The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs (; MOSYA) was a Myanmar government ministry that administered Myanmar sports and youth affairs. The ministry was formed in 1996 as Ministry of Sports and organized as Ministry of Health and Sports in 2016. In 2021, following the formation of a post-coup military government, the ministry was reorganized as Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. The last union minister before its dissolution was Min Thein Zan, appointed by SAC Chairman Min Aung Hlaing. The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs was split into the Ministry of Sports Affairs and Ministry of Youth Affairs in 2026, after the conclusion of the 2025-26 Myanmar general elections.
The Department of Sports and Physical Education, the Department of Youth Affairs and their branches are under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. Other affiliations include the Myanmar National Olympic Council, National Olympic Committee, and Sports Federations. The Union Minister must be the chairman of the National Olympic Committee. The Ministry is also responsible for stadiums in Myanmar.
History
From the early 20th Century to 1941, there was the "Burma Athletic Association" in Yangon and the "Upper Burma Athletic Association" in Mandalay for sports affairs. In 1936, an athlete, U Zaw Weit, and a coach, U Shein, competed in the Berlin Olympic Games for British Burma.
On 26 November 1946, Burma organized "Burma Olympic Association" which was governed by General Aung San and Sir Hubert Rance as chairperson and Sir J A Maung Gyi and U Razak as president and vice-president. On 9 July 1947, they joined with International Olympic Committee and competed in the 1948 London Olympics as "Burma".
On 9 October 1950, the "National Fitness Council" was organized. The Council was composed of a chairman (health minister) and 15 members. In 1952, the State Football matches were held. The 1952 Southeast Asian Boxing Games and 1961 SEAP Games were also held.
On 27 May 1964, the "Burma Sports and Physical Education Committee" was organized. The health minister served as chairman and the director general for SPEC Office served as secretary. In 1972, it was organized as "Sports and Physical Education Department" (DSPE) under the Ministry of Health. On 1 July 1993, it moved under the Ministry of Prime Minister Office.
On 18 December 1996, the government established the "Ministry of Sports" for the country's sports affairs. The DSPE was moved from Ministey of Prime Minister Office to the Ministry of Sports. From 1996 to 2011, SPDC appointed Brigadier Generals of Tatmadaw as Minister of Sports. On March 30, 2011, newly elected president Thein Sein appointed Tint Hsan, a businessman, as Union Minister for Sports.
When Htin Kyaw became the president in March 2016, he reduced the number of ministries in his cabinet. He dissolved the Ministry of Sports and moved the department of Sports and Physical Education to the Ministry of Health. But on 25 May 2016, the Ministry of Health was renamed as the Ministry of Health and Sports. Prior to 2018, only the Director General of DSPE took the lead in sports sector. In 2018, former badminton player, Mya Lay Sein, was appointed as deputy minister by Win Myint and acted more effectively on behalf of the Union Minister.
After the 2021 coup d'état, Myint Htwe resigned from his post and Mya Lay Sein was suspended by Min Aung Hlaing. They were replaced by Thet Khaing Win, former permanent Secretary of MOHS under Myint Htwe, and Myo Hlaing, former Director General of DSPE. On 1 August 2021, the management committee of SAC was organized as a caretaker government and they reconstituted the Ministry of Health and Sports as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.
List of ministers Ministers (1996 - 2011) No Name Term start Term end DaysHead of state1Brigadier General Sein Win18 February 199628 October 1999 Senior General Than Shwe2Brigadier General Thura Aye Myint29 October 199930 March 2011
Union ministers (2011 - incumbent) No Name Name of the ministry Term start Term end Days President3Tint HsanMinistry of Sports30 March 201130 March 2016Thein Sein4Dr Myint HtweMinistry of Health and Sports30 March 20161 February 2021Htin Kyaw Win Myint5Dr Thet Khaing Win1 February 20211 August 2021Myint Swe 6Min Thein ZanMinistry of Sports and Youth Affairs1 August 2021Incumbent
Deputy ministers No Name Name of the ministry Term start Term end Days Union Minister1Aye Myint KyuMinistry of Sports30 March 20116 September 2012 Tint Hsan2Thaung Htike7 September 201230 March 20163Zaw Win29 July 201330 March 20164Dr Mya Lay SeinMinistry of Health and Sports2 July 20181 February 2021Dr Myint Htwe5Myo Hlaing7 February 2021IncumbentDr Thet Khaing WinMinistry of Sports and Youth AffairsMin Thein Zan6Dr Soe Win19 August 202221 July 20237Zin Min Htet21 July 2023Incumbent
Departments Union Minister Office Department of Sports and Physical Education Department of Youth Affairs
See also Cabinet of Burma Ministry of Health and Sports (Myanmar) 2015 Myanmar National Sports Festival
References
External links Official website