EvidenSe // Sport Attention Index
EvidenSe Sport Attention Index
Where the attention is, federation by federation.
You are viewing the archived September 2026 edition. See the current edition →
Every month, EvidenSe ranks the 44 Olympic International Federations on one thing: how much of the world's attention they actually hold.
Attention isn't demand, and it isn't revenue. It's the earliest sign of both.
This edition: 44 federations (36 summer, 8 winter), all Olympic International Federations recognised by the IOC as of this edition's publication date. A federation marked n/a below returned no usable signal this month and is excluded from the ranking and from the group median.
The full method, and this month's movers, are below.
Published on the third of each month by EvidenSe, an independent evidence-led advisory practice for sport organisations, brands and investors, based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Who is rising, who is slipping, and why.
One email a month, when the new edition is live. The movers, the reason behind each move, nothing else.
◈Summer federations
| Rank | Federation | Tier | Index score | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  FIFAFootball | B | 100 | ▲ |
| 2 |  ICCCricket | NEW | 83 | ▼ |
| 3 |  FIBABasketball | B | 67 | ▪ |
| 4 |  World AthleticsAthletics | A | 55 | ▪ |
| 5 |  World TennisTennis | B | 54 | ▪ |
| 6 |  FIVBVolleyball | B | 52 | ▪ |
| 7 |  World BoxingBoxing | C | 52 | ▼ |
| 8 |  WBSCBaseball / softball | NEW | 51 | ▪ |
| 9 |  BWFBadminton | C | 50 | ▪ |
| 10 |  World RugbyRugby | E | 48 | ▪ |
| 11 |  World AquaticsAquatics | A | 46 | ▲ |
| 12 |  UCICycling | B | 44 | ▲ |
| 13 |  UWWWrestling | D | 41 | ▪ |
| 14 |  IGFGolf | E | 40 | ▼ |
| 15 |  ITTFTable tennis | C | 38 | ▲ |
| 16 |  IHFHandball | D | 37 | ▪ |
| 17 |  FEIEquestrian | D | 37 | ▪ |
| 18 |  World TaekwondoTaekwondo | D | 35 | ▪ |
| 19 |  World GymnasticsGymnastics | A | 35 | ▪ |
| 20 |  IJFJudo | C | 34 | ▪ |
| 21 |  World LacrosseLacrosse | NEW | 33 | ▪ |
| 22 |  FIHHockey | D | 32 | ▲ |
| 23 |  FIEFencing | D | 29 | ▪ |
| 24 |  World TriathlonTriathlon | D | 25 | ▪ |
| 25 |  World SquashSquash | NEW | 24 | ▲ |
| 26 |  IFAFFlag football | NEW | 23 | ▼ |
| 27 |  ISASurfing | 23 | ▪ | |
| 28 |  IWFWeightlifting | C | 21 | ▲ |
| 29 |  ISSFShooting | C | 21 | ▲ |
| 30 |  World SkateSkateboarding | 21 | ▼ | |
| 31 |  World ArcheryArchery | C | 21 | ▲ |
| 32 |  World RowingRowing | C | 18 | ▪ |
| 33 |  UIPMModern pentathlon | E | 18 | ▲ |
| 34 |  World ClimbingSport climbing | 16 | ▲ | |
| 35 |  World SailingSailing | D | 13 | ▪ |
| 36 |  Paddle WorldwideCanoe | D | 1 | ▲ |
◈Winter federations
| Rank | Federation | Tier | Index score | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  IIHFIce hockey | W | 100 | ▲ |
| 2 |  FISSkiing / snowboard | W | 73 | ▪ |
| 3 |  World CurlingCurling | W | 68 | ▪ |
| 4 |  ISUSkating | W | 62 | ▲ |
| 5 |  IBSFBobsleigh / skeleton | W | 48 | ▪ |
| 6 |  IBUBiathlon | W | 22 | ▪ |
| 7 |  FILLuge | W | 11 | ▪ |
| 8 |  ISMFSki mountaineering | 1 | n/a |
Seeking a place in the Games
IOC-recognised federations not on the LA28 programme, tracked on the same signals and listed separately.
- World NetballSeeking inclusion
- World Karate FederationSeeking inclusion
- International Floorball FederationIn direct dialogue with Brisbane 2032 organisers, April 2026.Seeking inclusion
- World Flying Disc FederationSeeking inclusion
- International Life Saving FederationSeeking inclusion
- World DanceSport Federation (Breaking)Competed at Paris 2024, not selected for LA28.Seeking inclusion
- World Association of Kickboxing OrganizationsIOC recognised
- International Federation of Muaythai AssociationsIOC recognised
- International Sambo FederationIOC recognised
- International Padel FederationIOC recognised
How the Index is built
Two public signals, measured for both the sport and its federation: Wikipedia monthly pageviews across 16 language editions, weighted by the approximate economic weight of each market; and Google Trends worldwide search interest. Scores are rescaled 1 to 100. Summer and winter federations are ranked separately, since the Olympic cycle would otherwise distort winter readings against summer ones.
This measures earned attention, what the public and the press already give a federation, not owned media (what a federation itself publishes) and not commercial value. A federation can rank highly here and still be undermonetised, or rank modestly and be commercially disciplined. The Index is a starting signal for that conversation, not its conclusion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EvidenSe Sport Attention Index?
A monthly, independent ranking of the 44 Olympic International Federations by global public attention, built from Wikipedia readership and worldwide Google Trends data.
How often is it updated?
Monthly, published on the third of each month.
Which federations are included?
All 44 Olympic International Federations recognised by the IOC: 36 summer federations and 8 winter federations, ranked separately. A further group of IOC-recognised federations seeking future inclusion is tracked separately, below the ranked Index.
What data does it use?
Two public signals for each federation and its sport: Wikipedia readership across 16 language editions, weighted by market, and worldwide Google Trends search interest.
Does a high attention score mean a federation earns more money?
No. Attention is an early signal of demand, not a measure of revenue, sponsorship value or commercial value. The two can move independently.
Can I see the detail behind a specific federation's score?
That level of detail, what moved, why, and what it means for the Bureau, is the Federation Radar, EvidenSe's monthly report for individual federations. See Beyond the ranking below, or book a 30 minute call.
What about sports that aren't on the Olympic programme yet?
A separate list tracks IOC-recognised federations outside the 44, including some publicly pursuing Olympic inclusion. See Seeking a place in the Games above. They are not scored or ranked alongside the Index.
Who publishes the Index?
EvidenSe, an independent evidence-led advisory practice for sport organisations, brands and investors, based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
How should I cite this data?
"Source: EvidenSe Sport Attention Index, index.evidense.io, September 2026." A link to index.evidense.io is appreciated.
Beyond the ranking
The free Index shows where the attention is. The Federation Radar tells your federation what moved this month, why, and what it means for the Bureau: a monthly note, delivered directly, with a quarterly call built in.
For a larger decision, a leadership transition, a broadcast renewal, a new investment case, the Decision Sprint turns three to four weeks of evidence into a board-ready recommendation.
Talk through what the Index shows for your federation. Thirty minutes, no material required in advance.