Spectator Sport facts

While investigating facts about Spectator Sports and Spectator Sports Online, I found out little known, but curios details like:

Underwater Octopus Wrestling was a popular sport in the 1960s with the annual World Championships held in Puget Sound, Washington. The event was televised and attracted 5000 spectators. The caught octopuses (which can grow up to 90 pounds) were either eaten, donated, or released back to the wild

how video games become a spectator sport?

France was the only nation to send athletes to compete in Croquet in the the 1900 olympics. All 10 athletes medaled, including 2 unopposed. The only spectator was an elderly englishman who only watch the qualifying round. The sport was deemed too unpopular to include in subsequent olympics

What can cause spectator aggression in sport?

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what is the biggest spectator sport in the world. Here are 21 of the best facts about Spectator Sports Accountant and Spectator Sport Meaning I managed to collect.

what can trigger spectator aggression in sport?

1. The worst crash in motor sports history at the 1955 Le Mans race. A car broke apart and flew into the stands, with its hood decapitating spectators like a guillotine. In the aftermath, varying reports claim 65-120 were killed. The link contains graphic content.

2. Watching people walk was America's favorite spectator sport in the late 1800's.

3. In the 1800s, one of the most popular sports in the world was distance walking which attracted huge crowds and gambling. Thousands of spectators would turn up to watch challenges such as walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours.

4. In Roman chariot racing, there were four teams named after the colours they wore – the Reds, Whites, Blues and Greens. Fan loyalties were so strong, and the sport so brutal, that spectators were encouraged to sabotage the opposing teams by throwing lead amulets studded with nails at the racers.

5. Racing on ice skates began as a spectator sport among the lower class and laborers.

6. There's a sport in Ireland called "road bowling" similar to golf where players have to throw a 800g (28oz) cannonball across active country roads, amidst car, lorry and tractor traffic as well as spectators.

7. Pedestrianism (endurance walking) was a huge spectator sport back in the 19th century, not only because of the incredible feat of walking for days, but for the gambling. Most spectators came in hopes of seeing the contestants break down mentally and physically.

8. The spectator sport industry in the US generates about as much revenue as the cardboard box industry in the US

9. In Elizabethan England the most popular "sport" was bear-baiting. A bear would be chained to a stake by its leg and a pack of dogs unleashed to torment and attack the bear, while spectators cheered and placed bets on the outcome. Bull-baiting was also a popular form of entertainment.

10. In 1996 Gambling generated more revenue than movies, spectator sports, theme parks, cruise ships and recorded music COMBINED.

Why is it important to be a responsible sports spectator?

You can easily fact check why did spectator sports became popular in the 1920s by examining the linked well-known sources.

Rat-baiting: A now illegal blood sport, which involves placing captured rats in a sunken pit surrounded by spectators and then betting on how long it takes a dog, usually a terrier, to kill them.

About Daniel Mendoza, a notorious English prizefighter and boxing champion from 1792-95, whose bout with his mentor was the first time spectators were charged an entry payment to a sporting event. - source

In the 19th century, "pedestrian tournaments" -- days-long walking races -- were the most popular spectator sporting events in the United States. - source

Sports players do actually have a connection to it's spectators and fans.

Watching people walk was America's favorite spectator sport in the late 1800s. - source

When will spectator sports resume?

K-1 and Pride packed 91,107 spectators into an open-air Olympic stadium on a summer evening in August 2002. It remains the largest attended event in the history of combat sports.

How and for what reasons did spectator sports became popular?

The Circus Maximus, a chariot racing stadium and venue, built in ancient Rome in 600 B.C.E. At its peak capacity, it was able to seat up to 150,000 spectators. If the Circus Maximus was still in use today, it would still be the highest capacity sports arena in the world.

Pedestrianism (endurance walking) was a huge spectator sport back in the 19th century, not because of the incredible feat of walking for days, but for the gambling and most spectators came in hopes of seeing the contestants break down mentally and physically.