Top 10 Most Popular Sports in Canada
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| Popular Sports of Canada. Photo: KnowInsiders |
Canada is widely known as a sports-loving country. Canadian people always like to do some physical activity to avoid obesity and most importantly, to cope with the cold environment. Canada is a generous country where people all of the world are settled in here and share their own sports and culture with the native Canadians.
Thus Canada has become a country of variety of games and sports. The country have also showed their dominance in world sports as well as in Olympic games. It is already known that, winter sports in Canada are very much popular all over the world.
The List of 10 Most Popular Sports in Canada
1. Ice Hockey
2. Lacrosse
3. Basketball
4. Baseball
5. Canadian Football
6. Rugby
7. Soccer Sports
8. Cricket
9. Curling
10. Golf
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Which are the 10 Most Popular Sports in Canada?
1. Ice Hockey
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| Photo: Canadian Olympic Team |
Ice hockey is considered to be the most popular sport in Canada, as the sport having been named as the official national sport in Canada. The Canadian Ice hockey league, “National Hockey League (NHL)” is established both in Canada and United States. Canada has 7 teams currently playing in NHL, namely Calgary, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg.
Canada has other teams in the minor North American professional ice hockey leagues. Canada also arranges some strong semi-professional and amateur ice hockey leagues. Ice hockey is governed by the” Hockey Canada”. Ice hockey is number one in the list of top 10 most popular sports in Canada.
2. Lacrosse
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| Photo: Sportsnet |
As far back as the 17tth century, lacrosse has been a game Canadians have engaged in with utter delight.
A fast-paced sport that has gained momentum since it was recognized as a summer Olympics game, lacrosse is considered Canada’s summer sport, attracting thousands of fans.
Though the sport may not be enjoyed by many outside Canada’s shores, lacrosse has established itself as a popular sport in the North American nation.
Canada is also considered a major rival in the world lacrosse stage.
In 2006, a fierce and determined Canada ended a 28-year lacrosse tournament drought when they won the World Lacrosse Championship defeating the USA.
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3. Basketball
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| Photo: Sportsnet |
Originally, Basketball is a team sport, which is invented by a Canadian, James Naismith in 1891. He invented the sport considering it’s indoor recreational value. He was trying to find a safer sport, which requires skill, not power to throw ball. Now, basketball has progressed to a highly skilled sport all over the world. It is documented that, basketball was played in Canada prior to 1900.
The official governing body for basketball in Canada is named “Basketball Canada”, which was formed in 1928. A new generation of Canadian basketball had began in 1994, when NBA of United States awarded franchises to 2 Canadian teams, the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies. Professional basketball came to Canada through that initiatives for the first time.
4. Baseball
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| Photo: Vancouver Sun |
Baseball has a long history in Canada, especially considering the increasing peak viewership numbers over the last decades. This game needs no introduction in Canada. A Major League Baseball is a premier tournament involving all the best professional teams in the country.
Aside from the participation of Canadian teams in the mentioned American league, dozens of semi-professional and amateur teams exist. They compete in dozens of local leagues and championships. After all, baseball is quite a common game for most Canadians, making it so popular and recognizable, after all.
5. Canadian Football
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| Photo: Football Canada |
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played by two teams, each consisting of twelve players.
With its origin in rugby football in the early 1860s, football has, over time, developed into Canadian football.
The sport’s top professional league in the country is the Canadian Football League (CFL), while Football Canada governs the amateur plays.
Interestingly, the CFL’s championship game is one of Canada’s biggest sporting events, which attracts massive TV viewers.
According to a report in 2014, about 33% of the Canadian population tuned in to watch the Grey Cup.
While the sport is played at the semi-professional level in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), it is also played at high school, junior, and collegiate levels.
6. Rugby
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| Photo: The Globe and Mail |
Rugby football was distinguished from soccer (football in Europe) in 1863 and the Rugby football union was formed in England in 1871. British garrison troops, settlers and the Royal Navy members possibly introduced rugby to Canada from 1823 onward. Now, Canada is one of the strongest contenders in world rugby. The national coaching certification program has played a vital role in developing Canadian rugby.
Canada’s vigorous promotion in rugby was apparent when the team participated in the inaugural Rugby world cup in 1987, which was held in Australia and New Zealand. The Canada national team stunned the world in 1991 Rugby world cup by advancing to the quarter-finals. We placed the game at No. 4 in the list of top 10 most popular sports in Canada.
7. Soccer Sports
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| Photo: Toronto FC |
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. However, it is the 7th most popular sport in Canada. Since the inception of soccer in 1876, soccer has been popular ever since then.
Canada undoubtedly has so many soccer lovers with more than 3 million professional players as of now. With the high number of players, there’s no doubt that soccer is the most popular sport in Canada when it comes to participation.
The Canadian Soccer Association; a body that governs the sport, takes charge over the Major League Soccer and the Canadian Premier League where players compete for the championship trophy.
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8. Cricket
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| Photo: Sportsnet |
Cricket is gradually becoming popular in Canada. The country achieved the membership of ICC in 1968 in order to increase opportunities for international cricket competition. The remarkable milestone was achieved by the Canadians, when they defeated the Australians in 1975. So far, the Canadian National Cricket Team has competed in four ICC Cricket World Cups, lastly in 2011.
The cricket team frequently appears in international and national cricket tournaments. The immigrants of different countries have contributed in developing cricket in Canada. Recently, Canada is focusing on active youth development, school programs, coaching and umpiring programs related to cricket.
9. Curling
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| Photo: 660 News |
Although curling may be unfamiliar to other countries, in Canada, it is well known and well played.
The origin of curling began in Scotland during the medieval period.
This chess on ice game is played mostly in Manitoba, Prairie Provinces and Alberta.
Curling Canada organizes the national curling championship every year, and the Canada Club Championship attracts public attention from all over the world.
10. Golf
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| Photo: The Globe and Mail |
What game can be more exciting to watch any summer than golf? This sports discipline is enormously popular all across the country, especially in Toronto and Quebec. Golf is literally flourishing in Canada, which allowed Canadians to become one of the best golf playing country in the world. Thanks to the presence of dozens of local leagues and amateur championships, golf is a discipline that has a promising future. It is never too late to start!
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