News

Oldest Sports in the World

Published

5 years ago

May 11, 2021

Editor

Ever wondered which sport is the oldest in whole human history ? We dig deep and managed to the top 10 sports which are officially the oldest sports in the world.

#1. Wrestling

Just like prostitution is the oldest profession, Wrestling is widely considered the oldest sport in the world. Wrestling infects is the documented evidence unlike some of the other oldest sports listed on this page. Here are some details about the history of Wrestling.

A “fragment of papyrus” which reportedly dates back between 100 and 200 A.D has the instructions about how to wrestle. The text is in the greek language and the word “pleckson” is used several times which is translated to “fight it out” in English. The document was discovered back in the 1800s in Egypt.
That is not the only document evidence, there have been many dates back to different times but the one mentioned above is certainly the oldest ever found. So there is little doubt that Wresting is certainly the oldest sport known to man.
It has evolved over the centuries of course and it was part of the Olympics as the first set of sports in the era between 800 to 1200 BC. P
While Professional wrestling circuits were first introduced in Paris, France in the 1830s.
Today Wrestling is not only an Olympic sport but a full-fledged professional career and widely regarded as one of the most popular and top sports in the world.

#2. Running & Long Jump

Running is the World’s most accessible sport and it always has been even now. Running universal human physical expression and it should not come as surprise that along with wrestling Running is the oldest sport. Here are some points about running as a sport.

Running was the only sport in the first-ever recorded Olympics held in Athens back in 776 BCE.
While competitive running was in modern times is recorded back to 1829 BCE.
Running as a sport as many disciplines in the Olympics, with slightly different requirements such as marathon, sprint, long jumping and hurdling, etc

#3. Javelin & Discuss Throw

A very interesting sport that is still very popular in the modern Olympics, Javelin Throwing is a track and field sport and it dates back to the ancient Olympics in 708 bc. Here are details about the historic transition of the sport to modern Javelin throwing.

A couple of disciplines likes distance and target throw were part of the sport in the artifacts found which dates back to ancient Olympics in the era of 708s.
In the 1870s Poles used as Javelin now were introduced in Germany and Sweden and by the next decade, it became a yearly national event in Sweden and Finland. no wonder 50% of the medals awarded in modern Olympics to date went to athletes from Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
In the 1890s some rule changes were introduced like limited run-ups before throwing instead of standing throws.
It was introduced in the modern Olympics in 1906 while for women it was introduced in the 1932 Olympics.

#4. Polo

Polo is a team game which is played on horses. It’s a bit like Hockey the difference of course being played on horses back where both teams try to outscore each other by putting “small wooden ball” in the goal.

Polo origins date back to the peak of the Persian empire in central Asia it is believed that Persian emperors used to learn horse riding at a very early age and used to play a sport that would later go on to be known as Polo.

316 AD is the documented evidence about sport like Polo in the Persian empire. While the modern game with rules and regulations was developed in India during the time of the British empire and the first Polo club dates back to 1833 in India.

#5. Boxing

Boxing is a combat sport and one of the most popular combat sport in the world. It has a long and illustrious history in modern times. While historically speaking “fist fightïng” as a sport has evidence from 2nd and 3rd Millenium BC but the fist fighting with hand protection is believed to be in existence from 900 bc to 1500 bc. Romans also had Boxing sport with leather thong wrapped around the hands but in Roman-era boxing was more of a fight till death so strange to call it a sport.

While fist fighting as a sport with rules and regulations can be found in England with “bare-knuckle fighting” in 1681. Boxing’s first rules dates back to 1743 with introduction of 30 second count, no hitting while opponent is down etc.

But from 17th to 18th century fist fighting or boxing sort sport were widely considered illegitimate and there werent many rulings. Amature boxing was introduce in Olympics in 1908, that kind gave new life to boxing with weigh-division rules coming into play at the same time.

So with young boxers fighting in amateur events and Olympics, they would go down to become professional fighters later in their careers ultimately developing better skills of boxing helping to improve the standard. Now boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world.

#6. Gymnastic

Gymnastic is originated from ancient greek and at the beginning, it was a set of training methods deployed for military training but as a sport, its history is not much known from ancient times.

As far as modern Gymnastics is concerned it dates back to the late 18th century when two physical educators from Germany developed and exercise from boys using “apparatus” it would later go on to become a sporting event quickly spread across Europe and then the world.

The international federation for Gymnastic was established in 1891 while it was introduced as a sport with several events for both men and women in 1896.

#7. Football/Soccer

Football sort sports have been played since early centuries from 200 to 300 bc according to FIFA FIFA (The world governing body of football). In medieval times loads of games involving “Ball” were played around Europe and some of them were pretty much like football. A game called “mob football” was played in England in the 10th century but the number of players included was unlimited. Football sort sport was continued to be played around Europe and especially in England and that is where the modern rules/codes were formed when football was played in the schools in England.

The Sheffield FC is the oldest professional football club which was formed in 1857 and soon after that football modern rules were introduced and the first professional cup competition now known as FA Cup started.

#9. Hurling

Hurling has been played in Ireland for over 3000 years making it one of the oldest sport in the world. It is a team game which is played with a stick called “Hurley” and the ball “sliotar”. The objective is to score goals into the opposing goalposts with the use of the stick. Unlike some of the other sport listed here, Hurling has a documented history and it is very popular in Ireland.

#10. Field Hockey

A game pretty similar to field hockey can be traced back to ancient greek were some of the graphics discovered show paintings of people playing some sport with a curved stick/Horne and ball. The modern hockey rules were invented in England by the Middlesex cricket club in the last 19th century and it spread to British colonies In Australia, Africa, and the sub-continent. International hockey federations were established and hockey was included in the Olympics in 1908.

News

IOC Orders Sri Lanka Olympic Body to Conduct Long-Pending Elections by April 2026

Published

2 days ago

January 14, 2026

Editor

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has formally instructed the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) to conduct its overdue Annual General Meeting (AGM) and quadrennial elections no later than the end of April 2026, bringing clarity to a prolonged period of administrative uncertainty within the country’s Olympic movement.

In a letter dated 12 January 2026 addressed to NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam, the IOC acknowledged that a forensic audit into the committee’s financial and governance practices is still ongoing. However, the IOC clearly stated that the audit process cannot be used as justification to delay the AGM and elections indefinitely.

The global Olympic body emphasized that the electoral process must be carried out strictly in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the IOC-approved Constitution of the NOCSL. It further reiterated that individuals currently under investigation or subject to sanctions are not permitted to participate in NOCSL activities, attend the General Assembly, or contest elected positions until cleared.

Until the completion of the elections, the IOC, in consultation with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), will continue to recognize the current Executive Board led by Subramaniam for the purpose of handling day-to-day administrative and operational matters.

Subramaniam has previously stated that the present leadership remains in office only until formal guidance is received from the IOC, adding that he does not intend to extend his tenure beyond the prescribed term.

According to the NOCSL Executive Board, several procedural and governance-related requirements must be completed prior to convening the AGM. These include the approval of the 2026 budget and the submission of the Auditor General’s report for the 2024 financial year. The forensic audit, covering the period from 2015 to 2024, was initiated following disciplinary action taken against former Secretary General Maxwell De Silva, which included a five-year ban and financial penalties imposed on the NOC.

In its correspondence, the IOC requested that the contents of the letter be shared with all member federations to ensure transparency and open communication. The IOC also expressed hope that the audit process would be concluded in the near future, enabling the NOCSL to restore confidence and credibility within both the domestic and international sporting community.

With the IOC now setting a firm deadline, stakeholders across Sri Lanka’s sports sector are awaiting confirmation of an election schedule. The IOC has made it clear that the electoral process must be completed “as soon as possible, and by the end of April 2026 at the latest,” marking a critical step toward resolving governance issues within the country’s Olympic administration.

Cricket

Sandeepani’s Star Turn Propels Team Blues to Convincing Victory

Published

2 days ago

January 14, 2026

Editor

Sathya Sandeepani produced an outstanding all-round performance as Team Blues registered a commanding 70-run victory over Team Red in the Women’s National Super League T20 tournament at the Thurstan College Ground yesterday.

Asked to bat first, Team Blues suffered an early setback, slipping to 20 for 3 within the first three overs. Sandeepani then steadied the innings with a composed and unbeaten knock of 50 from 44 deliveries, striking five boundaries and a six. Her calm presence at the crease proved crucial in rebuilding the innings.

Sandeepani received valuable support from Ama Kanchana, who scored 41, and Shayani Senarathna, who contributed 25, as Team Blues recovered to post a competitive total of 134 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. Extras added a further seven runs, pushing the target beyond Team Red’s reach.

For Team Red, Chamodi Prabodha Munasinghe was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 16 runs. Pramudhi Methsara and Aseni Thalagune picked up one wicket each but were unable to prevent Team Blues from setting a challenging total.

In reply, Team Red’s chase never gained momentum. Dewmi Vihanga led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 11, while Sandeepani continued her impressive outing by returning 2 for 8. Nethmi Sanjana’s four-wicket haul completed the rout as Team Red were bowled out for just 64 runs.

In the day’s other fixture, Team Greys secured a convincing 35-run victory over Team Green. Batting first, Team Greys posted 132 for 6, with Vishmi Gunarathne anchoring the innings with a fluent 56 and Imesha Dulani adding a valuable 40.

The bowling effort was shared effectively, with Sugandika Kumari and Nimasha Madushani claiming two wickets apiece to apply pressure during the chase.

Team Green struggled in response and were dismissed for 97 in 19.4 overs. Oshadi Ranasinghe top-scored with 21, but lacked support from the rest of the batting lineup. Inoshi Fernando starred with the ball, taking 4 for 14, while Sanduni Nisansala provided excellent support with three wickets.

The results further highlighted the competitive nature of the Women’s National Super League T20, with several players delivering match-defining performances across both fixtures.

Cricket

Sri Lanka Announce Dasun Shanaka-Led Squad for Pakistan T20 Series

Published

1 week ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka have announced a strong and well-balanced squad led by Dasun Shanaka for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Pakistan, which is set to begin tomorrow in Dambulla.

The selection reflects a blend of experience and emerging talent, as the selectors look to combine stability with attacking intent in the shortest format. Shanaka will continue to lead the side, with his leadership, calm decision-making, and power-hitting expected to play a central role in Sri Lanka’s campaign.

The batting unit features depth and versatility. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara provide options at the top of the order, while Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera bring proven international experience and match-winning ability to the middle order. Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka add further flexibility, offering the ability to adapt their roles according to match situations.

Sri Lanka’s all-round strength remains a key asset, with Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, and Shanaka himself providing balance to the side. Hasaranga, in particular, is expected to play a decisive role with both bat and ball, especially during the middle overs.

The bowling attack offers a strong mix of spin and pace. Maheesh Theekshana’s variations will be vital on home surfaces, supported by Dushan Hemantha and Wellalage. The pace department is bolstered by the presence of Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, and Traveen Mathew, giving Sri Lanka a range of options in terms of speed, movement, and death-over execution.

Janith Liyanage provides additional batting cover, while the overall squad depth allows the team flexibility to rotate players and manage workloads across the series.

With home advantage on their side, Sri Lanka will be aiming to make a strong start and build momentum against a competitive Pakistan side as preparations continue for future international assignments.

Sri Lanka T20 Squad vs Pakistan

Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Traveen Mathew, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Maling