Ball Sports (various forms of football, basketball, etc.)
- Association Football (Soccer)
- American Football
- Australian Rules Football
- Gaelic Football
- Rugby Union
- Rugby League
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Softball
- Cricket
- Volleyball
- Beach Volleyball
- Handball
- Futsal
- Beach Handball
- Water Polo
- Lacrosse
- Field Hockey
- Ice Hockey
- Bandminton
- Table Tennis (Ping Pong)
- Tennis
- Squash
- Badminton
- Racquetball
- Padel
- Korfball
- Netball
- Ultimate Frisbee (Flying Disc Sports)
- Bocce
- Bowling (Ten-pin, Nine-pin, Lawn Bowls)
- Croquet
- Golf
- Disc Golf
- Billiards (Pool, Snooker, Carom Billiards)
- Broomball
- Rinkball
- Hurling
- Shinty
- Polo
- Water Polo
- Dodgeball
- Kickball
- Tee-ball
- Wiffleball
Athletics (Track and Field, Running, Jumping, Throwing)
- Sprinting (100m, 200m, 400m)
- Middle-distance running (800m, 1500m)
- Long-distance running (5000m, 10000m, Marathon, Half Marathon, Ultramarathon)
- Relay races
- Hurdles (100m/110m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, Steeplechase)
- Race Walking
- Long Jump
- Triple Jump
- High Jump
- Pole Vault
- Shot Put
- Discus Throw
- Hammer Throw
- Javelin Throw
- Decathlon (Men)
- Heptathlon (Women)
- Pentathlon
- Cross Country Running
- Trail Running
- Mountain Running
- Skyrunning
Combat Sports & Martial Arts
- Boxing
- Wrestling (Freestyle, Greco-Roman, Folkstyle, various regional forms)
- Judo
- Karate
- Taekwondo
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
- Kickboxing
- Muay Thai
- Fencing (Foil, Épée, Sabre)
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Sambo
- Sumo Wrestling
- Wushu
- Aikido
- Kendo
- Krav Maga
- Kung Fu
- Tai Chi Chuan
Gymnastics & Acrobatic Arts
- Artistic Gymnastics
- Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Trampoline Gymnastics
- Acrobatic Gymnastics
- Aerobic Gymnastics
- Parkour/Freerunning
- Calisthenics
- Pole Sports
Cycling Sports
- Road Cycling
- Track Cycling
- Mountain Biking (Cross-country, Downhill, Enduro)
- BMX Racing
- BMX Freestyle
- Cyclo-cross
- Cycle Speedway
- Artistic Cycling
- Cycle Polo
Water Sports
- Swimming (Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly, Individual Medley, Relays)
- Diving (Springboard, Platform, Synchronized)
- Artistic Swimming (Synchronized Swimming)
- Water Polo
- Surfing
- Bodyboarding
- Wakeboarding
- Waterskiing
- Kneeboarding
- Sailing
- Rowing
- Canoeing (Sprint, Slalom)
- Kayaking (Sprint, Slalom, Whitewater)
- Rafting
- Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP)
- Windsurfing
- Kitesurfing
- Jet Skiing
- Scuba Diving
- Underwater Hockey (Octopush)
- Underwater Rugby
Winter Sports
- Alpine Skiing (Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G, Combined)
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Ski Jumping
- Nordic Combined
- Freestyle Skiing (Moguls, Aerials, Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Big Air)
- Snowboarding (Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Big Air, Snowboard Cross, Parallel Giant Slalom)
- Biathlon (Cross-country skiing and shooting)
- Bobsleigh
- Skeleton
- Luge
- Ice Hockey
- Figure Skating (Singles, Pairs, Ice Dance, Synchronized Skating)
- Speed Skating (Long track, Short track)
- Curling
- Ice Stock Sport
- Ski Mountaineering
- Snowshoeing
- Skijoring
Motorsports & Racing
- Formula 1 (F1) Racing
- Rallying
- Motorcycle Racing (MotoGP, Superbike, Motocross)
- Go-Kart Racing
- Stock Car Racing (NASCAR)
- Drag Racing
- Off-road Racing
- Powerboating
- Air Racing
- Snowmobile Racing
- Truck Racing
Animal Sports
- Equestrian Sports (Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Reining, Endurance Riding)
- Horse Racing (Thoroughbred Racing, Harness Racing, Steeplechase)
- Polo
- Rodeo (Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, Roping)
- Dog Sports (Agility, Sled Dog Racing, Flyball, Disc Dog)
- Pigeon Racing
- Falconry (often considered a sport)
- Fishing (Competitive)
- Hunting (Competitive)
Target Sports
- Archery (Target Archery, Field Archery, Clout Shooting)
- Shooting Sports (Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun – Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays)
- Darts
- Bocce
- Bowling
- Golf (various forms)
- Curling
Strength Sports
- Weightlifting (Olympic Weightlifting – Snatch and Clean & Jerk)
- Powerlifting (Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift)
- Strongman
- Bodybuilding
- Functional Fitness (CrossFit)
- Arm Wrestling
- Tug of War
Mind Sports
- Chess
- Bridge (Contract Bridge)
- Go
- Poker (Competitive)
- Esports (Competitive Video Gaming)
- Rubik’s Cube Solving (Speedcubing)
Other / Hybrid Sports
- Triathlon (Swimming, Cycling, Running)
- Duathlon (Running, Cycling, Running)
- Aquathlon (Swimming, Running)
- Modern Pentathlon (Fencing, Swimming, Equestrian Show Jumping, Laser Run – combined shooting and running)
- Orienteering
- Sport Climbing
- Skateboarding
- Roller Skating
- Inline Skating
- Cheerleading
- Dancesport (Competitive Dancing)
- Obstacle Course Racing (OCR)
- Parkour/Freerunning
- Tug-of-War
- Bungee Jumping (often considered an extreme sport/recreational activity)
- Skydiving/Parachuting
- Hang Gliding
- Paragliding
- Gliding
- Caving (Competitive aspects)
- Disc Golf
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Axe Throwing
- Quidditch (Muggle Quidditch)
- Robot Combat
This list is extensive but still not exhaustive, as new sports emerge and variations exist within each category across different cultures and regions.