General Knowledge / List of countries and their national games
A national sport is considered to be an intrinsic part
of the culture of a nation. Some sports are de facto (not established by law)
national sports, as baseball is in the United States and Gaelic
games are in the Ireland , while others are de jure (established
by law) national sports, as lacrosse and ice hockey are in Canada .
These sports are not necessarily the most played or most followed, which would
be association football in all but a few countries, but rather are
those widely considered to be important or significant for the nation's culture.
De jure national sports
|
S.No
|
Country
|
National Sport
|
Year defined as
national sport
|
|
1
|
Argentina
|
Pato
|
1953
|
|
2
|
Bahamas
|
Cricket
|
1973
|
|
3
|
Bangladesh
|
Kabaddi
|
1972
|
|
4
|
Bhutan
|
Archery
|
1971
|
|
5
|
Brazil
|
Capoeira
|
1972
|
|
6
|
Canada
|
Lacrosse (summer)
Ice hockey (winter)
|
1994
|
|
7
|
Chile
|
Rodeo
|
1962
|
|
8
|
Colombia
|
Tejo
|
2000
|
|
9
|
Iran
|
Varzesh-e Bastani, Wrestling, Polo
|
1976
|
|
10
|
Mexico
|
Charrería
|
1933
|
|
11
|
Namibia
|
Football, Netball, Rugby
|
2018
|
|
12
|
Nepal
|
Volleyball
|
2017
|
|
13
|
Philippines
|
Arnis
|
2009
|
|
14
|
Puerto Rico (United States)
|
Paso Fino
|
1966
|
|
15
|
South Korea
|
Taekwondo
|
2018
|
|
16
|
Sri Lanka
|
Volleyball
|
1991
|
|
14
|
Uruguay
|
Destrezas Criollas
(Creole [i.e. gaucho] Skills)
|
2006
|
De facto national sports
|
S.No
|
Country
|
National Sport
|
|
1
|
Afghanistan
|
Buzkashi
|
|
2
|
Anguilla
|
Boat racing
|
|
3
|
Antigua and Barbuda
|
Cricket
|
|
4
|
Austria
|
Alpine skiing
|
|
5
|
Bermuda
|
Cricket
|
|
6
|
Basque Country
|
Basque pelota
|
|
7
|
Barbados
|
Cricket
|
|
8
|
Cuba
|
Baseball
|
|
9
|
Denmark
|
Darts
|
|
10
|
Dominican Republic
|
Baseball
|
|
11
|
England
|
Cricket, Association football, Rugby football, tennis
|
|
12
|
Estonia
|
Basketball (summer), Ice hockey (winter)
|
|
13
|
Finland
|
Pesäpallo
|
|
14
|
Georgia
|
Rugby union
|
|
15
|
Grenada
|
Cricket
|
|
16
|
Guyana
|
Cricket
|
|
14
|
Haiti
|
Association football
|
|
15
|
India
|
Field Hockey
|
|
16
|
Indonesia
|
Pencak Silat
|
|
17
|
Israel
|
Association football
|
|
18
|
Ireland
|
Gaelic games
|
|
19
|
Italy
|
Palio, Pallone, Tamburello, Bocce
|
|
20
|
Jamaica
|
Cricket
|
|
21
|
Japan
|
Sumo
|
|
22
|
Latvia
|
Ice hockey
|
|
23
|
Lithuania
|
Basketball
|
|
24
|
Madagascar
|
Rugby union
|
|
25
|
Malaysia
|
Sepak takraw
|
|
26
|
Mauritius
|
Association football
|
|
27
|
Mongolia
|
Archery, Mongolian wrestling, Horse racing
|
|
28
|
New Zealand
|
Rugby union
|
|
29
|
Norway
|
Cross-country skiing (winter)
|
|
30
|
Pakistan
|
Field hockey
|
|
31
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Rugby league
|
|
32
|
Peru
|
Paleta Frontón
|
|
33
|
Philippines
|
Sipa
|
|
34
|
Romania
|
Oina
|
|
35
|
Russia
|
Bandy
|
|
36
|
Scotland
|
Golf
|
|
37
|
Serbia
|
Basketball
|
|
38
|
Slovenia
|
Alpine skiing
|
|
39
|
South Africa
|
Rugby union
|
|
40
|
Spain
|
Football
|
|
41
|
Tajikistan
|
Gushtigiri
|
|
42
|
Taiwan
|
Baseball
|
|
43
|
Turkey
|
Oil wrestling & Cirit
|
|
43
|
Turks and Caicos Islands
|
Cricket
|
|
44
|
United States
|
Baseball
|
|
45
|
Venezuela
|
Baseball
|
|
46
|
Wales
|
Rugby union [
|
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