Taking risks with one’s life in sport competitions is nothing new in the human experience. Gladiatorial competitions in ancient Rome and jousts in medieval Europe are two examples of sports that fit the modern definition of extreme. Extreme sports in their modern form are a recent development and the list of pursuits and sports categorized as “extreme” is long and growing as is the number of athletes and spectators. Extreme sports now form a distinct sector within the larger sports industry, although exactly where it fits is not at all clear. Extreme sports have diffused around the world at a phenomenal rate and far faster than established sports. Extreme sports have benefited.
