International Traditional Sports Day
Added: (Mon Aug 23 2021)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
“International Traditional Sports Day” One of the most important events of the International Council of Traditional Sports and Games was held on 14th August, and 15th August virtually. It was attended by more than 450 participants from 85 countries including Sports Ministers, government officials, representatives of UNESCO, Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), Permanent Delegations, ILO, The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), Researcher, International Organizations, and Indigenous Groups around the world.
ICTSG and its Member States through their respective ministries after having Consultation Meetings agreed to enhance the diffusion of TSG knowledge and declared 14th August as “INTERNATIONAL TRADITIONAL SPORTS DAY”. In this regard, events held in every country under the umbrella of the Council to highlight and promote their local traditional sports and games and historical culture which were portrayed globally through the platform of ICTSG virtually due to Covid19 restrictionsICTSG hosts the General Conference on Traditional Sports in virtually four sessions.I)Ministerial SessionII) Ambassadors/NATCOM SessionIII) Gender Equality and Women empowerment through TSGIV)Revival & Development of TSG at the National level.
Many prominent figures attended the meeting of the 4th Collective Consultation Meeting of TSG, Traditional Games and Sports (TSG) including UNESCO international experts, Marceline Dally, secretary of the International Convention against Doping in Sport, Khalil Khan President ICTSG, Shammi Rana Secretary General ICTSG, Philipp Muller-Wirth Executive Officer for Sport and Youth Section Sector for Social and Human Sciences UNESCO, Rosa Rakotozafy, Chairperson Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), Joel Bouzou, Ambassador-at-Large ICTSG, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, Valerio De Divitiis, Coordinator, Global Sports Programme of the United Nations of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), Viktoria Racheva Slavkova, Director of European Programs, Projects and International Cooperation, Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bulgaria, Mr. Giovanni Di Cola, Special Adviser Member Executive Board, PCTSG DDG/FOP of International Labor Organization (ILO), Mohammed Hamimaz, Sports Director of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Morocco, Jamshidbek Khasanov, Head of Department, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Uzbekistan, Destar Zeogar Wilson, Minister of Youth and Sports of Liberia, Richo Padhi Vice President Indian Olympic Association, Sarjit Singh Sekhon, Raj Rathore, Mr. Aman Kumar Sharma, Member Advisory Committee ICTSG, Prof Ravi Sahu, Harpal Singh, Parveen Garg, Tarsem Sharma.
Michael Wood, Minister of Transport, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Deputy Leader of the House, New Zealand said,” I wanted to take this opportunity to say congratulations to the organizers of the International Traditional Sports and Games Day for putting together such a tremendous celebration of culture and sport. To see so many countries participate, you wouldn’t believe it is possible in times like these. This event offers a platform to audiences and stakeholders around the world who wish to participate in the day either physically or virtually. My best wishes for a wonderful day to the organizers and participants.
”I am happy to know that August 14th has been declared as the International traditional Sports and Games Day. This will provide an opportunity for all TSG stakeholders to organize physical and virtual activities," said Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister, Government of India.
The International Council of Traditional Sports and Games, or ICTSG, is the official umbrella organization for all traditional sports and indigenous games and organizers of traditional sports games and sport-related international associations. It also facilitates the understanding of TSG in terms of cultural identity and diversity. It gives exposure to opportunities that mainstream sports can’t provide.
On 14th August 2017, the 4th Collective Consultation Meeting on Traditional Sports and Games was held by UNESCO in Istanbul, Turkey. The International Council of Traditional Sports and Games was established during that meeting to revive and safeguard traditional sports and games. Part of ICTSG's mission is to contribute to the promotion and development of TSG, as a distinct and different category to modern sports and to encourage and support activities blending traditional and indigenous sport with culture and education.