitive game came somewhat retroactively. While it enjoys widespread popularity and inclusion in the modern Olympics, people have used bows and arrows for tens of thousands of years. The oldest evidence of archery comes from South African sites like Sibudu Cave. There, bows and arrows were found that dated back 60,000 to 72,000 years. After that, archery appears in various places across the world at different times. Evidence suggests usage in Eurasia during the transition between the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic eras. Beyond that, the bow and arrow show up in almost every civilization of the ancient world.

With the development of modern firearms in the 14th and 15th centuries, archery declined in popularity and became an obsolete weapon on the battlefield. It took until the 18th century for archery to reappear. Then, it emerged as a pastime favored by the European aristocracy. Archery, however, transitioned from wealthy recreation into modern sport in 1844 when the first Grand National Archery Society meeting took place in York, England.

Wrestling

Much like boxing, wrestling is one of the oldest sports in history still played and represents one of the first forms of combat. The first evidence of wrestling appeared some 15,000 years ago in French cave drawings. From there, the sport appeared in various Babylonian and Egyptian reliefs, depicting forms, and holds present in its modern-day style. It seems wrestling developed independently of location or culture. It’s depicted in the Old Testament Bible when Jacob wrestles with God or an angel (pictured), in the ancient Indian Vedas, and in Homer’s “The Illiad.”

The ancient Greeks favored wrestling heavily as it appears in countless texts, depictions, and primary sources. The great philosopher Plato is said to have competed in wrestling at the Panhellenic Isthmian Games. Historians, however, suggest wrestling first appeared in the Olympic games somewhere around 704 BCE. Unlike other sports on this list, wrestling never fell out of favor. The European Middle Ages saw widespread practice of the sport among royal families. Early settlers brought it to North America and found that Native Americans enjoyed it as well. After that, the first organized wrestling tournament took place in New York City in 1888. A few years later, wrestling appeared in the 1904 Olympic Games.

Running

Arguably, running became the first sport ever created as it requires no equipment. It is, however, one of the oldest sports still played as evidenced by various ancient depictions. Scientists believe humans developed the ability to run long distances about 2.6 million years ago to evade predators and hunt animals. After a few million years, running developed into a competitive sport. It likely grew out of religious festivals and rituals in various cultures in Greece, Asia, and the East African Rift region.

The first depiction of competitive running appeared in the Tailteann Games in ancient Ireland. This festival celebrating the goddess Tailtiu dates back to at least 1829 BCE and features the first instance of running as a sport. While the origins of the ancient Greek Olympics remain shrouded in mystery, the first recorded games took place in 776 BCE. Running was the only event at the premiere Olympics and featured at least four styles of race. After that, running continued in both formal and informal forms until undergoing a popularity boom in the United States during the 1970s. As the decades progressed into the new millennium, running became a popular pastime for millions of Americans.

Swimming

Much like running, swimming is probably one of the oldest sports still played as it requires no equipment or rules. Indeed, swimming appears in various prehistoric forms. The first record of swimming dates back to Stone Age paintings from about 7,000 years ago. After that, the first written reference appeared in 2000 BCE. A favored if not sometimes necessary practice, swimming appears in most of the great Ancient Epics including the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Iliad, the Bible, and Beowulf. However, it wasn’t seen as a competitive sport until much later.

The first comprehensive study of swimming, “The Swimmer, or A Dialogue on the Art of Swimming and Joyful and Pleasant to Read,” comes from Prof. Nikolaus Wynmann in 1538. Ancient peoples no doubt competed in informal swimming contests. However, it was only codified into a proper sport with its inclusion in the 1896 Olympic Games. Since then, swimming has grown to include a variety of competitions involving various lengths, strokes, rallies, and medlies. From there, swimming expanded to include ancillary contests such as diving, synchronized swimming, and water polo.

Javelin Throw

The javelin throw likely developed tens of thousands of years ago after humans sharpened sticks and threw them at animals while hunting. This, no doubt, expanded to include the use of spear-throwing in ancient warfare and battle. It developed into a standardized sport with its inclusion in ancient Greece during the Olympic Games in 708 BC. Introduced as part of the pentathlon competition, athletes competed in either distance or accuracy contests.

The ancient form of javelin throwing involved the use of a thong or leather strap wound around the spear. From there, the javelin throw somewhat disappeared into history until people in Germany and Sweden revived the practice in the 1870s. Poles became more refined, rules codified, and the sport continued to grow in popularity until its inclusion in the modern Olympics for men in 1908 and women in 1932. In 1986, the men’s javelin saw a further redesign with its center of gravity moved forward by several inches. This change prevented the javelin from being thrown outside of the confines of the competing space on the field.

Polo

While polo developed a reputation for being “the sport of kings,” it likely developed in more informal forms. Experts believe polo originated as a game played by the nomadic Iranian people in Central Asia thousands of years ago. From there, it became more formalized, with ancient Persians calling it “chovgan.” Polo soon became a national sport in Persia, with men and women playing the stick and ball game on horseback. During the Persian Parthian Empire between 247 BC to AD 224, polo emerged as an aristocratic pastime. It even became a part of the royal education for the Sasanian ruling class.

With the widespread use of horses for travel and military combat, the sport continued to spread far and wide. Various emperors, kings, and sultans constructed polo grounds in their territories. Due to the Silk Road, the sport later spread into East Asia. The modern form of polo, however, derives from a form of the game played in Manipur, India, known as Sagol kāngjei. While versions of the game took root all over the world, including the United States, the methods of play vary considerably depending on the region.

Jousting

While it originates at a later date than many sports on this list, jousting remains one the oldest sports still played. It first developed as a combat tactic for heavy cavalry during the High Middle Ages, likely in the 13th century. Its name derives from the Old French word “joster,” which means to approach or meet. By the 14th century, jousting moved beyond the battlefield. Members of the nobility employed the activity to showcase courage, skills, and athletic prowess. No doubt a dangerous, if not deadly sport, the use of armor developed somewhat in tandem with jousting.

By the late Middle Ages and the simultaneous development of chivalry, jousting became more standardized. According to Froissart’s “Chronicles, ” the sport entered a relatively nonlethal era. This had combatants playing in full armor, seeking to incapacitate instead of kill their opponents. By the time of Elizabeth I’s reign in the early 17th century, jousting transformed into more of a showcase than a deadly sport. Nowadays, jousting occurs mostly as safe reenactments. It is most often seen at theme parks, showcases at medieval castles, and Renaissance faires across the United States.

Long Jump

The long jump no doubt developed out of natural and necessary skills humans used to survive. The earliest recorded instance of the long jump comes from the ancient Greek Olympic Games in 708 BCE. At the time, the long jump was the only jumping competition included in the pentathlon events. In its ancient form, long jumpers held weights in each hand called halteres. These weights helped competitors gain extra momentum to accomplish longer jumps. According to the previously mentioned Philostratus, music was played during the contest to provide a rhythm for the complex weight movements required with each jump.

Even then, the ancient Greeks considered it one of the most difficult sports in the Olympics. Most notably, a man named Chionis of Laconia set the long jump record during the 656 BC Olympics after jumping an incredible 23.5 feet. The ancient form of the long jump allowed only a little run-up space. Its modern equivalent provides far more room for jumpers. The long jump has been featured in the Olympic Games since the first modern event in 1896. Nevertheless, it took until 1948 for a women’s version of the sport to be included.  (For other incredible records, discover 15 of the longest-standing records in sports history .)

Hurling

While hurling seems similar to other sports like hockey or even polo, its unique form remains one of the oldest sports still played. This aggressive stick and ball game predates the recorded history of Ireland. Though records are murky, some sources date its origin as far back as 1200 BCE in Tara, County Meath, Ireland. Early Irish records put hurling’s origin in at least the 5th century. Whatever the case, hurling is mentioned in a variety of important stories, myths, and tales important to ancient Irish and Celtic history. The 18th century became the golden age of hurling after the landed gentry staged matches on their estates, mostly for recreation and amusement.

A standardized version of the game was first developed in 1879 with the creation of the Irish Hurling Union at Trinity College, Dublin. This gave way to the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884. It organized the game around a strict set of rules and the creation of teams. While it saw inclusion as an “unofficial” sport in the 1904 Summer Olympics, it was the first and last time hurling appeared on such a stage. Nevertheless, hurling remains the second-most popular Irish sport well into the new millennium.

Weightlifting

Since prewritten history, humans have entered informal competitions to see who can lift the heaviest objects. Records from many ancient civilizations depict heroes, sometimes mythological, accomplishing impressive feats of strength. Stories about Heracles, Goliath, or Milo of Croton suggest weightlifting to be a long-honored sport and display of physical prowess.

While weightlifting existed in more of a powerlifting variation back then, its modern form first appeared in Scotland. There, athletes began competing in the Scottish Highland Gatherings by lifting heavy objects. After that, weightlifting became an event during the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. From there, it has grown into a standardized Olympic sport, as well as a pastime for professional nonathletes. (For media depictions of sports, discover the 50 highest-grossing sports movies of all time .)

The post The Oldest Sports in History That Are Still in Action appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .