Myanmar has several sports, with some of them having come during British rule.
During British rule, efforts were made to civilise the local people, with British sports identified as one way to aid in this process. After independence in 1948, nation-building initiatives and the desire to unite the people using the native culture led to chinlone being adapted as the national sport.
Burma has a basketball team, which qualified for the Asian Games in the past.
Football is the most popular sport in Myanmar. Similar to football, chinlone () is an indigenous sport that utilises a rattan ball and is played using mainly the feet and the knees, but the head and also the arms may be used except the hands.
Equestrian events were held by the royal army in the time of the Burmese kings in the month of Pyatho (December/January).