Sports, Fitness & Outdoors

Since time immemorial, people have been awed and inspired by extraordinary human beings who are able to perform tremendous athletic feats, others enjoy being the ones to perform sports wonders.

Check out this list of the most popular sports in the world - did your favourite make the list?

• Soccer/Football - few things can rival football as a spectator sport and this is also matched by the number of people who participate in the sport. One reason for football’s popularity is that unlike other sports that require expensive equipment, all you need to play football is a ball and your foot, so anyone can play!
• Cricket - the majority of participants of this sport come from Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa and the UK, but cricket is also on the rise in other countries all over the world.
• Hockey - hockey, both on ice and in a field, boasts a following of two billion people.
• Tennis - widely recognised as the most popular individual sport in the world, tennis is played by an estimated number of 60 million men and women around the world.
• Volleyball - indoor and outdoor versions of the sport are played all over the world.
• Table Tennis - this indoor sport has become more and more popular over the years, with integration in schools, social clubs and sports centres across the world.
• Basketball - legendary figures in the world of basketball such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, have aided the rise in global popularity of the sport from its American roots.
• Baseball - historically, baseball was more popular in America than anywhere else in the world but the sport is now becoming increasingly popular the world over. Fun fact: Softball is the female version of the game.
• Rugby - similar to American football, Rugby originated in England and is now most popular in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
• Golf - golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century. Interestingly, however, the word golf originated in the Netherlands, from the word “kolf” or “kolve,” which translates to “club”.

Should you choose to shop from the comfort of your home online, here are some tips and tricks to make sure you shop safely, securely and smartly:

• Shop with trusted online retailers or do thorough research before making purchases from unknown retailer sites.
• Never provide your credit card information if you do not see the ‘padlock’ on the upper left-hand side of your address bar, or if the address begins with “http://” instead of “https://”.

• Keep your information private. If the retailer asks for too much information such as your birth-date and social security numbers, do not complete the transaction.
• After shopping online, it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on all your banking statements, checking them weekly rather than by the month, just in case something slipped to a hacker. Notify your cardholder service if there are any discrepancies immediately.
• Maintain good virus protection on your computer to prevent spyware and other hacks from accessing your information. Many trusted anti-virus services are available online for free so you can take advantage of convenient online shopping.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi to do your shopping, rather use secure connections.
• Be cautious of unsolicited emails and pop-up internet adverts with too-good-to-be-true offers. Use caution when a deal is drastically better than others and always double-check before clicking on ads.