Sports in the Philippines

There are seven major sports in the Philippines: basketball, boxing, tennis, football, billiards, armwrestling and volleyball.

[5] Such sports activity as the sport of cockfighting, related to ritual forms of worship as practices and rituals of ancient worship intended for the blessings of the supernatural, as "in Indus Valley and other ancient civilizations, mother goddess had been invoked for fertility and prosperity"[6] which included that religious cockfight lay as a prime example of "cultural synthesis of 'little' and 'great' cultures"[7] Arnis is officially recognized as a national sport as per Republic Act No.

[8] The Philippines has produced more than 40 boxing world champions such as Luisito Espinosa, Donnie Nietes, Gerry Peñalosa, and Johnriel Casimero.

Some Filipino boxers such as Nonito Donaire, Gabriel Elorde, Pancho Villa and Manny Pacquiao are recognized internationally.

The country continually produces talented fighters, often in the junior featherweight division (122 pounds and below).

The first Olympic sized ice skating rink was opened at the SM Mall of Asia.

[10] Basketball was introduced in the country during the American colonial era and was one of the sports contested at the now defunct Far Eastern Championship Games.

The men's national team has competed in the Summer Olympics making their debut in 1936 although they have been absent in the recent editions of the Games.They have also competed in the FIBA World Cup with the country hosting the tournament when it was still known as the FIBA World Championships in 1978.Their third-place finish in the 1954 edition was their best performance in the tournament.

Internationally, competitors are given the opportunity to represent the country in tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games as well as the Olympics.

The first baseball game in the Philippines was played in September 1898 weeks after the Battle of Manila, a match between Astor Battery led by George Wetlaufer and a regiment from the American Army.

[12][13] Clubs have also been established by Papua New Guinean expats and students (where rugby league is their national sport).

[14][15][16] The national team are known as the Tamaraws and represents the country in international rugby league competition.

There are currently around 12 schools playing rugby union in the Philippines and 10 teams that compete in regular competition.

The national team is known as the Volcanoes and competes in the Asia Rugby Championship and the Asian Sevens Series.

[20] Gymnast Carlos Yulo became the country's first multi-Olympic champion after winning two gold medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics.