Est. 2018 · Headquarters, Florida USA
TSG Day - August 14
International Council of Traditional Sports and Games

The World'sHeritagePlays Here.

The sole global platform protecting, promoting, and elevating traditional sports as living cultural heritage, aligned with the United Nations and the 2030 Agenda.

0+
Documented Sports
2018
Founded
0
Continental Offices
0+
National Chapters
2030
Strategic Horizon
Latest
Mission

Safeguard.
Promote.
Revitalize.

🛡️
Safeguard
Document and protect traditional sports from extinction through policy and fieldwork.
🌐
Promote
Raise global awareness of TSG as living pillars of cultural identity.
🔄
Revitalize
Re-engage communities through youth programs, education, and technology.
🤝
Elevate
Guide sports through the six-stage SRETS Framework toward international recognition.
Encyclopedia

160+ Disciplines. One Platform.

African Wrestling (Laamb)
🤼
African Wrestling (Laamb)
West Africa
Kabaddi
🎯
Kabaddi
South Asia
Buzkashi
🐎
Buzkashi
Central Asia
Pencak Silat
🥊
Pencak Silat
Southeast Asia
Glima
🥋
Glima
Scandinavia
Pacu Jalur
🚣
Pacu Jalur
Indonesia
Bashi
🏸
Bashi
Maldives
Va'a (Outrigger Canoe)
🌊
Va'a (Outrigger Canoe)
Pacific
Dambe Boxing
👊
Dambe Boxing
West Africa
Mongolian Bökh
🏅
Mongolian Bökh
East / Central Asia
Chidaoba
🎽
Chidaoba
Caucasus
Palo Encebado
🎪
Palo Encebado
Latin America & Caribbean
Capoeira
🎵
Capoeira
Brazil / Global
Sumo
🏯
Sumo
Japan
Sepak Takraw
🦵
Sepak Takraw
Southeast Asia
Pato
🐴
Pato
Argentina
Kilikiti
🏏
Kilikiti
Samoa / Pacific
Varzesh-e Bastani (Zurkhaneh)
🏛️
Varzesh-e Bastani (Zurkhaneh)
Iran / Central Asia
Camel Racing
🐪
Camel Racing
Arabian Peninsula / Central Asia
Falconry
🦅
Falconry
Global (origins: Central Asia / Arabian Peninsula)
Kowat Al-Rami
🏹
Kowat Al-Rami
Arabian Peninsula
Sport Jiu-Jitsu
🥊
Sport Jiu-Jitsu
Global (origins: Japan / Brazil)
Ssireum
🤼
Ssireum
Korea
Hurling
🏑
Hurling
Ireland
Kho Kho
🏃
Kho Kho
South Asia
Highland Games
🏋️
Highland Games
Scotland / Celtic Nations
Ashirma
🤼
Ashirma
Caucasus / Central Asia
Kun Lbokator
🥋
Kun Lbokator
Southeast Asia - Cambodia
Taekkyeon
🦶
Taekkyeon
Korea
Alysh
🤼
Alysh
Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan
Tibetan Archery
🏹
Tibetan Archery
Tibet / Himalayan Region
Jallikattu
🐂
Jallikattu
South Asia - Tamil Nadu, India
Arnis (Eskrima / Kali)
🥢
Arnis (Eskrima / Kali)
Southeast Asia - Philippines
Chovgan
🐴
Chovgan
Iran / Caucasus
Ulama
⚽
Ulama
Mesoamerica - Mexico
Mancala
♟️
Mancala
Africa (Pan-African)
Ki-o-Rahi
🌿
Ki-o-Rahi
Pacific - Aotearoa New Zealand
Gaelic Football
🏈
Gaelic Football
Ireland / Celtic Diaspora
Bayga
🐎
Bayga
Central Asia - Kazakhstan
Aizkolaritza
🪓
Aizkolaritza
Europe - Basque Country
Atlı Cirit (Jereed)
🏇
Atlı Cirit (Jereed)
Turkey / Central Asia
Selk'nam Wrestling
🤼
Selk'nam Wrestling
South America - Patagonia
Batey
⚾
Batey
Caribbean (Taino indigenous)
Tinku
🥊
Tinku
South America - Bolivia
Vallam Kali
🚣
Vallam Kali
South Asia - Kerala, India
Stickball
🏒
Stickball
North America (Indigenous)
Angampora
🥋
Angampora
South Asia - Sri Lanka
Audaryspak
🐎
Audaryspak
Central Asia - Kazakhstan
Bando
🥊
Bando
Southeast Asia - Myanmar
Adimurai
🥋
Adimurai
South Asia - Tamil Nadu, India
Message of the President
"
Khalil Ahmed Khan
Khalil Ahmed Khan
About ICTSG · Lahore, Pakistan
Sport of the DayJuly 20, 2026
Glima
Today's Sport
🥋

Glima

Scandinavia · Iceland, Viking Age (9th–11th century)

Viking Age Icelandic wrestling dating back over 1,000 years, described in the Norse Eddas and Sagas. The distinctive sideways stance and specific grip rules distinguish it from all other wrestling sty…

Pacu Jalur
Pacu Jalur
Indonesia
Stage 3
Bashi
Bashi
Maldives
Stage 2
Va'a (Outrigger Canoe)
Va'a (Outrigger Canoe)
Pacific
Stage 4
UN Sustainable Development Goals

Aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda.

Each traditional sport connects to at least one of the 17 UN SDGs. ICTSG's programs directly serve the global development agenda - from health and education to peace, culture, and ocean conservation.

SDG 3
💪
Good Health & Well-being
Kabaddi, Glima, Sepak Takraw, Dambe
SDG 4
📚
Quality Education
Sumo, Mongolian Bökh, Buzkashi, Zurkhaneh
SDG 5
♀️
Gender Equality
Bashi, Women's Traditional Games
SDG 8
💼
Decent Work & Growth
Camel Racing, Equestrian Traditions
SDG 10
⚖️
Reduced Inequalities
Capoeira, Indigenous Sports
SDG 11
🏙️
Sustainable Cities
Laamb, Pacu Jalur, Chidaoba, Kilikiti
SDG 14
🌊
Life Below Water
Va'a Outrigger, Pacific Ocean Sports
SDG 16
🕊️
Peace & Justice
Pencak Silat, Intercultural TSG
History

1999 – 2030 Roadmap

1999
First Call
MINEPS III in Uruguay issues the first declaration calling for TSG protection.
2006
UNESCO Meets
1st Collective Consultation at UNESCO HQ, Paris.
2009
ICTSG Named
'ICTSG' formally approved. Khalil Ahmed Khan elected Secretary-General.
2018
Founded
Statutes approved in Istanbul. 82+ participants from 40+ countries.
2020
Advisory Formed
ICTSG Advisory Committee constituted. TSG Day celebrated globally.
2021
World Conference
600+ participants from 90 countries at World Ministerial Conference.
2022
TSG Day Declared
August 14 declared International Day of Traditional Sports and Games.
2024
UN Summit
President Khan at UN Summit of the Future. Meeting with UNESCO DG Azoulay.
2025
SRETS Launched
SRETS Elevation Framework launched. 50+ National Chapters activated.
2026
Africa Championship
Inaugural African Traditional Sports Championship in Namibia.
2030
Strategic Goal
Universal documentation, global education integration.
Voices of Support

What World Leaders Say.

Traditional sports and games are vectors of identity, social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. UNESCO salutes ICTSG's relentless work to integrate them into cultural heritage protection frameworks.

Gabriela Ramos
UNESCO
Gabriela Ramos
Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO

Sport is a universal language. Traditional sports and games carry centuries of culture within them - ICTSG's work to safeguard them is of the highest importance to world peace and understanding.

Joel Bouzou
Peace and Sport
Joel Bouzou
President, Peace and Sport; Ambassador-at-Large, ICTSG

Traditional sports and games are an integral part of our cultural heritage. Pakistan proudly supports ICTSG's mission to preserve these timeless traditions for future generations of the world.

Dr. Arif Alvi
Government of Pakistan
Dr. Arif Alvi
Former President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
TSG in Action

Watch the World Play Its Heritage.

From the streets of Dakar to the rivers of Indonesia - traditional sports are alive, vibrant, and spreading. Watch ICTSG's documentary highlights, event coverage, and sport profiles.

Watch on YouTube
Traditional sports in action
Institutional Partners & Collaborators
UNESCO
United Nations
UNOCT
ECOWAS
African Union Commission
ATSGC
SJJIF
APSIF Pencak Silat
World Silambam
IQKF Kowat al-Rami
WFKA
IZSF Zurkhaneh
MTAF
MNHRA
WFM
UDT
Peace and Sport
WIN Sports International
ICTSG
ICTSG
International Council of Traditional Sports and Games

An independent, non-governmental organization established in 2018, dedicated to promoting, protecting, and revitalizing traditional sports and games globally.

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