Sports Facts for Kids

Bowling used to have 9 pins until it was outlawed, so they added a 10th pin and changed the arrangement to get around the law.

The first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 — only 13 teams participated.

The marathon distance of 26.2 miles was set at the 1908 Olympics so the race could finish in front of the royal family's viewing box.

Skateboarding was invented by California surfers in the 1950s who attached roller skate wheels to wooden boards.

NBA basketball courts are made of maple wood because it's strong, hard, and light-coloured.

Fencing is one of only five sports that have been featured at every modern Olympic Games since 1896.

A typical professional cricket match can go through up to 80 balls because they get scuffed and worn out.

Surfers rub wax on their boards for grip — the wax is often scented with coconut or bubblegum.

Every baseball used in a Major League game is rubbed with special mud from a secret location in New Jersey.

The word "gymnastics" comes from the Greek word "gymnos" meaning naked — ancient Greek athletes performed without clothes.