Sports

Palla — Italian word for “ball” and traditional ball games Palla Palla is the Italian word for “ball” and names a family of traditional and modern ball games in Italy. It appears in sport names (pallavolo, pallamano, etc.) and in regional folk g…

Pallone: traditional Italian ball games Pallone Pallone refers to several traditional Italian ball games played with an inflated ball. This article outlines their forms, equipment, history, regional practice, and relation to oth…

Pan American Games A quadrennial multi-sport event for countries and territories of the Americas, combining elite competition, regional development and links to Olympic qualification.

Panama at the Olympics: participation, history, and notable achievements Panama at the Olympics Summary of Panama’s Olympic participation since 1928, its organizing body, major achievements including a 2008 gold, common sports, and distinctive facts about its presence at the…

Panama national football team The Panama national football team represents Panama in international men's football. Governed by FEPAFUT, it competes in CONCACAF and made its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 20…

Panathinaiko Stadium — Athens marble stadium and Olympic landmark Panathinaiko Stadium Historic all‑marble stadium in Athens (Kallimarmaro), restored for the 1896 Olympics; site of ancient Panathenaic contests, modern ceremonies, marathon finishes and public visits.

Panionios F.C. Panionios F.C Greek football club founded in Smyrna in 1890; relocated to Nea Smyrni after 1922. Known for red and blue colours, historic stadium in Athens suburbs, youth development and two Gre…

Pankration: The Ancient Greek Full-Contact Combat Sport Pankration Pankration was an ancient Greek combat event combining grappling and striking. This article explains its rules, techniques, history, cultural importance, notable figures, and its e…

Papua New Guinea at the Olympic Games Papua New Guinea at the Olympics History and overview of Papua New Guinea's participation in the Olympic Games, its National Olympic Committee, sports and challenges, and notable facts about its Olympic record.

Papua New Guinea national football team Overview of the Papua New Guinea men's national football team: governance, history, regional achievements, style, challenges and role in national sport.

Para-alpine skiing: adaptive alpine skiing for athletes with disabilities Para-alpine skiing Para-alpine skiing is alpine skiing adapted for athletes with physical or visual impairments. It includes seated and standing techniques, classification systems, specialised equipm…

Para‑alpine skiing classification: categories, history and competition rules Para-alpine skiing classification Overview of the classification system used to group para‑alpine skiers by functional ability and vision, its evolution, equipment, competition rules and the role of governing bodie…

Para‑Nordic skiing: adapted cross‑country and biathlon for athletes with disabilities Para-Nordic skiing Para‑Nordic skiing comprises adaptive cross‑country skiing and biathlon for athletes with physical impairments or visual impairment, using sit‑skis, outriggers, guides and audio‑gu…

Para‑snowboarding: adaptive snowboarding for athletes with physical impairments Para-snowboarding Overview of para-snowboarding: adaptive equipment, classification, competition formats, history and significance in inclusive winter sport.

Paraguay at the Olympic Games Paraguay at the Olympics Overview of Paraguay’s participation in the modern Olympic Games, including history, organization, sports represented, notable results and legacy.

Paraguay national football team (La Albirroja) Paraguay national football team The Paraguay national football team represents Paraguay in international football. Governed by the national association, it is known for disciplined defense, passionate support, an…

Paralympic Games: international multi-sport competition for athletes with disabilities Paralympic Games The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event for athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments, held in Summer and Winter editions and governed by…

Paraná Clube Brazilian football club from Curitiba formed in 1989 by a merger. Known as the Tricolor, it has competed at state and national levels, plays at Vila Capanema, and maintains a youth…

Parasailing Parasailing is a recreational activity in which a person is towed behind a vehicle while attached to a specially designed canopy and harness, offering aerial views and a sensation…

Paris FC (Paris Football Club) Paris FC Paris FC is a professional football club based in Paris, France. Founded in 1969, it plays at Stade Charléty and competes in the French league system, most recently in the Champion…

Paris-Roubaix: The Hell of the North, a classic one-day cycling race Paris-Roubaix Paris-Roubaix is a historic spring classic in northern France, famed for long cobbled sectors, rough conditions and a velodrome finish. It is one of cycling's oldest and most deman…

Parkour: Principles, History, Techniques and Safety Parkour Overview of parkour: origins, philosophy, common movements, distinctions from freerunning, training methods and safety advice for practitioners.

Parma Calcio 1913 Parma Calcio 1913 is an Italian professional football club from Parma, Emilia-Romagna, known for 1990s European success, youth development, and a recovery from financial collapse t…

Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels are a professional Australian rugby league club based in Parramatta, Sydney. Founded in 1946, they compete in the NRL and have won four premierships, most recently…

Partick Thistle F.C. Partick Thistle F.C., founded in 1876 and nicknamed The Jags, is a Glasgow professional football club based at Firhill Stadium in Maryhill. They play in Scottish League One and are…

PAS Hamedan F.C.: an overview of the Iranian football club PAS Hamedan F.C. PAS Hamedan Football Club is an Iranian professional team based in Hamedan, formed from the relocation of PAS Tehran's license. The club competes in national leagues and serves as…

Passer rating (American and Canadian football) Passer rating A statistical measure that evaluates a football passer's efficiency using completions, yards, touchdowns and interceptions; formulas and scales differ between leagues.

Pato: Argentina’s traditional mounted ball game Pato Pato is Argentina's national equestrian team sport, played on horseback. Blending elements of polo and ball-handling games, it evolved from rural gaucho contests into a regulated m…

Pay driver (motorsport) Pay driver A pay driver is a race driver who secures a seat primarily through personal wealth or sponsorship rather than team hiring on sporting merit. The term appears across Formula 1, Indy…

Pehlwani (Kushti): Traditional South Asian Wrestling Pehlwani Pehlwani, also called kushti, is the classical wrestling style of the Indian subcontinent with roots in native and Persian traditions, practised in akharas and known for distinctiv…

Penalty (ice hockey) An explanation of penalties in ice hockey: what they are, how they are assessed and enforced, common types, historical development, and tactical effects on play.

Penalty kick (association football) Penalty kick A penalty kick is a direct free shot awarded for certain fouls within the penalty area in association football. Rules cover distance, placement, goalkeeper conduct, retakes and its…

Penalty shootout (association football) Penalty shootout A procedure to decide tied association football matches using alternate penalty kicks after extra time; explains rules, history, formats, notable finals and practical implications.

Pennzoil 400 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway) Pennzoil 400 (Las Vegas) Annual NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A roughly 400‑mile early-season event held since 1998; winners traditionally receive a championship belt instead of a tro…

Penrith Panthers (Australian rugby league club) Penrith Panthers Australian professional rugby league club based in Penrith, western Sydney. Founded in 1966, they compete in the NRL and have won multiple premierships while maintaining a strong j…

Pentathlon A pentathlon is a sporting contest comprising five distinct events. Originating in ancient Greece, the format has evolved into several modern variants, including the modern pentath…

Peoria Rivermen (AHL) Peoria Rivermen Professional American Hockey League franchise based in Peoria, Illinois from 2005–2013; relocated in 2013 to become the Utica Comets.

Persian Gulf Pro League Top-tier professional football league in Iran, established in 2001 and rebranded in 2006. Covers format, history, leading clubs, continental qualification and its role in Iranian f…

Peru at the Olympics A concise overview of Peru’s participation in the Olympic Games, its organization, notable achievements, historical moments and wider significance in international sport.

Peru national football team (La Blanquirroja) Peru national football team The Peru national football team represents Peru in international men's football. Known as La Blanquirroja, it has a long history in South American competitions and notable achievem…

Peshawar Zalmi: Pakistan Super League franchise representing Peshawar Peshawar Zalmi Peshawar Zalmi is a Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket franchise founded in 2015 that represents Peshawar and promotes youth engagement through sport and community initiatives.

Pétanque: rules, equipment, history, and play Petanque Pétanque is a French boules game played on gravel or dirt where teams throw metal balls to land closest to a small target ball (cochonnet); popular socially and competitively world…

Peter Mokaba Stadium Multi-purpose stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup; used for football, athletics, concerts and regional events, with an all-seater capacity of arou…

Peterhead F.C.: Scottish football club from Aberdeenshire Peterhead F.C. Peterhead Football Club is a professional Scottish club from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, known as the Blue Toon. Plays in the national league system and is based at Balmoor Stadium.

PFC CSKA Moscow PFC CSKA Moscow is a major Russian football club based in Moscow, historically linked to the Soviet and Russian army, notable for domestic titles and for winning the UEFA Cup in Eu…

PFC CSKA Sofia: Bulgaria’s most successful football club PFC CSKA Sofia PFC CSKA Sofia is a professional football club from Sofia, Bulgaria, known for a record number of national titles and deep runs in European competitions. Overview, history, identit…

PFC Levski Sofia: Bulgarian football club overview and history PFC Levski Sofia PFC Levski Sofia, founded in 1914 and named for national hero Vasil Levski, is one of Bulgaria's most successful football clubs, known for blue colors, passionate supporters and an…

PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgarian professional football club from Plovdiv, founded in 1926; known as Lokomotiv, with black-and-white colors, a large local following and a long-standing rivalry with Botev…