The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports hosted the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games 2026 at Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad on October 12, 2026. The event brought together dignitaries, country delegations, athletes, and technical officials from 10 BRICS nations to celebrate sporting heritage and cultural diversity.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the event, emphasizing India's commitment to placing sport at the center of nation-building through a comprehensive 360-degree approach including grassroots participation, talent identification, coaching, sports science, infrastructure development, athlete welfare, and international exposure. He announced that India has committed nearly $3.76 billion as part of the Khelo India initiative to transform the sporting ecosystem.
Dr. Mandaviya proposed three practical areas of cooperation among BRICS nations: creating a voluntary BRICS Repository of Traditional and Indigenous Sports documenting history, cultural significance, rules, equipment, and field requirements; encouraging exchanges among practitioners, coaches, researchers, educational institutions, and cultural experts; and exploring periodic demonstration of traditional sports at future BRICS sporting events.
The minister also highlighted the success of the Fit India Movement, specifically the 'Sundays on Cycle' campaign which has seen over 5 million people cycling across more than 300,000 locations every Sunday, with 94 editions conducted so far.
Ten BRICS nations demonstrated their indigenous sports: Belarus (Gorodki), Bolivia (Lucha de Cholitas, Tinku, Rayuela, Trompo, Cachinas, Carrera de Sacos), Brazil (Zarabatana, Corrida de Toras, Brazilian Para-Jiu-jitsu, Capoeira), China (Wushu, Lion Dance, Health Qigong), India (Mallakhamb, Yogasana, Kalaripayattu), Iran (Zoorkhaneh, Haft Sang, Ghanieh), Kazakhstan (Asyk Atu, Togyzkumalak, Qazaq Kuresi), Russia (Gorodki, Sambo), South Africa (Kgati, Iintonga), and United Arab Emirates (Al Tabbah). The event reinforced the importance of preserving community knowledge while modernizing sport and expanding inclusive participation.