National sport

A national sport is a physical activity or sport that is culturally significant or deeply embedded in a nation, serving as a national symbol and an intrinsic element to a nation's identity and culture.

Several sovereign states and constituent states have formally recognized a specific activity as their national sport, typically favouring sports with origins stemming from their own countries. Conversely, in many other nations, the designation of a national sport is an informal acknowledgment bestowed upon an activity that is either widely embraced or holds historical and cultural significance to that nation.

Official national sports

An official national sport is an activity that has been formally recognized and designated as a national sport of a particular nation by government authorities. This recognition often comes through legislation or decrees.

The following is a list official national sports:

Country/territory Sport Year of official recognition Basis Ref
Argentina Pato 1953 Argentina Decree Nº 17468
Canada Ice hockey (winter)
Lacrosse (summer)
1994 National Sports of Canada Act
Chile Chilean Rodeo 1962 Official letter No. 269 of the Consejo Nacional de Deportes and Chilean Olympic Committee
Colombia Tejo 2000 Colombia Law 613
Mexico Charrería 1933 Presidential decree by Abelardo L. Rodríguez
Nepal Volleyball 2017 Cabinet of Nepal decision
Philippines Arnis 2009 Republic Act No. 9850
Puerto Rico Paso Fino 1966 Puerto Rico Act 64 of 2000
South Korea Taekwondo 2018 National Sport Designation Act for Taekwondo
Uruguay Destrezas Criollas 2006 National Law Nº 17958

Unofficial national sports

An unofficial national sport is an activity that holds significant popularity or cultural and historical significance within a particular nation but lacks legal recognition as the official national sport. These informal national sports typically reflect a nation's preferences and their perceived connection to the nation's culture and identity. The designation of an unofficial national sport can be contentious, as it can vary within a nation based on regional preferences and traditions.

The following is a list of unofficial national sports:

Country/Territory Sport
Afghanistan Buzkashi
Anguilla Boat racing
Antigua and Barbuda Cricket
Austria Alpine skiing
Bangladesh Kabaddi
Barbados Cricket
Bermuda Cricket
Bhutan Archery
Brazil Capoeira
Cambodia Bokator
China Table tennis
Cook Islands Rugby league
Cuba Baseball
Dagestan Wrestling
Denmark Association football
Dominican Republic Baseball
England Association football,[better source needed] cricket
Estonia Basketball
Fiji Rugby union
Finland Pesäpallo
Georgia Rugby union
Grenada Cricket
Guyana Cricket
Haiti Association football
India Cricket, field hockey, kabaddi
Indonesia Pencak silat
Ireland Gaelic games
Jamaica Cricket
Japan Sumo
Latvia Ice hockey
Lithuania Basketball
Madagascar Rugby union
Malaysia Sepak takraw
Mauritius Association football
Mongolia Archery, horse racing, Mongolian wrestling
Montenegro Water polo
Nepal Kabaddi, volleyball
New Zealand Rugby union
Norway Cross-country skiing
Pakistan Field hockey
Panama Baseball
Papua New Guinea Rugby league
Peru Paleta frontón
Philippines Basketball, sipa
Poland Motorcycle speedway, volleyball
Romania Oina
Russia Bandy
Saudi Arabia Camel racing, horse racing, falconry
Scotland Golf
Serbia Basketball
Slovenia Alpine skiing
Spain Association football
Sri Lanka Volleyball
Taiwan Baseball
Tajikistan Gushtigiri
Thailand Muay Thai
Turkey Cirit, oil wrestling
Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket
United States Baseball
Venezuela Baseball
Wales Rugby union

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-01-18 10:45 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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