About ICTSG
An independent, non-governmental organization established in 2018, dedicated to safeguarding, promoting, and revitalizing traditional sports and games as living cultural heritage of humanity.
Our Mission
ICTSG is the international platform established for the safeguarding and promotion of traditional and indigenous sports in the world. The mission of the Council is to coordinate with governments, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society to ensure the inclusion of traditional sports in cultural heritage policies and sustainable development strategies.
The Council also convenes world and continental games, capacity-building programs, and maintains the ICTSG Online Encyclopedia of Traditional Sports and Games, cataloguing over 160 documented disciplines from around the globe. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ICTSG has developed the Six-Stage SRETS Elevation Framework to guide the recognition, registration, and institutional adoption of traditional sports at national and international levels.
Organizational Structure & Commissions
International Member Federations
ICTSG's member federations represent traditional and indigenous sports from every region of the world. Each maintains autonomous governance while benefiting from ICTSG's international recognition framework and SRETS elevation support.
1999 – 2030 Roadmap
Regional Leadership & Coordination
The Advisory Committee
Distinguished figures from government, parliament, sport, and academia who advise ICTSG on global strategy, policy, and regional engagement.
Research & Publication Commission
Scholars and research professionals from across the globe supporting ICTSG's documentation, academic publication, and knowledge-preservation mission.
Message of the President
"Dear friends and colleagues in traditional sports - on behalf of the International Council of Traditional Sports and Games, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all who share in our mission of preserving the world's sporting heritage."
The International Council of Traditional Sports and Games continues to stand as the sole global platform dedicated to safeguarding traditional and indigenous sports. We remain committed to our roadmap through 2030, working alongside the United Nations, governments, and civil society to ensure that no traditional game is lost to history.
Together, we foster intercultural dialogue, youth engagement, and technological integration to bring these time-honored traditions into contemporary relevance while protecting their cultural authenticity.
- Khalil Ahmed Khan, ICTSG, ICTSG