What are the Most Popular Sports Events at the Olympics?
There are several highly watched Olympic events, and the most popular ones vary from nation to nation. At the Olympics, the best athletes from across the world compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals. This only happens every four years, so when it happens, there’s worldwide interest in what takes place.
According to international data from YouGov, swimming is the most popular sports event at the Olympics. This isn’t surprising as it is also one of the most popular sports in the U.K., U.S., Germany, and China. The U.S. has won the most Olympic swimming medals overall. U.S. swimming stars like Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz, and more recently, Katie Ledecky, have helped to make it such a popular sport to watch.
Gymnastics in the US
In the United States, artistic gymnastics has the most fans in the U.S. at 35%. It is also one of the most popular events at the Olympics. The skills and feats of gymnasts are compelling to watch. This is followed by swimming at 34% and rhythmic gymnastics at 28%. Other popular sports to watch are diving and basketball.
Online sports betting has become extremely popular in the U.S., and various online sportsbooks offer Olympic betting odds. Many people use their mobile phones and casino apps to place their wagers.
Athletics in the UK and Germany
Athletic events are also extremely popular at the Olympics. Track and field events go all the way back to the ancient Olympic Games. More female talent has come up globally, and women track stars are setting and breaking records. In the U.K. and Germany, athletics gets the most viewers at 45%. One of the most popular events at the Olympics is the 100m event, where world-class athletes compete to win gold.
In the U.K., 32% of spectators like to watch swimming, and after this follows artistic gymnastics, diving, and rhythmic gymnastics. In Germany, athletics is followed by football/soccer at 35% and swimming at 30%.
Basketball and table tennis in China
In China, basketball, table tennis, and badminton are more popular than swimming, although swimming is also popular. China has won 546 Olympic medals in total. Table tennis may not be as popular in many other countries, but it’s extremely famous in China. It was the most-watched sport in China in the 2021 games.
Summer Olympics
The 2024 Summer Olympics lies ahead. At the summer Olympics, women tend to enjoy watching gymnastics and diving. The history of the Olympics dates back to Ancient Greece, and at that time, chariot races were the most popular event. It wasn’t until the 1800s that games were contemporized. Since the first modern Olympic games, held in 1859, gymnastics has been a popular sport.
Men tend to favor watching basketball and football. The Olympic version of football always draws a large audience.
The popularity of eSports means that there are many advocates for considering it as a legitimate sport. It won’t be a part of the next Olympic Games, but who knows what could happen in the future.
