The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will organise the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad on 12 October 2026. Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will inaugurate the event at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. The Games will be held under India’s current BRICS Chairship in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat.
This is a non-competitive platform designed to allow member and partner countries of BRICS to display their traditional and indigenous sporting practices, exchange knowledge, and strengthen cultural ties through sport.
Key facts
- Date: 12 October 2026
- Location: Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Participating countries: BRICS member nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) plus partner countries (Belarus, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Iran, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates)
- Organising ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India
- Format: Demonstration and documentation of traditional sports, non-competitive
What is the event about
The BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games 2026 is designed as a showcase rather than a competitive tournament. Its primary purpose is to document, demonstrate and exchange traditional sporting practices that hold cultural significance across participating nations. The event emphasises interaction between practitioners, knowledge-sharing about heritage sports, and understanding of how these games reflect the history and values of different cultures.
By hosting this event, India aims to highlight its own traditional sports while learning about the sporting heritage of other nations. This aligns with India’s broader effort to promote cultural preservation and strengthen bonds within the BRICS framework through people-to-people engagement.
Traditional sports to be showcased
Each participating country will display multiple traditional and indigenous sports reflecting their cultural heritage:
India will showcase Mallakhamb (an ancient Indian sport combining gymnastics and wrestling performed on a wooden pole), Yogasana (traditional yoga postures and practices), and Kalaripayattu (one of the world’s oldest martial art forms practised in Kerala).
Other nations will present their own heritage sports: Brazil will feature Capoeira and Para-Jiu-jitsu; China will display Wushu and traditional Lion Dance; Russia will showcase Sambo and Gorodki; Ethiopia will present Ethiopian Wrestling and traditional field hockey; and Bolivia will demonstrate Lucha de Cholitas (women’s wrestling) among other games.
Participating BRICS partner countries, including Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, will also contribute their traditional sporting practices to the demonstration.
How the Games will be organised
The event is structured around demonstration sessions where practitioners from each nation will display their traditional sports to audiences and other participants. This is followed by documentation efforts to record these practices for preservation and future reference. A key feature is the direct interaction between sports practitioners from different countries, allowing them to share techniques, stories, historical contexts and cultural significance of their respective games.
The Games will also provide an opportunity for bilateral meetings between visiting delegations and Indian officials. These side meetings aim to explore ways to strengthen sports cooperation between nations and promote traditional and indigenous games within the broader BRICS framework and beyond.
What this means for you
If you are interested in sports history, cultural heritage or traditional athletic practices, this event represents a significant opportunity to learn about sporting traditions from across the world. For students of sports science, anthropology or cultural studies, the Games offer insights into how different cultures have developed and preserved their own sporting practices.
For sports practitioners and enthusiasts in India, the event highlights the value and global significance of India’s own traditional sports like Mallakhamb and Kalaripayattu, potentially raising their profile internationally. For those involved in promoting Indian cultural heritage, this is recognition that traditional Indian sports deserve a platform among nations.
The event also signals India’s commitment to using sports as a tool for cultural diplomacy and strengthening relationships with other major nations through shared appreciation of heritage rather than competition.