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Which Unusual Sports Have Been Contested in the Olympics?

Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 4,847
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Since the start of the modern Olympics in 1896, a few unusual sports have enjoyed brief periods of inclusion. A good example is tug-of-war, which was included in the five Summer Olympics held in 1900 through 1920. During that time, there were two times when a single country captured all three medals in a single year. In 1904, the United States captured the gold, silver and bronze medals in the tug-of-war, and the feat was repeated by Great Britain in 1908.

More facts about unusual Olympic sports:

  • Ten unusual sports have been discontinued since the first modern Olympics in 1896. Along with tug-of-war, some of the others are motor boating, lacrosse and croquet.

  • Two sports that were discontinued and later returned to the roster of events are golf and rugby, which was to resume competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

  • The number of sports played at the summer and winter games vary from one Olympiad to the next. This is partly because host nations have had the option to include sports of local or regional interest.

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Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
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