What year every sport was added to the Olympics - from archery to skateboarding

Joey HaddenJul 29, 2021, 02:26 IST

From archery to skateboarding, here's when every Olympic sport made its debut.Allsport Hulton/Archive/Getty Images; Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The modern Olympic Games are more than a century old, and nearly every time they're played more sports are added.
Here's when each sport was added to the summer or winter Olympic Games, from 1896 to 2020.
Fencing and swimming were among the earliest sports, while skateboarding and surfing are brand new.

The Olympic games of 1896 showcased athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weight lifting, and wrestling, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

A cartoon commenting on the public interest of games in Ancient Greece that led to the first modern Olympics in 1896. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Source: International Olympic Committee

The Olympic games of 1896 showcased athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weight lifting, and wrestling, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In 1900, football, rugby, golf, and rowing were added to the lineup along with archery water polo, and sailing, according to the IOC. This was also the first year that women could compete in the games, the IOC's website says.

Golfer Charles E. Sands wins the Olympic Games in 1900. Photo 12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 1900, football, rugby, golf, and rowing were added to the lineup along with archery water polo, and sailing, according to the IOC. This was also the first year that women could compete in the games, the IOC's website says.

Four years later, in 1904, the IOC added boxing and diving to the roster while golf was cut.

Frederick Grace was the winner of the 1908 Olympics lightweight boxing gold medal. © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Source: IOC

Field hockey, figure skating, and motorboating were added in 1908, the IOC website says.

The British Olympic hockey team won gold in 1908. Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Source: IOC

While women could compete in 1900, they couldn't swim in the games until 1912, when the modern pentathlon and short racewalking were also introduced, according to the IOC. Equestrian events also had their official debut, according to the same source.

Australian swimmers Fanny Durack (right) and Mina Wylie (left) took gold and silver in 1912. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Source: IOC

While women could compete in 1900, they couldn't swim in the games until 1912, when the modern pentathlon and short racewalking were also introduced, according to the IOC. Equestrian events also had their official debut, according to the same source.

The first Winter Olympics took place in 1924, and the IOC added various skiing competitions, ice hockey, curling, and bobsleigh to the games. Rugby was cut after this year, according to the IOC.

The British four-man bobsleigh team in action at the Winter Olympics in 1924. Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Source: IOC

The first Winter Olympics took place in 1924, and the IOC added various skiing competitions, ice hockey, curling, and bobsleigh to the games. Rugby was cut after this year, according to the IOC.

By 1928, skeleton and women's gymnastics were a part of the Olympics, according to the IOC. Skeleton was dropped after this year, picked back up in 1948, and then dropped again immediately after, according to the same source.

The Dutch Women's Gymnastics team at the 1928 Olympics. George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images

Source: IOC

By 1928, skeleton and women's gymnastics were a part of the Olympics, according to the IOC. Skeleton was dropped after this year, picked back up in 1948, and then dropped again immediately after, according to the same source.

In 1932, long-distance walking became an Olympic sport with the first racewalk competition over 30 miles long, according to the IOC.

Racewalkers compete during the 1932 Olympic games. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 1936, basketball, field handball, women's football, canoeing became a part of the competition, as well as Alpine skiing, according to the IOC.

Austrian Gregor Hradetzky (left) wins a canoeing event at the Olympic games in 1936. Imagno/Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 1960, the IOC added biathlon and women's speed skating to the games.

Martin Fourcade of France practices at the shooting range for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 1964, the IOC brought volleyball, luge, and men's judo to the world-renowned event.

A volleyball game during the 1964 Olympic Games. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 1972, the IOC debuted men's indoor handball.

A men's handball tournament at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Source: IOC

Women's basketball, handball, and rowing were added in 1976, according to the IOC.

Basketball at the 1976 Olympic Games. Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 1984, the games added women's cycling road, shooting, artistic swimming, and rhythmic gymnastics, according to the IOC.

A US swimming routine during the 1984 Olympics. Focus on Sport via Getty Images

Source: IOC

Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988 while tennis came back after a 64-year hiatus, the IOC's website says. Women's cycling track also made its debut, according to the IOC.

A table tennis tournament at the 1988 Olympics. Joe Patronite / Stringer/Getty Images

Source: IOC

Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988 while tennis came back after a 64-year hiatus, the IOC's website says. Women's cycling track also made its debut, according to the IOC.

Baseball, badminton, roller speed skating, short track speed skating, and women's judo became Olympic sports in 1992, according to the IOC.

Denmark plays Great Britain in a tennis match at the 2000 Olympics. Michael Steele /Allsport/Getty Images

Source: IOC

The IOC added mountain biking to the games in 1996.

Mountain biking takes place at the 1996 Olympic Games. Vince Caligiuri/The AGE/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Source: IOC

Snowboarding and women's ice hockey debuted in 1998, according to the IOC.

Sweden's female ice hockey team trains for the 1998 Winter Olympics. OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images

Source: IOC

Taekwondo made its Olympic debut in 2000 along with the trampoline gymnastics, triathlon, women's pentathlon, water polo, race walking, and weightlifting, according to the IOC.

Men compete in Taekwondo at the 2000 Olympics. Mike Hewitt /Allsport/Getty Images

Source: IOC

Taekwondo made its Olympic debut in 2000 along with the trampoline gymnastics, triathlon, women's pentathlon, water polo, race walking, and weightlifting, according to the IOC.

In 2002, the IOC brought back skeleton for the first time in 50 years.

Natsuko Kanke from Japan heads down the track at the FIBT Women's World Cup Skeleton at the Olympic Park in Utah ahead of the 2002 Olympics. GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images

Source: IOC

Women's wrestling became an Olympic sport in 2004, according to the IOC.

Women's wrestling takes place at the 2004 Olympic Games. Al Bello/Getty Images

Source: IOC

BMX racing and the 10-kilometer swimming marathon were added to the games in 2008, according to the IOC.

Sarah Walker of New Zealand competes in the Women's Seeding phase of the BMX competition at the 2008 Olympic Games. Harry How/Getty Images

Source: IOC

The IOC added freestyle skiing, women's boxing, and mixed tennis doubles to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Women's boxing at the 2012 Olympics. Julien Behal/PA Images via Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 2016, men's rugby and golf came back to the Olympics for the first time in about a century while women competed in rugby and sailing for the first time ever.

Canada plays Brazil in rugby at the 2016 Olympics. Lucas Oleniuk/Toronto Star via Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 2020, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, BMX freestyle, and surfing were added to the Olympic games, according to the IOC. The event was rescheduled for summer 2021.

Nyjah Huston of Team United States practices on the skateboard street course ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Source: IOC

In 2020, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, BMX freestyle, and surfing were added to the Olympic games, according to the IOC. The event was rescheduled for summer 2021.

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What year every sport was added to the Olympics - from archery to skateboarding

The Olympic games of 1896 showcased athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weight lifting, and wrestling, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In 1900, football, rugby, golf, and rowing were added to the lineup along with archery water polo, and sailing, according to the IOC. This was also the first year that women could compete in the games, the IOC's website says.

Four years later, in 1904, the IOC added boxing and diving to the roster while golf was cut.

Field hockey, figure skating, and motorboating were added in 1908, the IOC website says.

While women could compete in 1900, they couldn't swim in the games until 1912, when the modern pentathlon and short racewalking were also introduced, according to the IOC. Equestrian events also had their official debut, according to the same source.

The first Winter Olympics took place in 1924, and the IOC added various skiing competitions, ice hockey, curling, and bobsleigh to the games. Rugby was cut after this year, according to the IOC.

By 1928, skeleton and women's gymnastics were a part of the Olympics, according to the IOC. Skeleton was dropped after this year, picked back up in 1948, and then dropped again immediately after, according to the same source.

In 1932, long-distance walking became an Olympic sport with the first racewalk competition over 30 miles long, according to the IOC.

In 1936, basketball, field handball, women's football, canoeing became a part of the competition, as well as Alpine skiing, according to the IOC.

In 1960, the IOC added biathlon and women's speed skating to the games.

In 1964, the IOC brought volleyball, luge, and men's judo to the world-renowned event.

In 1972, the IOC debuted men's indoor handball.

Women's basketball, handball, and rowing were added in 1976, according to the IOC.

In 1984, the games added women's cycling road, shooting, artistic swimming, and rhythmic gymnastics, according to the IOC.

Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988 while tennis came back after a 64-year hiatus, the IOC's website says. Women's cycling track also made its debut, according to the IOC.

Baseball, badminton, roller speed skating, short track speed skating, and women's judo became Olympic sports in 1992, according to the IOC.

The IOC added mountain biking to the games in 1996.

Snowboarding and women's ice hockey debuted in 1998, according to the IOC.

Taekwondo made its Olympic debut in 2000 along with the trampoline gymnastics, triathlon, women's pentathlon, water polo, race walking, and weightlifting, according to the IOC.

In 2002, the IOC brought back skeleton for the first time in 50 years.

Women's wrestling became an Olympic sport in 2004, according to the IOC.

BMX racing and the 10-kilometer swimming marathon were added to the games in 2008, according to the IOC.

The IOC added freestyle skiing, women's boxing, and mixed tennis doubles to the 2012 Olympic Games.

In 2016, men's rugby and golf came back to the Olympics for the first time in about a century while women competed in rugby and sailing for the first time ever.

In 2020, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, BMX freestyle, and surfing were added to the Olympic games, according to the IOC. The event was rescheduled for summer 2021.