Sports Facts for Kids
Fun facts from the world of sports
In the Tour de France, the leader wears a yellow jersey. This tradition began in 1919, and yellow was chosen because the sponsoring newspaper was printed on yellow paper.
Sumo wrestlers eat a special high-calorie stew called chanko-nabe packed with meat, vegetables, and noodles. They typically skip breakfast and eat enormous meals to build mass.
Olympic fencing has three different weapons: the foil, epee, and sabre. Each weapon has different rules about where on the body you are allowed to score a hit.
The famous Ashes urn, one of the most iconic trophies in cricket, is only 15 centimetres tall and is too fragile to be given to the winning team.
Volleyball was originally invented in 1895 as a gentler alternative to basketball for older members of a YMCA who found basketball too strenuous.
Association football (soccer) is the world's most popular sport, with an estimated 4 billion fans worldwide. The FIFA World Cup final is the most-watched single sporting event on Earth.
The ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, from around 776 BCE and were dedicated to the god Zeus. They were so important that wars between city-states were paused to allow athletes to travel safely.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica set the world record for the 100 metres sprint at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, running it in just 9.58 seconds — a record that still stands today.
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis Grand Slam tournament in the world, having been held for the first time in 1877. Players must traditionally wear all-white clothing on court.
Basketball was invented in 1891 by Canadian physical education teacher James Naismith. He hung peach baskets at either end of a gym and gave his students a football to throw into them.