Sports events attract large crowds both at the venue and over broadcast channels. Some of the world’s most popular sports like football, cricket, and basketball collectively attract billions of viewers each year. Within these sports, there are specific competitions that attract more viewers than others. Below are some of the most viewed sporting events around the world.
1. Tour de France
The Tour de France is the most prestigious and challenging bicycle race in the world. The prolific race whose first edition was in 1903 attracts about 3.5 billion viewers annually. The race takes place in France and nearby countries. Tour de France is organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation and involves 21 stages which are raced over 23 days.
2. Word Cup
In terms of popularity, the Soccer World Cup is among the top sporting events. This is made possible by the 3.3 billion viewers around the world. The 32-team tournament that is subject to change is held every four years. Concerning the latest 2018 edition, there were more than three billion TV viewers. This figure is almost half of the world’s population. The final games record the highest viewership compared to other matches.
3. Cricket World Cup
Cricket is a highly loved sport globally with the Cricket World Cup being the sport’s elite competition. The event lasts for six weeks hosting ten teams. This sporting event has retained its popularity gaining a viewership of 2.6 billion people. In most occasions, the tournament is held after every four years.
4. Summer Games
The Summer Games is a multisport event usually held every four years. Since the event’s inauguration in 1896 in Athens, it has attracted 2 billion viewers globally. The highly watched event is held every four years and involves sporting activities such as baseball, archery, cycling, golf, tennis and many more.
5. Winter Games
The Winter Games rank 5th in terms of viewership, having an average of 1.9 billion people tuned in. In every four years, there is an edition of the event held over 17 days. The popular event consists of many sports like ice hockey, snowboarding, curling and cross-country skiing.