There are 124 sports that start with the letter B. From Backgammon to Bynoe’s Gecko Racing. Sports, as a structured form of physical activity, play a vital role in cultures worldwide, serving as a means of entertainment, competition, and community engagement. Activities can range from team sports, like soccer and basketball, to individual pursuits like athletics and swimming. The evolution of sports has been influenced by various cultural, social, and technological factors, leading to the establishment of governing bodies, international competitions like the Olympics, and extensive professional leagues. Sports contribute significantly to physical health, social bonding, and can even have a positive economic impact on communities through events and tourism.

One interesting fun fact about sports is that cricket, often regarded as a national pastime in countries like India and England, is played by more than 120 countries and has a dedicated following of over 2.5 billion fans worldwide, making it one of the most popular sports globally.

Here’s what each of the columns in the table means:

Origin Country: This column indicates the country where the sport was first developed or is considered to have originated.

Player Count: This represents the typical number of players involved in a game or match, reflecting the format of the sport—whether it is individual or team-based.

Equipment Needed: This column lists the primary gear or tools necessary to participate in the sport, which could vary widely depending on the nature of the activity.

Description: This provides a brief overview of the sport, outlining its rules, objectives, and how it is generally played or competed.

Sports That Start With B

Sports origin country player count equipment needed
Backgammon Mesopotamia 2 Backgammon set
Badger Ball United States 2-6 players Ball, goals
Badminton England 2 or 4 Racket, Shuttlecock
Baguazhang China 1 or more None
Baguazhang Boxing China 1 None
Baguette Fencing France 2 Baguettes
Baizhu China 2 players Ball, net
Baji Quan China 1 or more None
Bak Mei China 1 None
Balanceboard Skiing United States 1 Balanceboard
Balle Pelote Belgium 2-4 Ball, racket
Balloon Tennis Europe 2 or more Balloon, racket-like implements
Balonmano Spain 7 per team Ball
Balut Philippines 2 or more Dice, doubling cube
Bameliga Iran 2 Ball
Bandmine Russia 2 Ball, net
Bandminton India 2-4 players Badminton racket, feathered shuttlecock
Bando Myanmar 2 teams of 5-10 players Bando tube, bando ball
Bandy Sweden 2 teams of 11 Skates, Sticks, Ball
Banger Racing United Kingdom Varies Race Cars
Banger Skis United Kingdom 1 Banger skis, tow rope
Bangla India 2 or more Ball, sticks
Bannister Ball United States 2 teams of 2-4 players Bannister ball, court
Banquet Ball India 2-4 Ball, Sticks
Bantumi Tanzania 2 Board, stones
Bao Tanzania 2 Bao board, seeds or stones
Barbu France 4 Cards
Barby United States 2 teams of 4-6 players Barby ball, barby goals
Barefoot Running Kenya 1 None
Barefoot Skiing United States 1 No equipment
Barehanded Boxing Various 2 None
Barge Sailing Netherlands 1-4 Barge, sail, rudder
Barjangir Iran 2 Barjangir board, game pieces
Barrel jumping United States 1 Barrel
Barrel Racing United States 1 Horse, Barrel
Baschet Romania 2 vs 2 Baschet ball, two baskets
Baseball United States 2 teams of 9 Bat, Ball, Gloves
Basketball United States 2 teams of 5 Ball, Hoop
Basque Handball Spain 2 players Handball, fronton court
Basque Pelota Spain 2 or more Racket, ball
Basse Lende Afghanistan 2 teams Ball, goals
Bataireacht Ireland 2 fighters Ash wood stick
Batak Indonesia 2-4 Cards
Baton Twirling United States 1 performer Baton
Battledore and Shuttlecock China, Japan 2 Battledores, shuttlecock
Beach Flag United States 2+ None
Beach Flags Australia Individual Flag, starting line
Beach Football Brazil 2 teams of 5 Ball
Beach Handball Norway 2 teams of 4 Ball, Goal
Beach Polo Argentina 2 teams of 3 Horse, Mallet, Ball
Beach Rugby South Africa 2 teams of 7 Ball
Beach Soccer Brazil 2 teams of 5 Ball, Goals
Beach Tennis Italy 2-4 Racket, Ball
Beach Volleyball Brazil 2 teams of 2 Ball, Net
Beach Wrestling Georgia 2 None
Beast Sports United States 1 None
Beaver Ball Canada 2 teams of 4 Ball
Bediaka C�te d’Ivoire 2 teams of 5-7 players Bediaka ball
Beerball Germany 2 teams Ball, goals, beer
Beerberg Germany 2-4 Ball, net
Beerpong United States 2-4 Cups, ball
Bees Knees United States 2-4 Cards
Beikoku Japan 2 teams of 5 players Beikoku ball, court
Beikou China 2 Wooden pieces
Beith Ireland 2 Ball, hurley
Belarusian Checkers Belarus 2 Checkers board, pieces
Belarusian Draughts Belarus 2 Checkers
Bell Ringing United Kingdom 6-12 Bells, ropes
Belote France 4 Cards
Bendi India 2 teams of 11 Ball, Sticks
Bentball Germany 2-4 Ball, net
Besneball Philippines 2 teams of 9 Bat, Ball, Gloves
Biate India 2 vs 2 Biate ball, court
Biathlon Norway 1 Skis, Rifle
Billiards Various 1 or more Cue, Table
Biribol Brazil 2 teams of 4 Ball, Net
Biteball Canada 2 teams of 6 Ball
Bitteroot Root Throwing United States 1 or more Bitteroot roots
Biu-Jee China 1 or more None
Bjoerklingen Sweden 2 Sticks, puck
Blackball United Kingdom 2 Cue, Balls
Blade Sports United States 1 Blades
Blades United States 1 Roller blades
Blokart New Zealand 1 Blokart, sail
Bludgeon United Kingdom 2 Bludgeon
Boating Various 1-4 Boat, Oars
Bocce Italy 2-8 players Bocce balls
Bocce Ball Italy 2 or 4 Balls
Boel Indonesia 2-4 Ball
Boerenschaak Netherlands 2 Board, pieces
Boffer Combat United States 2 or more Padded weapons
Bog Snorkeling Wales 1 Snorkel, Flippers
Bolla Italy 2-4 Ball
Boomerang Throwing Australia 1+ Boomerang
Bossaball Brazil/Spain 2 teams of 4-5 Inflatable court, net, ball
Bosscha Indonesia 2-4 Board, stones
Boules France 2 or more Balls
Bourles France 2-4 Ball, mallets
Bowling United States 1 or more Ball, Pins
Bowls United Kingdom 2-8 players Bowls
Box Hockey Canada 2 Sticks, puck
Box Lacrosse Canada 2 teams of 5 Stick, Ball
Boxball Switzerland 2 Ball, net
Boxing England 2 Gloves
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brazil 2 None
Breitensport Germany 1+ Varies
Bridge United States 4 players in 2 teams Cards
British Baseball United Kingdom 2 teams of 9-11 Ball, bat, bases
British Bulldog United Kingdom 2+ None
Broom Hockey Canada 2 vs 2, 4 vs 4 Broom, puck
Broomball Canada 2 teams of 6 Stick, Ball
Budo Buzkashi Polo Basque Pelota Bossaball
Buggy Jumping United States 1 Dune buggy
Bukh Mongolia 2 Mat, grips
Buksa Russia 2-4 Ball, net
Bull Fighting Spain 1 or more Cape, Sword
Bull Racing India 2 Bull, cart
Bull Riding United States 1 Bull, protective gear
Bull Taming India 1+ Bull
Bultacco Peru 2 Ball, net
Bungee Jumping New Zealand 1 Bungee cord
Buzkashi Afghanistan 2 teams Horse, Carcass
Bwola Uganda 2 teams None
Bynoe’s Gecko Racing Australia 1 or more Gecko, Track

Descriptions

Backgammon
An ancient strategy board game played by moving pieces on a board with 24 narrow triangles called points.
Badger Ball
A unique ball sport played on a field with goals at each end. Players use their hands and feet to move the ball and score goals.
Badminton
A racket sport played on a rectangular court with a net in the center. Players hit a lightweight, feathered shuttlecock back and forth over the net.
Baguazhang
An ancient Chinese martial art that emphasizes circular movements, flexibility, and evasion. It is known for its unique ‘eight trigram’ footwork and palm techniques.
Baguazhang Boxing
A Chinese martial art that combines elements of boxing with the Baguazhang style of Neijia.
Baguette Fencing
A variant of fencing using long French bread loaves as swords, requiring agility and precision strikes.
Baizhu
A traditional Chinese ball game played with a lightweight rubber ball and a net-like device. Players try to hit the ball back and forth without allowing it to touch the ground.
Baji Quan
A Chinese martial art that emphasizes fluid movements, joint locks, and throws to redirect and neutralize an opponent’s force.
Bak Mei
A Chinese martial art known for its swift and powerful strikes, as well as its defensive techniques.
Balanceboard Skiing
A winter sport where participants use a specialized board to balance and perform tricks on snow or ice.
Balle Pelote
A Belgian sport similar to squash, played on a court with a small, hard ball and a racket.
Balloon Tennis
A game played by hitting a balloon back and forth over a net, testing reflexes and hand-eye coordination.
Balonmano
A team handball sport popular in Spain and other parts of Europe.
Balut
A backgammon-like game played with dice, where players race to bear off their checkers from the board.
Bameliga
An ancient Iranian game involving a ball and two teams trying to score points by hitting the ball through a hoop.
Bandmine
A Russian sport similar to volleyball, played with a lightweight ball and a low net.
Bandminton
A variation of badminton, played with a lighter shuttlecock and using only the hands to strike the shuttlecock.
Bando
A traditional sport of Myanmar involving a ball made of rattan and a long tube used to strike the ball.
Bandy
A winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team’s goal.
Banger Racing
A form of motor racing where old, cheap cars are raced, often resulting in contact and destruction of the vehicles. Known for its exciting, unpredictable nature.
Banger Skis
A fast-paced winter sport where a skier is towed behind a vehicle, reaching high speeds and performing jumps and tricks.
Bangla
A bat-and-ball game played with a ball made of rags, similar to cricket but with simpler rules.
Bannister Ball
A variant of tennis played on a smaller court with a specialized ball that bounces higher and travels faster.
Banquet Ball
A traditional Indian game played with a ball and sticks, similar to hockey. The objective is to hit the ball through the opposing team’s goal.
Bantumi
A traditional board game from Tanzania where players capture stones by jumping them.
Bao
A traditional mancala-style board game popular in East Africa, requiring strategic placement of game pieces.
Barbu
A French card game played with a standard deck, featuring trick-taking and bidding elements.
Barby
A team sport similar to soccer, but played with a larger, softer ball and with more emphasis on possession and passing.
Barefoot Running
A minimalist running style performed without shoes, emphasizing a forefoot or midfoot strike to reduce impact.
Barefoot Skiing
A water skiing discipline where the skier rides without any skis, using only their feet to balance on the water’s surface.
Barehanded Boxing
A combat sport where two competitors fight using only their bare hands without any wraps or gloves. It is one of the oldest forms of boxing.
Barge Sailing
A traditional Dutch sport where people sail specially designed barges, often on canals and rivers, using the wind to propel the boat.
Barjangir
A traditional Iranian strategy board game similar to backgammon, with complex rules and long-standing history.
Barrel jumping
An extreme sport where participants try to jump over or through a series of barrels.
Barrel Racing
A rodeo event where a horse and rider attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time possible.
Baschet
A team sport similar to basketball, played on a smaller court with a lower hoop. Players try to score points by throwing the ball through the opposing team’s basket.
Baseball
A bat-and-ball game played between two teams of nine players. The objective is to score runs by hitting a ball thrown by the pitcher with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged in a square.
Basketball
A team sport where two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or shooting a ball through the top of a raised hoop.
Basque Handball
A fast-paced handball variant played in the Basque region, known for its skilled and acrobatic shots.
Basque Pelota
A family of court sports played with a hard rubber ball, using the hand, a basket-shaped wicker racket, or a wooden bat.
Basse Lende
A traditional Afghan sport involving a ball and two teams trying to score goals by kicking or throwing the ball through the opposing team’s goal posts.
Bataireacht
A traditional Irish martial art and stick fighting technique used in self-defense and cultural performances.
Batak
A traditional Indonesian card game with elements of strategy and luck.
Baton Twirling
A performance art involving the manipulation of a metal baton, often incorporated into marching band or dance routines.
Battledore and Shuttlecock
An ancient badminton-like game played by hitting a feathered shuttlecock back and forth without letting it touch the ground.
Beach Flag
A beach-based competition where participants race to grab a flag planted in the sand.
Beach Flags
A lifesaving sport where participants race to retrieve a flag from the sand, testing their speed, agility, and reaction time.
Beach Football
A variant of football/soccer played on a beach or other sandy surface, with smaller teams and a smaller field.
Beach Handball
A variant of handball played on a beach or sandy surface, with smaller teams, a smaller field, and a ball that can be thrown or hit.
Beach Polo
A variant of polo played on a beach, with players on horseback using mallets to hit a ball through goal posts.
Beach Rugby
A variant of rugby played on a beach, with modified rules and a smaller playing field to accommodate the sandy terrain.
Beach Soccer
A variant of association football played on a beach, with a smaller field and a lighter, low-bounce ball to suit the sandy environment.
Beach Tennis
A sport played on a beach court, similar to tennis but using a larger, softer ball and a lower net.
Beach Volleyball
A variant of volleyball played on a beach with a smaller court and only two players per team.
Beach Wrestling
A form of wrestling practiced on a beach, where participants attempt to throw their opponent to the ground and pin them.
Beast Sports
A broad category of extreme, often dangerous activities such as free solo climbing, BASE jumping, and other high-risk pursuits.
Beaver Ball
A game played in Canada involving a ball that must be carried or passed between teammates without using the hands.
Bediaka
A traditional team sport from C�te d’Ivoire involving a large, heavy ball that is passed and maneuvered using the head, chest, and shoulders.
Beerball
A light-hearted team sport combining elements of soccer and drinking games, with players trying to score goals while consuming beer.
Beerberg
A German sport played on a court with a net, involving players strategically hitting a ball over the net.
Beerpong
A drinking game where players take turns trying to bounce a ball into cups of beer on a table.
Bees Knees
A classic trick-taking card game, where players attempt to win tricks containing the ‘Bees Knees’ card.
Beikoku
A team sport similar to volleyball, but played with a larger, heavier ball and with a focus on using the head, chest, and shoulders to hit the ball.
Beikou
A traditional Chinese board game similar to checkers, played on a 8×8 grid with complex capture mechanics.
Beith
An ancient Irish game similar to hurling, played with a small ball and wooden hurley sticks.
Belarusian Checkers
A traditional checkers variant from Belarus with unique rules and gameplay.
Belarusian Draughts
A variant of checkers/draughts that originated in Belarus and is played on an 8×8 board with 12 pieces per player.
Bell Ringing
The art of ringing church bells in an organized pattern, requiring teamwork, coordination, and physical exertion.
Belote
A classic French trick-taking card game, often played in teams of two.
Bendi
A team sport played with a wooden ball and sticks, similar to field hockey but with a focus on dribbling and passing.
Bentball
A German sport featuring a low net and players trying to hit the ball over it with their hands.
Besneball
A Filipino variant of baseball, played with a smaller ball and using a smaller field.
Biate
A team sport played with a ball, similar to volleyball, but with players allowed to use their hands, feet, and other body parts to hit the ball over the net.
Biathlon
A winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Competitors ski across snow-covered terrain, stopping to shoot at targets.
Billiards
A family of cue sports played on a table with pockets, in which players use a cue stick to strike balls in an attempt to sink them into the pockets.
Biribol
A variant of volleyball played on a beach, with a focus on acrobatic moves and high-intensity play.
Biteball
A game played in Canada involving a ball that must be caught and thrown without using the hands.
Bitteroot Root Throwing
A traditional pastime of the Salish people of Montana, involving the accurate throwing of dried bitteroot plant roots.
Biu-Jee
A rapid, close-range hand technique from the Wing Chun martial art, emphasizing close-quarter strikes and elbow strikes.
Bjoerklingen
A winter sport similar to ice hockey, played on a frozen lake or river with wooden sticks and a small puck.
Blackball
A variant of pool played with a smaller table and a different set of rules, including the use of a black ball to determine the winner.
Blade Sports
A group of extreme sports involving the use of bladed equipment like knives, swords, or sharpened tools in creative and dangerous ways.
Blades
A broad category of sports and activities performed on inline skates, including freestyle, aggressive, and recreational styles.
Blokart
A land-based sailing craft, combining elements of sailing, go-karting, and wind sports on land.
Bludgeon
A sport involving the use of a heavy, club-like weapon to strike an opponent, similar to boxing but with a focus on power over finesse.
Boating
The sport of propelling a boat through water using oars or other means of propulsion, such as sailing or motorizing.
Bocce
A lawn bowling game where players roll or toss balls as close as possible to a smaller target ball.
Bocce Ball
A lawn bowling game where players take turns throwing or rolling large balls (called ‘bocce’) as close as possible to a smaller target ball.
Boel
A traditional Indonesian sport involving a rubber ball and players using their feet, head, and other body parts to keep it airborne.
Boerenschaak
A traditional Dutch game similar to chess, played on a larger board with unique piece movement rules.
Boffer Combat
A live-action role-playing game where participants use foam-padded weapons to engage in safe, mock combat.
Bog Snorkeling
A sport where participants swim through a water-filled trench cut through a peat bog, using only a snorkel and flippers.
Bolla
A traditional Italian game similar to lawn bowling, played with a heavy, leather-covered ball.
Boomerang Throwing
The sport of throwing and catching a curved, aerodynamic stick called a boomerang.
Bossaball
A sport that combines elements of volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, and capoeira, played on an inflatable court.
Bosscha
An ancient Indonesian board game involving strategy and capturing opponent’s pieces.
Boules
A family of games where the objective is to throw or roll heavy balls as close as possible to a small target ball.
Bourles
A French sport similar to croquet, played with wooden mallets and a ball on a grassy field.
Bowling
A game where players roll a heavy ball down a long, narrow lane to knock down pins arranged at the end of the lane.
Bowls
A game where players roll biased balls (called bowls”) toward a smaller “jack” ball
Box Hockey
A tabletop ice hockey-like game played with small wooden sticks and a puck.
Box Lacrosse
A variant of lacrosse played indoors on a smaller, enclosed field, with a focus on fast-paced gameplay and physical contact.
Boxball
A Swiss sport similar to volleyball, played with a small inflated ball on a court with a low net.
Boxing
A combat sport in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one- to three-minute rounds.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
A grappling-based martial art and combat sport that focuses on taking the opponent to the ground, gaining a dominant position, and using locks and chokes to force them to submit.
Breitensport
A broad term for various recreational sports and physical activities popular in Germany.
Bridge
A classic trick-taking card game involving strategic bidding and play to win as many tricks as possible.
British Baseball
A bat-and-ball sport related to American baseball, played with a larger ball and a flat wooden bat.
British Bulldog
A children’s game where one player tries to tag the other players as they run across an area.
Broom Hockey
A variation of ice hockey played with brooms instead of hockey sticks, on a smaller, indoor ice rink.
Broomball
A winter sport played on an ice rink, where players use broom-like sticks to propel a small, rubber ball into the opposing team’s goal.
Budo
Br�nnboll
Buggy Jumping
An extreme sport where participants jump their specialized off-road vehicles over obstacles or gaps.
Bukh
A traditional Mongolian wrestling sport practiced by nomadic herders.
Buksa
A traditional Russian ball game with elements of tennis and volleyball.
Bull Fighting
A traditional spectacle in which a matador attempts to subdue, immobilize, and ultimately kill a bull in a bullring as a public entertainment.
Bull Racing
A traditional Indian sport where people race with bulls pulling small carts.
Bull Riding
A rodeo event where a rider attempts to stay on the back of a bucking bull for a set amount of time, demonstrating skill and balance.
Bull Taming
A traditional Indian sport where participants try to grab the hump of a bull as it runs.
Bultacco
A Peruvian sport similar to volleyball, played with a small, lightweight ball.
Bungee Jumping
An extreme sport where participants jump from a tall structure while connected to an elastic cord, creating a free-falling sensation.
Buzkashi
A team game played on horseback, where players try to place a dead goat or calf into a scoring circle.
Bwola
A traditional Ugandan dance-like game played with two opposing teams who try to tag each other.
Bynoe’s Gecko Racing
A racing event where small lizards called Bynoe’s Geckos are placed on a track and encouraged to race to the finish line.

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