'The Wave'* is an activity performed by the spectators of sports events. Thousands of people can take part.

The Wave starts when someone suddenly rises up, stretching his arms above his head, and then sits down again. This motion is immitated by the nearest spectators. It soon spreads over a large area. When viewed from a distance, this gives the impression of a wave racing around the stadium.

Television directors, to the chagrin of their audiences, often seem to consider The Wave more fascinating than the sports action the are supposed to be covering.