The list of sports included in the Olympic Games program has changed over time. Some sports were excluded from the Olympics by the decision of the International Olympic Committee, but in general, the number of Olympic sports grew until the early 2000s.
In the early years of the modern Olympic Games, the number of sports in the Olympic program changed very quickly. This is due to the fact that until 1924 the program was determined by the host countries of the Olympics. In 1924, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took over control of the Olympic sports.
When deciding whether to include or exclude a sport from the Olympic program, the IOC is guided by various criteria. Thus, a sport based on different technologies, such as motorsport, cannot be included. The main criterion is the popularity of the sport among the spectators.
Consideration of the question of including a sport in the program takes place no later than seven years before the Olympics, at which it is planned to hold a competition in this sport.
Summer olympic games
At the first Olympic Games in 1896, medals were awarded in 9 sports: wrestling, cycling, athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, shooting, tennis, weightlifting, and fencing. Since then, the list has changed significantly. Few summer sports have been on the Olympic program throughout the history of the modern Olympic Games. These are athletics, water sports (swimming), cycling, fencing and gymnastics.
Until 1936, sports such as cricket, croquet, lacrosse, tug-of-war, polo, jue-de-pom, Basque pelota, rock and racket were excluded from the summer Olympic program. Some of the excluded sports were then returned to the Olympic Games, such as archery and tennis.
In the early 2000s, the IOC decided to reduce the number of sports in the Summer Olympics to 28. In 2008, two sports were excluded from the program: baseball and softball. Thus, medals were awarded in 26 sports at the Summer Olympic Games in London. In 2016, there will be 28 sports again: the previously excluded golf and rugby will return to the Olympic program.
Winter Olympics
The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924. Then the athletes competed for medals in 9 sports: bobsleigh, curling, speed skating, combined skiing, cross-country skiing, military patrol competitions, ski jumping, figure skating, ice hockey.
Throughout the history of the modern Olympic Games, skiing, figure skating, speed skating and ice hockey have been included in the winter program. Figure skating and ice hockey, before being included in the program of the first Winter Olympic Games, were on the list of summer Olympic sports.
The list of winter Olympic sports has undergone fewer changes. The latest added sport was curling. In 1924, this sport was excluded from the Olympic program, and returned in 1998.
There is currently no limit to the number of sports at the Winter Olympics. This is due to the fact that the program of the Winter Olympics contains a small number of sports. At the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, medals were played in 7 sports: biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, skating, skiing, luge, ice hockey.
