International sports bring together athletes from different countries in a celebration of competition and cultural exchange. They also have profound effects on the host countries and global community at large, driving economic development through tourism and infrastructure enhancements, as well as fostering national pride and unity.
The most popular international event is probably the FIFA World Cup, contested every four years and viewed by billions of people around the globe. But other international events draw massive crowds too. Here are a few to put on your bucket list:
1. The Olympic Games:
With its roots in ancient Greece, the modern Olympics first took place in 1896. Today, the Olympic Games are a full-blown international spectacle. Next year’s Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo, Japan.
2. The Cricket World Cup:
The second most popular international sporting event, contested every four years, is the cricket World Cup, which has over 3 billion fans worldwide. The sport is very similar to baseball but played with wickets at each end of the field, instead of bases. And it’s much faster!
3. The Euro Games:
The euro games are a multi-sport event along the lines of the Olympics, but limited to European nations. The next one will be in Baku, Azerbaijan. 4. The Gay Games: