The four most popular European Sports other than Soccer are Olympic Handball (invented in Germany or Denmark, also known as Team Handball or European Handball), Water Polo (invented in Scotland), and Volleyball (invented in Massachusetts). All of these sports were invented in the late 19th to early 20th Century, and are among the most popular sports in the many Arenas around Europe. Indoor Soccer (also Arena Soccer and Futsal) can be included in this section. European Countries are frequent winnersof the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in these sports in the Olympics and World Championships.

European Traditional Sports include many versions of Traditional or Medieval Handball, Pelota, Football, Hockey, and Baseball. Calcio Fiorentino is a Renaissance Football Game first played by workers in breaks between work, and is the oldest organised sport. Lelo is a Georgian version of Football or Rugby and is perhaps the reason why Rugby Union is so popular in the country. Team Handball variations include Pelota a Mano and Jai Alai in Spain and the Basque Country, and Kaatsen (Frisian Handball in the Netherlands). Palla Tamburello / Jeu de Tambourine is a team racquet sport played with a tambourine-like racquet, and is popular in most Italy and France. Traditional Handball and Basque Pelota are to be found under the GAA Menu in Navigation Bar.

There are also versions of Ice Hockey (Bandy in Russia and Scandinavia), Roller Hockey (Portugal’s National Sport), and Ball Hockey (Unihoc Floorball) which are like Ice Hockey but played on hard floors with runners and a puck (Unihoc) or ball (Floorball) which originate in Europe.

Basketball variations include Korfball, popular in Netherlands and Belgium. Baseball varieties include Pesapallo (Finland’s National sport where players run in zig-zags through the bases), Branboll in Sweden and Denmark.

Traditional European Football

Calcio Storico Fiorentino (Overviews):

Calcio Storico Fiorentino Finals 1952-Present

Traditional Team Handball

CIJB Pelota a Mano (World Championships):

CIJB Confederacion Internacional de Pelota a Mano Mundial Llargues 1996-Present

European Baseball Variations

Finnish Pesapallo:

Pesapallo on Independence Day at the Finnish Embassy in Ireland 6 December

European Team Racquet Sports

Palla Tamburello /Jeu de Tambourine

Federazione Italiana Palla Tamburello Women’s Serie A Super Cup Roll of Honour 2005-Present

Federazione Italiana Palla Tamburello Men’s Serie A Super Cup Roll of Honour 2007-Present

Federazione Italiana Palla Tamburello – Open Serie A Men & Women (Seasons): 2019