The top international sports are a huge part of global culture, connecting people across borders, screens, and generations. Whether it’s cheering for your favorite team or debating a ref call, engaging with sport is an experience that unites us all. But how are the world’s most popular sports changing, and what do these changes mean for fans and the sports industry?
In addition to high viewership, international sports are also incredibly popular for participation. The top sports for viewership and participation are soccer and badminton respectively, with the former taking the cake when it comes to most watched.
The Olympic Games are the most notable multi-sport event, but other events compete for prominence around the world, such as Cricket and the Asian Games (also known as the Asiad). The latter is a sports competition similar to the Olympics but for the continent of Asia instead of Europe or North America.
These international sports are governed by International Sports Federations (IFs), which are the organizations that oversee the world’s various sporting disciplines. They govern the daily administration of their sport at the world level, guarantee the regular organisation of competitions and respect for the rules of fair play. These governing bodies also work to promote their sport.