In a landmark initiative aimed at promoting cultural exchange and traditional athletics, Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya officially inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Organised jointly by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Gujarat State Government, the international sports gathering brings together athlete delegations and cultural representatives from member nations to showcase native martial arts, strength sports, and traditional disciplines. During his opening address, the Sports Minister emphasized that celebrating indigenous sports strengthens diplomatic ties across member countries while preserving unique global athletic heritage for future generations. The multi-day event features live exhibition matches, interactive workshops, and sports science seminars focused on integrating traditional physical practices into modern athletic conditioning programs. Sports administrators and international delegates commended the host infrastructure, observing that hosting multi-national events reinforces India's growing capacity as a global sports hub capable of organizing high-profile international sporting assemblies.

Celebrating Sporting Heritage and Multicultural Collaboration

Reinforcing the role of traditional games in international diplomacy and cultural preservation, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya officially declared open the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Held as part of India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, the two-day event brought together participating delegations from across 10 BRICS member and partner nations. The non-competitive platform serves to showcase ancestral athletic traditions while deepening people-to-people ties and mutual cultural appreciation.

Overview: BRICS Traditional & Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026

Operational / Event ParameterOfficial Details & Event Specifications
Event NameBRICS Traditional & Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026
Inauguration Date & VenueMonday, October 12, 2026 • Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad
Chief Guests & DignitariesDr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Union Sports Minister) • Harsh Sanghavi (Gujarat Dy. CM)
Organizer FrameworkMinistry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) & Gujarat Government
Host ContextIndia's BRICS Chairship 2026 Framework

Diverse Global Showcase and Strategic Proposals

The demonstration features an array of indigenous sports traditions presented by participating nations:

  • India: Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu.

  • Brazil: Capoeira, Zarabatana (Indigenous Blowpipe), Corrida de Toras (Log Race), and Para-Jiu-jitsu.

  • China: Wushu, Lion Dance, and Health Qigong.

  • Russia & Belarus: Gorodki and Sambo.

  • Iran: Zoorkhaneh, Haft Sang, and Ghanieh.

  • South Africa: Kgati and Iintonga.

BRICS Sports Cooperation Pipeline: --------------------------------- Traditional Sports Demonstrations ──> Digital Multilingual Archive ──> Periodic Expert Exchanges ──> Grassroots & Academic Integration

In his address, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted India's commitment to sports infrastructure development, citing an allocation of nearly $3.76 billion under the Khelo India initiative. He proposed three key areas of cooperation for BRICS nations: establishing a joint digital repository for indigenous sports, organizing expert exchange programs, and institutionalizing periodic sports demonstrations.

Paving the Way for Grassroots and Academic Integration

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also addressed the gathering, advocating for the integration of traditional sports into school and university curricula across BRICS nations to ensure young generations remain connected to their physical culture.

The event concluded with bilateral discussions among sports ministers and delegation leads on the sidelines, aiming to solidify long-term joint frameworks for promoting community-based physical culture and inclusive youth participation across the BRICS block.