Home > Events > Olympics > Demonstration Sports > Summer > List

Here is a large list of sports that have been demonstration or exhibition sports at some time in the past in the summer Olympic Games, though there may be omissions, and some included which may not have actually been demonstration sports. Follow the links for more details. If you have details of a demonstration sport that is not on this list, please let me know. See also more details about Demonstration Sports. There is also another similar list with the sports sorted by the year that it was at the Olympics. See also demonstration Winter Sports.

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• American Football: 1904, 1932
• Angling: 1900
• Australian Rules Football: 1956
• Baseball: 1904, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1984 and 1988 (an official medal sport 1992-2008).
• Badminton: 1972, 1988. (Official Medal sport in 1992)
• Ballooning: 1900
• Basketball: 1904, 1924 (official sport 1936+)
• Basque Pelota: 1900 (official sport); 1924, 1968 & 1992 (demonstration sport)
• Beach Volleyball: 1992. Official event 1996+ (see Olympic Beach Volleyball)
• Boules: 1900
• Bossaball: 2016
• Bowling: 1936, 1988
• Boxing: 1896 (men), 1904 (women)
• Budō (japanese martial arts): 1964, archery (kyūdō), wrestling (sumo) and fencing (kendo) events
• Canne de Combat: 1924
• Canoeing: 1924
• Cannon Shooting: 1900
• Cricket: 1896
• Cycle Polo: 1908
• Dueling: 1908
• eSports: 2016, 2021
• Equestrian: 1896, 1900
• Field Handball: 1952
• Fire Fighting: 1900
• Football: 1896
• Footvolley: 2016
• Gaelic Football: 1904
• Glima: 1912
• Gliding / Aeronautics: 1936
• Golf: 1936 (Official sport in 1900, 1904, 2016+)
• Gymnastics: 1906, 1912, 1920, 1948
• Historical Sports: 1960
• Hurling: 1904
• Judo: 1988 (women only) (official medal sport in 1992).
• Kaatsen: 1928
• Kabaddi: 1936
• Kite Flying: 1900
• Kite foil racing: 2021
• Korfball: 1920, 1928
• Lacrosse: 1928, 1932 & 1948 (Official sport in 1904, 1908)
• Lifesaving: 1900
• Longue Paume: 1900
• Motor Racing: 1900
• Motor Cycling: 1900
• Muay Thai: 2024
• Pigeon Racing: 1900
• Pigeon Shooting: 1900
• Pesäpallo: 1952
• Real Tennis (Jeu de Paume): 1924
• Reining: 1996-2004?
• Roller Hockey (Rink-hockey): 1992
• Sambo: 1980
• Savate: 1924
• Sumo: 1964, 2021
• Synchronized Swimming: 1952-1968
• Taekwondo: 1988 & 1992
• Tennis: 1968 & 1984
• Volleyball: 1924 as part of children's sports demonstration. Official event 1964+
• Water Motorsports: 1900
• Water Polo: 1904, 1906
• Water Skiing: 1972
• Wheelchair Racing: 1984-2004
• Windsurfing: 1984
• Wushu: 2008

Unconfirmed Events

• Leap frog and three-legged races (1900) - this did not happen, it is a joke that has been perpetuated online.

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Related Pages

• See also demonstration Winter Sports.
• Similar list with the sports sorted by the year
• Demonstration Sports at the Olympic Games of 1912, 1928
• About demonstration sports

Old Comments

• Has ringette ever applied to become a demonstration sport? (from val ryan, Dec 2012)
• Did not see Baton Twirling on the list.. Would love to see it in the Olympics. Has there never been an application .. World baton twirling federation would love to hear from you.. WBTF.. (from David Cole, Aug 2012)
• Rugby Union Football. Last played in 1924 (15's version). Re-entered in 2012 as "exhibition" sport and 2016 as official event (the 7's version) ... (from Sean O'Connell, July 2012)