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The enormous importance of having the possession of China is a lot bigger than being the number 1 sport in all of the countries of Europe (47), or Africa (53) or the Western Hemisphere (50 countries) because China has more people than any of these regions. Clearly that is why soccer is the undisputed world game, basically the number 1 sport in more than 180 countries (including China) out around 235 countries in total. And that can be very daunting to believe that soccer would emerge as the number 1 sport in China were more than 4 million basketball teams are scattered across the nation and were Yao Ming would probably be more powerful and more known than the leader of China itself.
Although in one of my books Rugby Union is considered as the third largest sport after soccer and basketball, there are only 10 countries out of around 235 were it is actually more popular than basketball. These are Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Wales, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. My point is even though basketball is probably way below soccer, the gap between basketball and the sports below it is staggering. For example, in China there are no more than 100 rugby union teams compared to basketball’s 4 million or more!!!
Truly in my opinion, basketball and soccer are the two global sports empire trying to carve out their own pieces in the world map. What I mean by pieces of course is the countries. So far soccer is way ahead of this great sporting war having a possession of over 180 countries, while other sports can’t even claim 10 countries, let alone the second place basketball with only four (USA, Puerto Rico, Lithuania and the Philippines).
However we shouldn’t underestimate the true potential of basketball as it is very popular in most nations and it remains as the second sport of choice as well in most countries behind soccer. Back to the topic, and I guess whoever governing sport body that claims number one spot in China whether it is FIFA or FIBA, that sets that particular sport to have a shot of being the world game. In soccer’s case they don’t really need China at all with the amount of countries that they possess that is why soccer is just too powerful that it is also a religion in most countries. However, with soccer being the number 1 sport in China it just gives them extra authority over other sports that they are the lone superpower of world sport.
Please let me know about your thoughts about this article!!!
Although in one of my books Rugby Union is considered as the third largest sport after soccer and basketball, there are only 10 countries out of around 235 were it is actually more popular than basketball. These are Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Wales, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. My point is even though basketball is probably way below soccer, the gap between basketball and the sports below it is staggering. For example, in China there are no more than 100 rugby union teams compared to basketball’s 4 million or more!!!
Truly in my opinion, basketball and soccer are the two global sports empire trying to carve out their own pieces in the world map. What I mean by pieces of course is the countries. So far soccer is way ahead of this great sporting war having a possession of over 180 countries, while other sports can’t even claim 10 countries, let alone the second place basketball with only four (USA, Puerto Rico, Lithuania and the Philippines).
However we shouldn’t underestimate the true potential of basketball as it is very popular in most nations and it remains as the second sport of choice as well in most countries behind soccer. Back to the topic, and I guess whoever governing sport body that claims number one spot in China whether it is FIFA or FIBA, that sets that particular sport to have a shot of being the world game. In soccer’s case they don’t really need China at all with the amount of countries that they possess that is why soccer is just too powerful that it is also a religion in most countries. However, with soccer being the number 1 sport in China it just gives them extra authority over other sports that they are the lone superpower of world sport.
Please let me know about your thoughts about this article!!!
