top of page
SPORTS
Overall - Age
Oldest Sports
This list features the oldest sports in the world.
RANK | SPORTING EVENT | ORIGIN | LOCATION | EVIDENCE |
1 | Archery | 20,000 BCE | Africa | Bow + Arrow Fragments |
2 | Running | 15,300 BCE | France | Cave Paintings |
3 | Wrestling | 15,300 BCE | France | Cave Paintings |
4 | Swimming | 10,000 BCE | Egypt | Cave Paintings |
5 | Boxing | 3000 BCE | Mesopotamia | Sumerian Plaque |
6 | Tsu Chu / Cuju | 2500 BCE | China | Military Manual |
7 | Mesoamerican Ballgame | 2500 BCE | Mesoamerica | Ritual Associations |
8 | Hockey (“Shinty”) | 2000 BCE | Egypt | Carvings |
9 | Hurling | 1272 BCE | Ireland | Oral History |
10 | Javelin | 708 BCE | Greece | Olympic Games |
11 | High Jump | 708 BCE | Greece | Olympic Games |
12 | Long Jump | 656 BCE | Greece | Olympic Games |
13 | Gymnastics | 500 BCE | Greece | Olympic Games |
14 | Chariot Riding | 476 BCE | Greece | Statue |
References
Oldest.org. 8 Oldest Sports in the World. Available at: https://www.oldest.org/sports/sports/ (Accessed: 1 December 2025).
Catawiki. The 5 Oldest Sports in the World. Available at: https://www.catawiki.com/en/stories/4865-the-5-oldest-sports-in-the-world (Accessed: 1 December 2025).
Red Bull. The World’s Oldest Sports. Available at: https://www.redbull.com/mea-en/the-world’s-oldest-sports(Accessed: 1 December 2025).
Pledge Sports. Oldest Sports in the World. Available at: https://www.pledgesports.org/2018/02/oldest-sports-in-the-world/ (Accessed: 1 December 2025).
SCALA
lists
bottom of page