National sport

A national sport is a sport or game that is measured to be a popularly fundamental part of the culture or is the most popular sport of a country or nation. In American English the term national is pastime often to be used.

Although there are usually no official parameters towards defining what a national sport is, there is some general individuality that most national sports share the rules and objectives of the sport or game are known in fairly great detail in the country or nation. The game or sport is widely played or watched in the country or nation.

The game or sport has a long history of popularity or extreme current status in the country or nation. In some countries, sport or game can become the official national pastime by authorization of the government, such as in Canada with lacrosse and ice-hockey in 1994. In other countries, where the sport or game has such a long history, such as with baseball in the United States or sumo wrestling in Japan, the sport or game is often measured a de facto "official" national pastime. This article usually goes by the popularity of the sports in all the countries.