# 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 |
| 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 |
| Sri Lanka | Volleyball | 1991 | Declared by committee of the Ministry of Sports |
| 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 |
| Australia | 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 |
| Czech Republic | Ice Hockey |
| Dagestan | Wrestling |
| Denmark | Association football |
| Dominican Republic | Baseball |
| England | Association football cricket |
| Estonia | Basketball, Rallying |
| Fiji | Rugby union |
| Finland | Pesäpallo |
| Georgia | Rugby union |
| Grenada | Cricket |
| Guyana | Cricket |
| Haiti | Association football |
| India | Cricket, field hockey, kabaddi |
| Indonesia | Pencak silat |
| Iran | Freestyle wrestling |
| Ireland | Gaelic games |
| Italy | Association football |
| Jamaica | Cricket |
| Japan | Sumo, baseball |
| Latvia | Ice hockey |
| Lithuania | Basketball |
| Madagascar | Rugby union |
| Malaysia | Sepak takraw |
| Mauritius | Association football |
| Mongolia | Archery, horse racing, Mongolian wrestling |
| Montenegro | Water polo |
| Nauru | Australian rules football |
| 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 |
| Sweden | Association football, cross-country skiing, ice hockey |
| Taiwan | Baseball |
| Tajikistan | Gushtigiri |
| Thailand | Muay Thai |
| Turkey | Cirit, oil wrestling |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | Cricket |
| United States | American football, baseball |
| Venezuela | Baseball |
| Wales | Rugby union |