What is the most popular sport in the world?

[cabanafrau]

Look out soccer...curling is coming for you!

Curling is really catching on in Asia. We laugh that a bunch of tiger moms saw it and pushed their kids who were begging to do sports into it. There is some logic to that idea when you watch some of the world competitions and see how many curlers can have really long competitive careers -- and aren't hobbling away from the sport.

We love watching and really fell in love with mixed doubles in the last Olympics.

 

[ronandannette]

Curling is really catching on in Asia. We laugh that a bunch of tiger moms saw it and pushed their kids who were begging to do sports into it. There is some logic to that idea when you watch some of the world competitions and see how many curlers can have really long competitive careers -- and aren't hobbling away from the sport.

We love watching and really fell in love with mixed doubles in the last Olympics.

My alternate theory is the nefarious Chinese government is genetically engineering future-curlers and then using obscene amounts of money to lure traitorous Canadians into coaching them.

 

[cabanafrau]

My alternate theory is the nefarious Chinese government is genetically engineering future-curlers and then using obscene amounts of money to lure traitorous Canadians into coaching them.

I'm entirely clueless in regards to any genetic engineering that allegedly may or may not be taking place. However there is an entire army of Canadians earning their keep either coaching curling teams all around the world or as the experts when it comes to prepping and maintaining the perfect ice surface for the top competitions. If you watch any of the coverage of international matches you may notice that there is one Scottish brogue you will hear commentating from time to time, but other than that it's "aboat" guaranteed you're listening to a Canadian breaking down the finer points of the sport and explaining to the audience the likely strategies each team is using in a particular match.

I can't say for certain how the Scots may feel about it, but I don't think even they can deny when it comes to curling Canada dominates.

 

[ronandannette]

I'm entirely clueless in regards to any genetic engineering that allegedly may or may not be taking place. However there is an entire army of Canadians earning their keep either coaching curling teams all around the world or as the experts when it comes to prepping and maintaining the perfect ice surface for the top competitions. If you watch any of the coverage of international matches you may notice that there is one Scottish brogue you will hear commentating from time to time, but other than that it's "aboat" guaranteed you're listening to a Canadian breaking down the finer points of the sport and explaining to the audience the likely strategies each team is using in a particular match.

I can't say for certain how the Scots may feel about it, but I don't think even they can deny when it comes to curling Canada dominates.

Thank you for your kindness, but I must, in the spirit of polite Canadian sportsmanship, report we did not win either the Women's or Men's World Championships this year. (That would be Switzerland and Sweden respectively.) IDK, it might be a harbinger of the apocalypse.

On a happier note, we do apparently own basketball now, which is nice, I guess.

 

[Not My Fault!]

Fight Club, but nobody talks about it.

It's the first rule. Also the second rule.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Thank you for your kindness, but I must, in the spirit of polite Canadian sportsmanship, report we did not win either the Women's or Men's World Championships this year. (That would be Switzerland and Sweden respectively.) IDK, it might be a harbinger of the apocalypse.

On a happier note, we do apparently own basketball now, which is nice, I guess.

Oh no!!!!! Last year the Olympics and this year the World Championships. You're slipping in curling, Canada. Did you at least win silver or bronze?

 

[ronandannette]

Oh no!!!!! Last year the Olympics and this year the World Championships. You're slipping in curling, Canada. Did you at least win silver or bronze?

The men did, although they got smoked in the final 7-2 and gave it up on home turf just to make it sting a little extra. As for the women, can we please not even?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

The men did, although they got smoked in the final 7-2 and gave it up on home turf just to make it sting a little extra. As for the women, can we please not even?

Mum's the word


Here's a totally random and totally unrelated to the team that must not be named picture of a burned rock to get your mind off of them.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I didn’t expect to see field hockey so high on the list.

Probably because in the US, it’s almost exclusively a girl’s and women’s sport. Not so in many other parts of the world.

It’s probably regional, NASCAR isn’t big here, but I know many people with Red Bull season tickets, DH and ds are going to some big soccer game in July, Madrid vs. someone. Two girls from our graduating class are playing college hockey next year. Almost the entire varsity soccer teams at our HS play club too.

Sure, it is certainly regional. Around here, the big sport is lacrosse. Very popular (and growing) for both boys and girls from youth leagues through high school, with many competing for college scholarships. At the high school level, it’s probably more popular than football.

And keep in mind, the lists posted here are mainly ranking popularity as a spectator sport. If you went by participation numbers, the list would be quite different. Pro soccer will never be as popular as it is internationally, despite the large numbers of children who play.

I don’t think you can compare sports culture in the US to any other country. For one thing, the association of sports with our education system is, for the most part, uniquely American.

 

[cabanafrau]

Thank you for your kindness, but I must, in the spirit of polite Canadian sportsmanship, report we did not win either the Women's or Men's World Championships this year. (That would be Switzerland and Sweden respectively.) IDK, it might be a harbinger of the apocalypse.

On a happier note, we do apparently own basketball now, which is nice, I guess.

Yeah, we watched a lot of the worlds this year. The ultimate results aside, I think most people would agree Canadians dominate when it comes to curling. I have no idea about basketball and didn't know it was a big deal in Canada.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Yeah, we watched a lot of the worlds this year. The ultimate results aside, I think most people would agree Canadians dominate when it comes to curling. I have no idea about basketball and didn't know it was a big deal in Canada.

Basketball was invented by a Canadian. The actual handwritten notes of the rules by James Naismith are on display here in the city I live in. (University of Winnipeg)
I don't see it as being a big deal here except among a few cultural groups. (I"m thinking in my city at least)

And hands down hockey is the most popular sport here in Canada I would think. Followed by curling.

 

[cabanafrau]

Basketball was invented by a Canadian. The actual handwritten notes of the rules by James Naismith are on display here in the city I live in. (University of Winnipeg)
I don't see it as being a big deal here except among a few cultural groups. (I"m thinking in my city at least)

And hands down hockey is the most popular sport here in Canada I would think. Followed by curling.

Did I dispute hockey being the most popular sport in Canada? No, I did not. We were discussing curling and I merely responded to another poster's basketball comment, which if you read specifically says I have no idea about basketball -- nor did I claim to.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Not sure what you’re talking about.

I just quoted you as you mentioned Canadians and basketball.
Just throwing out the obscure factoid about the written rules being up here which seems an odd place for them.

As for hockey that sentence had zero to do with you. Lol.
Just posted 2 unrelated thoughts about this topic and what I’ve observed around here.
Not sure what you’re up in arms about.

Did I dispute hockey being the most popular sport in Canada? No, I did not. We were discussing curling and I merely responded to another poster's basketball comment, which if you read specifically says I have no idea about basketball -- nor did I claim to.
[

 

[ronandannette]

Yeah, we watched a lot of the worlds this year. The ultimate results aside, I think most people would agree Canadians dominate when it comes to curling. I have no idea about basketball and didn't know it was a big deal in Canada.

Myself and about 32 million of my closest friends would have said the same thing until the Raptors made the finals! Now we're just all about the basketball!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Basketball was invented by a Canadian. The actual handwritten notes of the rules by James Naismith are on display here in the city I live in. (University of Winnipeg)
I don't see it as being a big deal here except among a few cultural groups. (I"m thinking in my city at least)

And hands down hockey is the most popular sport here in Canada I would think. Followed by curling.

To be fair Naismith is Canadian-American and he designed the game while in America.

You should visit Lawrence, KS sometime if you enjoy basketball (moreseo college) at all.

There is a document with the 13 rules signed by Naismith (I believe typed and handwritten notes on it) was purchased at an auction by 2 KU alumnus and now resides in KU and has since late 2010.

***Rock Chalk ***

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Soccer is huge elsewhere in the world that's for sure. My area in the last several years though has become some sort of a soccer haven. The team itself has been around for a while but I believe its popularity exploded with a revitalization a while ago. I haven't been to a game in a while but I enjoy their stadium because it was designed with really no 'bad' seats though I loved it when my husband's company had a suite there lol.

My sister-in-law is dating a Pakistani guy and she's learned all about cricket lol. She tried to explain it to us one day after telling us she was finally getting the hang of at least most of the rules but lordy I just couldn't grasp it.

 

[Hikergirl]

Meh. That article is totally wrong.
1. NFL football
2. College football
3. High school football
4. Middle school football
5. pee wee football.
6. Corn hole at a tail gate attending one of the above.
7. College recruiting season.
8. NFL Pre season.
9. College football spring practice.
10. The NFL draft.

This is actually a real sport. I had no idea, I thought it was just something people played when they were drinking at the campground. And let's not mention the name......
It turns out they even have American Cornhole Association tournaments LOL
There was one on in the bar area of a restaurant we went too. I think it was on "The Ocho"

 

[drizzy]

For me, basketball and football are the most pop games. Here https://1xbet.onl/ So I like sports betting. For this, you should have proper knowledge on sports that's it.

 

[NotUrsula]

Look out soccer...curling is coming for you!
https://www.tmj4.com/sports/olympics/report-curling-is-the-olympics-most-popular-sport

Curling is popular in Olympic viewership because it is WEIRD. People keep watching in the hope that someone will go berserk and chuck that thing!)

(JK. I'm a parent of an ice-sports child. If you live with a skater or hockey player, you are not allowed to like curling -- for it is a threatening menace to precious ice time!)

 

[ronandannette]

Curling is popular in Olympic viewership because it is WEIRD. People keep watching in the hope that someone will go berserk and chuck that thing!)

(JK. I'm a parent of an ice-sports child. If you live with a skater or hockey player, you are not allowed to like curling -- for it is a threatening menace to precious ice time!)

Never has happened and never will. Curling is a gentleman's sport and besides, any sport you can play while simultaneously smoking a cigarette and shooting rye whiskey kind of mandates a mellow disposition. ( And if you think I'm exaggerating about this, drop in to any rural or small-town Canadian curling rink on Wednesday night during rec league and you'll see for yourself.)

As for the ice-time, I'm not sure how it works there, but curling here even in the most remote places, is done in a dedicated building with extremely specialized ice conditions. I'm confident in saying there are more curling rinks in Canada than there are hockey rinks. Only the BIG competitions are played in arenas.