These sports don't just cost an arm and a leg—they're breaking the whole bank vault!
Finding a sport you love is the key to staying active. While sports like soccer, swimming, and basketball are easy to start with minimal gear, going pro requires significant investment in training and equipment. Many athletes begin their journey as dedicated kids. But some sports, like bobsledding or hot air ballooning, are out of reach for most due to their cost. If you have the budget and a desire to try something extraordinary, here’s a look at some of the world’s most expensive sports!
Ever heard of the Whitianga Festival of Speed in New Zealand? It's not your typical sport you train for—it's a wild race featuring jet skis, helicopters, parachutes, and powerboats, all in one event! This festival started in 2009 in the town of Whitianga and has since hosted over twenty motorsport events every year. The gear isn't easy to come by—you need some pretty pricey vehicles to compete. Think helicopters, fast cars, jet skis, and powerboats, all of which cost a fortune to maintain. The festival's highlight events, like rally cars racing helicopters, jet ski races, and offshore powerboats versus helicopters, draw crowds of 15,000-20,000 spectators annually. It's a unique and thrilling spectacle that brings in enthusiasts from all around.
If we leave out the Whitianga Festival of Speed due to its unique locale, Formula One easily claims the title of the most expensive sport globally. Training and competing in F1 is not just about skill—it's about having deep pockets. Originating in 1950 in Silverstone, England, the sport has evolved into a high-stakes, high-speed spectacle. Today’s drivers have to meet stringent requirements for weight, engine power, aerodynamics, and fuel consumption. And the costs are jaw-dropping: one race can set a team back up to $200,000, with 22 Grand Prix races in a season. The thrill of the chase, the roar of the engines, and the glory of crossing the finish line first are all part of the appeal.
Equestrianism, relying heavily on horses and their training, is one of the most expensive sports. It involves show jumping and dressage, where riders guide horses through obstacles and routines. This sport demands extensive training and a deep bond with the horse. Equestrian events debuted in the Olympics in 1900, with three disciplines: dressage, show jumping, and eventing, overseen by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).
Sailing, possibly the oldest sport, originated around 3100 BCE in Egypt, with further advancements by Austronesian peoples in oceangoing technologies. Today, it remains one of the costliest sports due to the need for expensive sailboats, trained crews, and ongoing equipment maintenance. Sailboats can range from $100,000 to $700,000, and with the sailing season primarily in the summer, maintenance costs add up year-round. Olympic sailing has been a staple since 1896, making it one of the longest-running Olympic disciplines.
Pentathlon is among the costliest sports today, involving swimming, fencing, horseback riding, and running. Training, coaching, and equipment are substantial investments for professional athletes. Success demands exceptional skill across all disciplines. Updated rules from the 2020 Olympics focus on swimming, fencing, and equestrian events to determine start times, followed by a lengthy run to finish.
Besides these, sports like tennis, ski jumping, bobsleigh, and even hot air balloon racing are known to be some of the most expensive sports in the world.
