There's no single "most respected" sport, as respect varies by culture and criteria (popularity, skill, discipline), but Football (Soccer) is globally dominant in popularity, while sports like Wrestling, Track & Field, and Martial Arts (like MMA) often earn respect for extreme dedication, raw athleticism, and discipline, alongside traditional "noble" sports like Polo.
The number one sport in the world, by a significant margin in terms of fans, participation, and global reach, is Soccer (Association Football), with an estimated 3.5 to 4 billion followers, particularly popular across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, followed by Cricket and Basketball. Its simple rules, minimal equipment, and cultural significance make it the most accessible and universally loved sport.
Polo and horse riding, noble sports par excellence
Since time immemorial, horse-riding activities have been closely associated with nobility. Among them, polo has been the discipline of choice for the English royal family.
We've done our own Tale of the Tape, and we've come to a surprising conclusion. Pound for pound, the toughest sport in the world is . . . Boxing. The Sweet Science.
Formula 1 is the most expensive sport in the world. Racing teams spend between USD 135 and 200 million (approximately IDR 2 and 3 trillion) per season on operations and research alone.
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American football, rugby, ice hockey, and soccer generally have the highest concussion rates, with football often leading in total numbers due to its high-impact nature, while soccer and basketball see high rates in female athletes; however, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) shows extremely high rates per athlete exposure, and rugby has a significant risk for long-term issues like CTE. Rates vary by sex, age, and level of play, with collision sports posing the greatest risk overall, according to National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov) and Complete Concussions.
As a general rule, children with ADHD do better when they get plenty of individual attention from coaches. That's why they're more likely to succeed with individual sports such as swimming and diving, wrestling, martial arts, and tennis — or even more rarified endeavors such as fencing and horseback riding.
The correct answer is Cricket. In the early 17th century, it was decided by English aristocrats that cricket would be played in a 'gentlemanly manner'. Often, the phrase, 'gentleman's game' is used to describe cricket which means no sledding, cheating, bodyline bowling, temper tantrums, or excessive appealing.
American football remains the most popular sport in the United States, with close to 40 percent of the population naming it as their favorite, while basketball ranks second at around 20 percent. Below soccer in the popularity rankings are baseball, hockey, MMA, and several other sports.
Australian rules football and Cricket are Australia's national sports. The Australian national cricket team competed against England in the first Test match (1877) and the first One Day International (1971), and against New Zealand in the first Twenty20 International (2004), winning all three games.
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In general, tennis leads to a longer life expectancy, up to nearly 10 years longer than a sedentary lifestyle. This is due, in part, to a distinctly lower chance for cardiovascular disease among tennis players.
The prevalence of depression appears highest in male and female track and field athletes (35.4%) and female soccer players (31%) (34).
Indoor sports like bowling, squash, racquetball, and weightlifting are brain healthy sports, barring unfortunate mishaps. At-home activities, such as aerobics, dancing, home gym workouts, or interactive video games (like, DDR and Wii Fit), can be brain healthy under parental supervision.
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Popular sports for children with ADHD include martial arts, swimming, gymnastics, tennis, athletics, and horse riding, each promoting skills beneficial for managing ADHD symptoms.
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