New sports in the 21st century

A new sport is a very relative concept. Any casual pastime needs to develop rules, fans, traditions, equipment, and other elements to become a true sporting discipline. The other extreme is formality. Many modern sports did not even begin in the 20th century, but much earlier, yet they have only recently gained popularity and recognition.

1. Strike ball

The official date of birth of this sport in Russia is November 16, 2021. It was then that the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation recognized strike ball as a full-fledged sport. Although in its homeland, Japan and the United States, it had been recognized as such since the 1960s. To the uninitiated and inattentive casual observer, strike ball is the same as paintball. The essence seems to be the same. Two teams armed with weapons loaded with paint markers must “shoot” (mark) their opponents according to certain rules. However, there are four crucial differences:

• Weapons. In paintball, they do not resemble real weapons, while in airsoft, they are actually pneumatic replicas of real weapons.
• Protective gear. In paintball, it must completely cover the player’s body, while in airsoft, this is not necessary, which means that airsoft players are more mobile but also more susceptible to injury.
• Markers. A paintball marker flies 30-50 meters after firing, while an airsoft marker flies up to 70-100 meters, which requires a different tactic.
• Referees. Airsoft is based on gentleman’s agreements: the players themselves monitor compliance with most of the rules. Breaking the agreement here is as bad form as it is in golf, for example.

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2. Cheerleading

The impetus for the development of this sport was the desire of three American schoolgirls to support their classmates during a baseball game between two American school teams. This happened in… 1898. Of course, cheerleading has come a long way from that modest performance with modest waving of handkerchiefs, but that’s how it all started. Cheerleading gained strength for a very long time in US educational institutions in the form of support groups, was classified, became more complex, and only in 1998 did it reach the international level, organizing itself into an international federation. In 2001, the first world championship was held. Now it is one of the most exciting new sports with great prospects. By the way, cheerleading today is not only for girls and young women.

3. Skateboarding

The first homemade skateboard prototypes appeared in the United States in the 1930s, created by Californian surfers (was the sea not enough for them?), industrial models appeared in the 1960s, and this pastime gained cult status on the streets in the 1970s. The first competitions were held in the 1980s, and official rules appeared in the 1990s. The first world championship was held in 2010, and in 2021, skateboarding made its debut at the Summer Olympics.

4. Breaking

Initially, breaking was simply an American street dance style, part of an informal youth subculture, a good opportunity for agile, strong, confident teenagers of African American descent to express themselves. The dance (especially “low” breakdancing), based on acrobatic tricks, somersaults, and head spins, quickly gained widespread popularity in the 1970s. By the early 2000s, breakdancing competitions had spread beyond the US, creating a need for clear rules and an international federation. In 2004, the prototype of the world championship, Red Bull BC One, was organized. In 2010, a tournament was held at the World Youth Games, and in 2024, breaking will make its debut under the Olympic rings in Paris.

5. Streetball

This version of basketball did not need official recognition for a long time. All it needed was a basketball backboard with a hoop, a small flat area underneath it, a basketball, and, as a rule, six people (two teams of three). It is clear that such a sport could only have emerged in America, a country obsessed with basketball.