Numerous scenes showing ancient Egyptians practicing sports were found on the walls of temples, pyramids and elsewhere. Due to the seminal role that the Nile played in the lives of the ancient Egyptians water sports were among the most favourite ones. Both swimming and boat races were widely practiced. When it comes to sports played on land, wrestling was the most widespread discipline. A large majority of the sports practiced in those times were regulated by a set of rules the implementation of which was overseen by neutral referees. It was a great honour winning a sports competition and such spectacles were regularly attended by the royal family and high Egyptian aristocracy. Pharaohs, princes and other highly ranking people of considerable means were also known to sponsor certain disciplines and teams providing the necessary equipment, accommodation as well as the food for the players. So far, the egyptologists have managed to ascertain that the following sports were played in ancient Egypt: gymnastics, hockey, javelin throw, equestrian sports, boxing, handball, weightlifting, high jump, rowing, tug of hoop, tug of war, stick fencing, archery and marathon. It can be safely said that the list doesn't differ very much from the sports played today. More or less all of the mentioned disciplines were practiced by all the strata of the Egyptian society, but women participated in a few disciplines only. Both aristocrats and commoners could be found practicing all of the mentioned disciplines but an exception to this rule was archery. In ancient Egypt archery had always been associated with the upper classes as it was more often practiced for entertainment rather than for the purposes of war. Apart from swimming, gymnastics and athletics, certain number of ball games was also practiced by ancient Egyptians. A game resembling handball was the most popular one, but it is believed that ball games didn't attract a huge fan following as they do today. A sports discipline associated with the state protocol was marathon as it accompanied the coronation festivities every time a new pharaoh acceded the throne.

Popular sports nowadays

Three millenia later the most popular sport in Egypt is soccer, but it should also be said that squash has a surprisingly numerous following in this country. Other popular disciplines include tennis and baseball. Egypt underwent a sort of sports renaissance when the monarchy was overthrown in 1952. The young republic sought ways of boosting its prestige internationally so it started investing into sports in the hope of raising the country's profile internationally. Today, the biggest medal earners for Egypt are its weightlifters, boxers and swimmers. The popularity of martial arts such as tae kwon do and judo has been rising recently as well. However, team-sports continue to enjoy greatest popularity, especially basketball and volleyball. As it has already been mentioned the most popular sport in Egypt is soccer. The strongest soccer clubs are Cairo's al-Ahli and el-Zamalek and both of them have also won African championships several times. Like elsewhere in the world, soccer is the most profitable sport here as the matches played by big Egyptian teams draw more than 50,000 spectators per match on average. Egyptian soccer also has one of the longest traditions on the continent - Egypt's national team, the Pharaohs, was the first African team to participate in the World Cup held in Italy in 1934. Having won the African Cup of Nations several times, the Pharaohs, are also one of the strongest national teams in Africa. Furthermore, Egypt also has the longest tradition in Africa of sending athletes to the Olympic games. The country participated in summer Olympics for the first time in 1912 in Stockholm.