Pigskin to pro rackets: Walsall Museum's Summer of Sport reveals origins of Olympic sports

Table tennis - played with pigskin bats - was a popular parlour game among the upper classes in Victorian times. Before graphite composite tennis racquets, heavy wooden ones had to do. Walsall Museum is currently telling tales of sport’s rapid evolution...

Tennis is thought to derive from a hand ball game played in 12th century France, called jea de paume. Rackets came into use in the 16th century, and the modern game began to be played in 19th century England.

It was played at the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics, but dropped after the 1924 Games. It returned in 1988 and has been an Olympic sport ever since.

Table tennis originated in Britain during the 1880s, when it was played by the upper classes as an after-dinner parlour game using books and golf balls.

Ping pong and whiff waff were early nicknames for the game, which has been an Olympic sport since 1988.

Bowls can be traced back to the 13th century. It was banned by several monarchs, including Edward III and Henry VIII, as it was feared that it would jeopardise the practice of archery or become too much of a distraction for servants and apprentices.

The game is played in the Commonwealth Games but is not an Olympic sport.

Cricket dates back to the 16th century, and is thought to have been devised by children living in the Weald in South-East England.

It was played in the 1900 Olympic Games, but has never been re-introduced.

Hockey was developed in England in the 19th century. Early games used a 7oz rubber cube rather than a ball.

It was introduced to the Olympics in 1908. Following a short omission in 1924, the game returned as a permanent fixture in 1928.

Athletic events such as sprinting, long distance running, boxing, wrestling and pentathlon can trace their roots back to the ancient Greek Olympics.

Since 1896, when the modern Olympic movement began, every Summer Olympics has included athletic events.

• Summer of Sport is at the Walsall Museum until September 1 2012.

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