You will agree with me that sports are a fundamental part of our culture. They are so important to society both in terms of physical exercise, as well as tradition. But then, some go beyond culture and are made national sports by law. Below are the three most popular national sports.
Capoeira (Brazil)
For many, soccer ought to be the national sport in Brazil, but it isn’t. Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, is. It was made a national sport in Brazil in 1972 though its roots can be traced back to the 16th C. Established by African slaves in Brazil, Capoeira blends acrobatics, dance, and music. In popular culture, Capoeira is used as a fighting technique and has even featured in MMA and UFC.
Taekwondo (South Korea)
You must have heard about Taekwondo, at least in movies. But did you know it is South Korea’s national sport? While Korean martial art has a long history in the Korean culture, it was made a national sport in 2018. The fighting sport is characterized by fast head-height kicking techniques and is also part of popular culture, via Taekwondo movies, and even worldwide competitions like the Olympic Games.
Lacrosse (Canada)
Lacrosse was made a national sport in Canada in 1994, together with ice hockey. The game is the oldest organized sport in entire North America and hence the popularity. Lacrosse is played with a lacrosse stick and a lacrosse ball. Besides the ball and stick, there are other protective gear and equipment, depending on the variation. There are four lacrosse variants, namely field lacrosse, box lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and intercrosse.
There you have it folks, three most popular national sports. These are not the only ones. Other worthy mentions include Paso Fino (Puerto Rico), Destrezas Criollas Skills (Argentina), Charreria (Mexico), and Rodeo (Chile), among others.