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Get a random sport from 141 sports, each with a short description and where it started. Filter by team or solo, indoor or outdoor, water or snow, intensity, contact, cost and Olympic status. Not sure what to play? Take the quiz for your best matches, or test your knowledge with Guess the sport.
Also try the Random Olympic Sport Generator, Sports Trivia Generator, and Random Workout Generator.
Last updated: October 5, 2026 · Published: 2026-04-17 · Updated: 2026-10-05
For beginners, PE teachers, camps and anyone in a fitness rut. Browse all Sports tools.
141 of 141 sports match.
Pick a type, setting, intensity or Olympic status, then generate. Each of the 141 sports comes with a description and where it started.
A random sport generator picks one sport from a fixed list, with a description of how it is played. This one has 141 sports in 14 families. A result reads like Soccer: two teams of 11 try to kick a ball into the opposing goal, and the card also shows where the sport started. Use it to choose a sport to try, a PE or camp activity, or a quiz prompt.
The 14 families are 27 team ball sports, 5 bat-and-ball, 7 racket sports, 15 combat & martial arts, 17 water sports, 17 winter sports, 11 endurance, 5 wheels & boards, 11 target & precision, 6 gymnastics & dance, 7 adventure & outdoor, 6 strength & fitness, 3 mind & body, and 4 riding & motor. Each sport is rated for team or solo play, setting, intensity, contact and starting cost. Olympic tags follow the programmes in force now: summer sports that stay on for Los Angeles 2028, the Milano Cortina 2026 winter disciplines, and the five sports added for LA 2028. Breaking was at Paris 2024 and is tagged as not Olympic.
The quiz answers the question “what sport should I play?” by ranking every sport against your answers, and Guess the sport turns the list into a game. Everything runs in your browser, with no sign-up.
Three steps from a click to your next sport.
Random sport deals 1–20 sports from 141. What sport should I play? ranks matches from a six-question quiz. Guess the sport is a 10-round game.
Choose type, team or solo, indoor or outdoor, intensity, contact, cost and Olympic status. The live count shows how many sports fit.
Every result has a description, its origin and tags. Swap any pick you do not like and copy the names or full details.
1 to 20 per batch with no repeats. New batches show sports you have not just seen first.
14 families, from team ball sports and racket sports to winter, water and mind-body.
Team (three or more per side), partner or 1-on-1 (singles, doubles and duels), or solo.
Indoor, outdoor, water, or snow and ice. Some sports, like basketball, count as both indoor and outdoor.
Light, moderate or vigorous, based on how hard a typical recreational session works your heart and lungs.
No contact at all, no tackling or fighting (incidental bumps allowed), or contact and combat sports only.
Low means shoes and a ball or a cheap court; high means costly gear, lift passes, boats, horses or green fees.
Summer sports that stay on the Los Angeles 2028 programme, the Milano Cortina 2026 winter disciplines, or the five sports added for LA 2028. Breaking was at Paris 2024 and is tagged as not Olympic.
14 families of sports, how many of each are in the generator, and examples.
Match what you are looking for to a filter setting and sports to start with.
| Looking for | Try this setting | Sports to start with |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest sports to start | Cost to start: Low cost | Running, Soccer, Basketball, Calisthenics, Ultimate Frisbee, Disc Golf |
| Low-impact sports for beginners and older adults | Intensity: Light, or try Swimming | Swimming, Tai Chi, Yoga, Nordic Walking, Bowling, Pickleball |
| Best sports for fitness | Intensity: Vigorous | Swimming, Cross-Country Skiing, Rowing, Squash, Running, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Sports to play alone | Play with: Solo | Running, Swimming, Skateboarding, Golf, Bouldering, Archery |
| Sports for two people | Play with: Partner / 1-on-1 | Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Squash |
| Team sports with no tackling | Play with: Team + No tackling or fighting | Volleyball, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Netball, Flag Football, Korfball |
| Indoor sports for winter or rainy days | Where: Indoor | Badminton, Futsal, Bouldering, Table Tennis, Bowling, Floorball |
| Adventure and outdoor thrills | Type: Adventure, or Where: Snow & ice | Surfing, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Orienteering, Kitesurfing |
| Self-defense and confidence | Type: Combat & martial arts | Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo |
| Sports from around the world | Type: Any, then read the origin | Sepak Takraw, Kabaddi, Hurling, Pétanque, Capoeira, Sumo |
Summer tags are sports and disciplines that stay on the LA 2028 programme. Winter tags are disciplines from Milano Cortina 2026. The third list is only the sports added for LA 2028.
These were already Olympic sports. Running, race walking and athletics are separate entries inside one Olympic sport. Breaking is not in this list.
Sixteen disciplines were contested from 6 to 22 February 2026. Ski mountaineering made its debut.
Para sports are part of the list too: Goalball and Wheelchair Basketball are Paralympic sports. Goalball was designed for athletes with visual impairments, and every player wears a blackout mask so the game is fair for all.
The World Health Organization recommends 150–300 minutes of moderate or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity a week for adults, plus muscle strengthening on two or more days. Children and teens aged 5–17 should average 60 minutes a day.
| Intensity | Talk test | Sports | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | You can talk and sing easily. Breathing barely changes. | 14 | Nordic Walking, Archery, Bowling, Darts, Snooker, Shooting |
| Moderate | You can talk but not sing. You break a light sweat (moderate intensity). | 43 | Volleyball, Netball, Korfball, Dodgeball, Goalball, Roundnet |
| Vigorous | You can only say a few words before pausing for breath (vigorous intensity). | 84 | Soccer, Futsal, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Handball, Rugby Union |
30 sports in the generator with a documented founding year, oldest first. Ancient sports such as wrestling, running and archery are far older.
Six steps from a random pick to a sport you actually stick with.
Use the quiz or the filters to find three sports that fit your schedule, budget and how much contact you want.
Look for taster days, beginner classes, recreational leagues and university or community clubs. Many lend equipment for the first sessions.
Do not buy expensive equipment until you know you like the sport. Rent skis, borrow a racket or use club kit.
One or two coached sessions teach safe technique and the basic rules faster than figuring it out alone.
Warm up, keep the first sessions short, and increase how long and how hard you play gradually to avoid injury.
Every sport feels awkward at first. Commit to a couple of sessions a week for a month or two before deciding whether it is for you.
The full list of sports, grouped by type, with how each is played, where it started and its ratings.
Two teams of 11 try to kick a ball into the opposing goal without using their hands or arms.
England, rules codified 1863 · Team · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Five-a-side indoor football played with a smaller, heavier ball that bounces less.
Montevideo, Uruguay, 1930 · Team · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Two teams of five score by shooting a ball through a hoop 10 feet (3.05 m) high.
Springfield, Massachusetts, 1891 · Team · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Teams of six hit a ball over a high net, with up to three touches per side.
Holyoke, Massachusetts, 1895 · Team · Indoor / Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Two-a-side net game played barefoot on sand, with three touches to return the ball.
United States, early 1900s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Teams of seven pass, dribble and throw a ball into a goal using only their hands.
Denmark and Germany, late 1800s · Team · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Teams of 15 run with, kick and pass an oval ball backward to score tries.
Rugby School, England, 1800s · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Seven-a-side version of union with seven-minute halves and lots of open running.
Melrose, Scotland, 1883 · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Thirteen-a-side rugby code in which each team gets six tackles before handing over the ball.
Northern England, 1895 · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Teams of 11 advance an oval ball by running and passing, needing 10 yards in four downs.
United States, late 1800s · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · High cost
Non-tackle gridiron game: defenders stop the ball carrier by pulling a flag from their belt. It makes its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
United States, 1940s · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost · New for LA 2028
Eighteen-a-side game on an oval field, scoring by kicking an oval ball between tall posts.
Melbourne, Australia, 1859 · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Fifteen-a-side Irish game that mixes kicking, hand-passing and solo-bouncing a round ball.
Ireland · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Very fast Irish field game, striking a small ball called a sliotar with a wooden stick.
Ireland, ancient · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Teams of 11 use hooked sticks to hit a hard ball into a goal on grass or turf.
England, 1800s · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Players catch, carry and throw a ball with a long stick that has a net pocket. Olympic lacrosse at Los Angeles 2028 is the sixes format.
Indigenous peoples of North America · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · New for LA 2028
Seven-a-side passing game where players cannot run or dribble with the ball and shoot at a ring with no backboard.
England, 1890s · Team · Indoor / Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Teams of seven pass a flying disc to a teammate in the end zone, refereeing themselves.
Maplewood, New Jersey, 1968 · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Mixed teams of four men and four women shoot at a raised basket that has no backboard.
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1902 · Team · Indoor · Moderate · Low cost
Teams throw soft balls to hit opponents, who stay in by dodging, blocking or catching.
Team · Indoor · Moderate · Low cost
Teams of three volley a woven ball over a net using only feet, knees, chest and head.
Southeast Asia · Team · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
A raider crosses into the other half, tags defenders and must return on a single breath.
India, ancient · Team · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Indoor hockey played with light plastic sticks and a plastic ball full of holes.
Sweden, 1970s · Team · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Paralympic game: blindfolded teams of three roll a ball with bells inside toward a wide goal.
Austria and Germany, 1946 · Team · Indoor · Moderate · Low cost
Five-a-side hoops game played in sports wheelchairs; part of every Paralympics since 1960.
United States, 1940s · Team · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Two-on-two game of hitting a small ball down onto a round trampoline-like net at ankle height.
United States, 1989 · Partner / 1-on-1 · Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Football skills on a curved table: hit the ball over with any body part except hands and arms.
Hungary, 2012 · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor / Outdoor · Moderate · Medium cost
Teams of nine take turns batting and fielding; runners score by circling four bases. Baseball returns to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028, packaged with softball.
United States, 1800s · Team · Outdoor · Moderate · Medium cost · New for LA 2028
Diamond game with a larger ball, a smaller field and underhand pitching. It returns to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 with baseball.
Chicago, 1887 · Team · Outdoor · Moderate · Medium cost · New for LA 2028
Teams of 11 bat and bowl; batters score runs between two sets of stumps called wickets. The Olympic event at Los Angeles 2028 is T20.
England, 1500s · Team · Outdoor · Moderate · Medium cost · New for LA 2028
Playground diamond game where the pitcher rolls a big rubber ball and the batter kicks it.
United States, 1910s · Team · Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
British school game: hit a small ball with a short bat and run around four posts.
England · Team · Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Players hit a felt-covered ball over a net with strung rackets, in singles or doubles.
England, 1870s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Lightning-fast game of hitting a light plastic ball across a table with small paddles.
England, 1880s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Moderate · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Players smash a feathered shuttlecock over a high net; the fastest racket sport by top speed.
Gloucestershire, England, 1870s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor / Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Players hit a soft rubber ball against the front wall of a four-walled court. Squash makes its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
Harrow School, England, 1830s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · New for LA 2028
Paddle game on a badminton-sized court with a plastic ball full of holes and a no-volley kitchen zone.
Bainbridge Island, Washington, 1965 · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor / Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Doubles racket game on a small enclosed court where the ball can be played off glass walls.
Acapulco, Mexico, 1969 · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor / Outdoor · Moderate · Medium cost
A hollow rubber ball can be hit off every surface of an enclosed court, ceiling included.
United States, 1950 · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Fighters score with punches only, wearing padded gloves, in a roped ring.
England, Queensberry rules 1867 · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Grappling contest: pin the opponent's shoulders to the mat or outscore them with takedowns.
Ancient, worldwide · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Throws, pins and joint locks; the name means "the gentle way".
Tokyo, Japan, 1882 · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Striking art of punches, kicks and open-hand blows, with solo forms called kata.
Okinawa, Japan · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Korean martial art famous for high, fast and spinning kicks, scored with electronic sensors.
South Korea, 1950s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Ground-grappling art built on positional control, chokes and joint locks.
Brazil, early 1900s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
"The art of eight limbs": strikes with fists, elbows, knees and shins.
Thailand · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Stand-up fighting that combines punches with kicks.
Japan and United States, 1960s–70s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Full fights that combine striking and grappling under unified rules, usually in a cage.
United States, 1990s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Duel with foil, épée or sabre, with touches scored electronically.
Europe, modern rules 1800s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Japanese sword art fought with bamboo swords while wearing armor.
Japan · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Push the opponent out of the ring or make them touch the ground with anything but their feet.
Japan, ancient · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Martial art that blends kicks, acrobatics and live music in a circle called a roda.
Brazil, Afro-Brazilian roots · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Non-competitive art that redirects an attacker's force with throws and joint locks.
Japan, 1920s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Moderate · Low cost
Chinese martial arts sport: acrobatic taolu forms and full-contact sanda sparring.
China · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Racing through water using freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly.
Ancient, worldwide · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor / Water · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Acrobatic somersaults and twists from a springboard or a 10-meter platform, judged on a clean entry.
Europe, 1800s · Solo · Indoor / Water · Moderate · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Choreographed routines performed in the pool to music, much of it upside down and underwater.
Team · Indoor / Water · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Seven-a-side ball game in deep water, where players may not touch the bottom.
Britain, 1870s · Team · Indoor / Water · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Paddling out and riding breaking ocean waves while standing on a board.
Polynesia and Hawaii · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Racing narrow boats with oars, alone or in crews of up to eight plus a coxswain.
England, 1700s · Team · Outdoor / Water · Vigorous · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Paddling a closed-deck boat with a double-bladed paddle, on flatwater or whitewater.
Arctic Inuit peoples · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Moderate · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Paddling an open boat while kneeling or sitting, with a single-bladed paddle.
Indigenous peoples of North America · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Moderate · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Racing boats powered only by the wind around a course marked by buoys.
Team · Outdoor / Water · Moderate · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Riding a board with a sail attached by a swiveling mast that you steer by hand.
United States, 1960s · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Moderate · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Riding a small board while a large power kite pulls you across the water and into the air. Formula Kite, a course race, is an Olympic sailing event.
Solo · Outdoor / Water · Vigorous · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Standing on a large, stable board and moving with a single long paddle.
Hawaii · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Moderate · Medium cost
Diving as deep or as far as possible on a single breath, with no breathing gear.
Ancient, worldwide · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Moderate · Medium cost
Riding a short board towed behind a boat and launching tricks off its wake.
United States, 1980s · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Moderate · High cost
Skimming across the water on one or two skis while towed by a boat.
Minnesota, USA, 1922 · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Moderate · High cost
Crews of about 20 paddlers race long, decorated boats to the beat of a drum.
China, ancient · Team · Outdoor / Water · Vigorous · Medium cost
Snorkelers push a puck along the pool floor with short sticks, holding their breath.
Southsea, England, 1954 · Team · Indoor / Water · Vigorous · Medium cost
Six-a-side game on skates, shooting a rubber puck into the net with sticks.
Montreal, Canada, 1875 · Team · Indoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Racing down a mountain through gates in downhill, super-G, giant slalom and slalom.
The Alps, early 1900s · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Gliding across rolling snowy terrain under your own power; among the toughest endurance sports.
Scandinavia, ancient · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · Medium cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Riding down snow sideways on a single board, racing or doing tricks in a halfpipe.
United States, 1960s · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Moguls, aerials, slopestyle and halfpipe tricks on two skis.
Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Launching off a huge ramp and flying for distance and style.
Norway, 1800s · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Moderate · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Cross-country ski racing combined with rifle shooting at targets.
Norway · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Jumps, spins and footwork on ice, judged for technique and artistry, solo or in pairs.
Britain and North America, 1800s · Solo · Indoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Racing on long blades around a 400-meter ice oval.
Netherlands · Solo · Indoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Teams slide granite stones toward a target and sweep the ice to steer them.
Scotland, 1500s · Team · Indoor / Snow & ice · Moderate · Medium cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Crews of two or four push off and ride a sled down a twisting ice track at over 140 km/h.
St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1880s · Team · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Moderate · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Sliding feet-first and face-up on a small sled down an ice track.
Switzerland, 1800s · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Moderate · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Sliding head-first and face-down on a small sled down an ice track.
St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1880s · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Moderate · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Racing uphill on skis with climbing skins, then skiing down. It debuted at Milano Cortina 2026 with a men's sprint, a women's sprint and a mixed relay.
Alps · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Mass-start racing on a short oval inside an ice rink, with packs of skaters and lots of passing.
North America, early 1900s · Solo · Indoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · Medium cost · Milano Cortina 2026
One athlete ski jumps and then races cross-country, with the jump setting the start order.
Norway · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Vigorous · High cost · Milano Cortina 2026
Walking or running on deep snow with wide frames strapped to your boots.
Ancient, North America and Asia · Solo · Outdoor / Snow & ice · Moderate · Low cost
From sprints to marathons, all you need is a pair of shoes.
Ancient, worldwide · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Sprints, hurdles, jumps and throws, from the 100 meters to the javelin.
Ancient Greece · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Running on dirt paths and mountain trails instead of roads.
Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Riding or racing lightweight bikes on roads, solo or in a pack called a peloton.
France, 1868 · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Racing fixed-gear bikes with no brakes around a steeply banked velodrome.
Solo · Indoor · Vigorous · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Swim, bike and run back-to-back in a single race against the clock.
San Diego, California, 1974 · Solo · Outdoor / Water · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Walking as fast as possible while always keeping one foot on the ground.
England, 1800s · Solo · Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Five disciplines in one day: fencing, swimming, show jumping (obstacle racing from 2028), and a combined run and laser-pistol shoot.
Stockholm Olympics, 1912 · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Running races packed with walls, mud pits, rope climbs and monkey bars.
United Kingdom, 1987 · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Brisk walking with two poles that work the arms and shoulders too.
Finland, 1990s · Solo · Outdoor · Light · Low cost
Short, muddy laps on grass and dirt, jumping off to carry the bike over barriers.
France and Belgium, early 1900s · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Riding a four-wheeled board and doing tricks on street obstacles or in bowls.
California, 1950s · Solo · Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost · Summer, LA 2028
Racing or doing freestyle tricks on small, tough bikes with 20-inch wheels.
California, 1970s · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Riding rugged bikes with suspension over off-road trails, roots and rocks.
Marin County, California, 1970s · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Gliding on wheeled boots at a rink or outdoors, for fun, speed or artistic routines.
London, 1700s · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Two teams skate around an oval track; a jammer scores by lapping opposing blockers.
Chicago, 1935 · Team · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Shooting arrows at a target 70 meters away in Olympic recurve, or closer for beginners.
Ancient, worldwide · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Light · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Hitting a small ball into a series of holes, usually 18, in as few strokes as possible.
Scotland, 1400s · Solo · Outdoor · Moderate · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Throwing flying discs into chain baskets around a course in as few throws as possible.
United States, 1970s · Solo · Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Rolling a heavy ball down a lane to knock down 10 pins.
United States, 1800s · Solo · Indoor · Light · Low cost
Throwing small pointed darts at a round numbered board from 7 ft 9¼ in away.
England · Solo · Indoor · Light · Low cost
Cue game of potting red and colored balls in sequence on a large cloth-covered table.
Jabalpur, India, 1875 · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Light · Medium cost
Hitting targets with rifles, pistols or shotguns at fixed distances.
Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Light · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Rolling large balls as close as possible to a small target ball called the pallino.
Italy, Roman roots · Team · Outdoor · Light · Low cost
Throwing steel balls toward a small wooden jack with both feet planted in a circle.
La Ciotat, France, 1907 · Team · Outdoor · Light · Low cost
Hitting wooden balls through a course of hoops with a mallet.
Britain and Ireland, 1850s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Outdoor · Light · Medium cost
Tossing bean bags at a raised, slanted board with a hole near the top.
United States · Partner / 1-on-1 · Outdoor · Light · Low cost
Routines on apparatus such as the beam, bars, vault, rings, pommel horse and floor.
Germany, early 1800s · Solo · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Routines with a ribbon, hoop, ball, clubs or rope, set to music.
Solo · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Flips and twists performed while bouncing high off a sprung bed.
United States, 1930s · Solo · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Competitive street dance of spins, freezes and power moves. It was on the Paris 2024 programme and is not on the Los Angeles 2028 programme.
The Bronx, New York, 1970s · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Teams perform stunts, pyramids, tumbling and jumps in timed routines.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1898 · Team · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Competitive ballroom and Latin partner dancing, from the waltz to the cha-cha.
England, 1900s · Partner / 1-on-1 · Indoor · Moderate · Medium cost
Moving through a city as efficiently as possible by running, vaulting, jumping and climbing.
France, late 1980s · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Climbing natural cliffs with ropes, a harness and a partner on belay.
Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Climbing short problems without ropes, over thick crash pads. Bouldering is one part of Olympic sport climbing, with lead and speed.
France, 1900s · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Walking long distances on trails through hills, forests and mountains.
Ancient, worldwide · Solo · Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Racing between checkpoints using only a map and compass.
Sweden, 1890s · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Balancing and walking on a flat, springy strap stretched between two anchors.
California, 1980s · Solo · Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Flying a foot-launched fabric wing from hills and mountains, riding rising air.
France, 1970s · Solo · Outdoor · Light · High cost
Competitive rope skipping with speed and freestyle events, solo or in teams.
Ancient, worldwide · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Vigorous · Low cost
Lifting a barbell overhead in two lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk.
Solo · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost · Summer, LA 2028
Lifting the heaviest possible total across three lifts: squat, bench press and deadlift.
United States, 1960s · Solo · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Timed workouts that mix weightlifting, gymnastics moves and cardio.
United States, 2000s · Solo · Indoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Feats of strength such as lifting stones, pulling trucks and flipping giant tires.
Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · Medium cost
Bodyweight strength skills such as pull-ups, dips, push-ups and handstands.
Ancient Greece · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Moderate · Low cost
Postures, breathing and meditation that build flexibility, balance and strength.
India, ancient · Solo · Indoor / Outdoor · Light · Low cost
Low-impact core strengthening on a mat or a spring-loaded reformer machine.
New York, 1920s · Solo · Indoor · Light · Low cost
Slow, flowing martial-art movements practiced as a moving meditation.
China · Solo · Outdoor · Light · Low cost
Dressage, show jumping and eventing on horseback, where horse and rider compete together.
Europe, 1800s · Solo · Outdoor · Moderate · High cost · Summer, LA 2028
Teams of four on horseback hit a small ball with long-handled mallets.
Persia, ancient · Team · Outdoor · Vigorous · High cost
Racing small, open four-wheelers around twisty circuits; most Formula 1 drivers started here.
United States, 1956 · Solo · Outdoor · Moderate · High cost
Racing off-road motorcycles over rough, hilly dirt tracks and jumps.
United Kingdom, 1920s · Solo · Outdoor · Vigorous · High cost
Built to help you find a sport, not just name one.
From soccer and tennis to sepak takraw, kabaddi, goalball and ski mountaineering.
Type, team or solo, setting, intensity, contact, starting cost and Olympic status, combined however you like.
Six questions, a percentage match for every sport, and the reasons each one fits.
10 rounds of description clues with four options and an optional hint. Great for PE and quiz nights.
Every sport explains how it is played, and most say where and when it started.
Summer tags follow the Los Angeles 2028 programme. Winter tags are the Milano Cortina 2026 disciplines, including ski mountaineering. A separate tag marks the five sports added for LA 2028.
Goalball and wheelchair basketball sit alongside the rest, not in a separate list.
Runs in your browser with no sign-up and nothing uploaded.
Who uses a random sport generator, and how.
Take the quiz, shortlist three sports and book a beginner session for each.
Generate a sport of the day, or filter for low-cost team sports that need little equipment.
Swap one gym session a week for a randomly picked vigorous sport.
Draw activities for each session, filtered to no-contact sports for mixed groups.
Play Guess the sport in rounds, or read out a random sport's origin and have teams guess it.
Generate 12 sports and try one each month for a year.
Pick a weekly team activity, from pickleball to dragon boat racing.
Give a character a hobby or a fictional league a real sport to build on.
Filter by the LA 2028 summer programme, Milano Cortina 2026, or the sports added for LA 2028.
When to use this tool, and when something else fits better.
The Olympic generator focuses on Olympic disciplines by Games season. This tool covers Olympic and non-Olympic sports with filters and a quiz.
The workout generator builds exercise sessions. This tool picks a sport to play, which is often easier to stick with.
The hobby generator covers every pastime, from baking to chess. This tool goes deep on physical sports.
Sports trivia asks about famous teams, players and records. Guess the sport here tests whether you know how sports are played.
An encyclopedia has full rules and history. This tool is faster for discovering what to try and comparing sports side by side.
Chatbots suggest sports but can mix up Olympic programs or origins. This list is fixed, tagged and checked.
How the sports, ratings and tags were put together.
Intensity, contact and cost describe a typical recreational session. Elite play is harder, and costs vary a lot by country and club.
A summer tag means the sport or one of its disciplines is on the Los Angeles 2028 programme, not that every way of playing it is a medal event. The LA 2028 tag is only for the five added sports: baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash. Breaking was at Paris 2024 and is not tagged as Olympic.
Many sports grew from older folk games. Origins name the place and date usually credited with the modern form, and are left blank where that is disputed.
Where disciplines are very different, such as alpine and cross-country skiing or rugby union, league and sevens, each is its own entry.
Hiking, yoga and tai chi are included as low-intensity options for people who want movement without competition, and are tagged as such.
Contact, combat, motor and adventure sports carry higher injury risk. Learn them with qualified coaches and proper equipment.
Terms used on this page and in the filters.
A sport where players cooperate in sides of three or more, such as soccer, volleyball or rowing crews.
A sport where you compete on your own, against others or the clock, such as swimming or golf.
A sport played 1-on-1 or in pairs, such as tennis singles and doubles, badminton or fencing.
A sport where physical contact between players is part of the game, such as basketball or handball.
A contact sport built around deliberate hits and tackles, such as rugby, American football and ice hockey.
A one-on-one sport of striking or grappling, such as boxing, judo or wrestling.
A sport that relies on sustained aerobic effort, such as running, cycling, rowing or cross-country skiing.
A sport that rewards accuracy and control over power, such as archery, golf, darts or curling.
The list of sports, disciplines and events chosen for a specific Olympic Games.
The Olympic hierarchy: aquatics is a sport, diving a discipline, and the women's 10 m platform an event.
A sport for athletes with disabilities, such as goalball or wheelchair basketball, competed at the Paralympics.
Moderate activity raises your breathing so you can talk but not sing; vigorous activity leaves you able to say only a few words.
Explore more tools in the directory.
Summer and Winter Olympic disciplines.
Trivia questions about teams, players and records.
Workouts to train for your new sport.
Pastimes beyond sport.
Split players into fair teams.
Run a knockout tournament.
Name your new rec-league team.
Pick a shirt number.