Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday, 12 October 2026, inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games 2026 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura, Ahmedabad, and put forward three landmark proposals to preserve traditional and indigenous sports across member nations. Central among them was the creation of a voluntary shared repository documenting the history, rules, equipment, and cultural significance of traditional sporting practices from all 10 BRICS nations participating in the event.

India's Three-Point Cooperation Proposal

Mandaviya outlined a structured framework for sporting cooperation at the BRICS level. The first pillar involves a voluntary repository that would catalogue traditional sports — covering their cultural context, playing requirements, and community knowledge — to ensure these practices are not lost to time. The second pillar calls for organised exchanges among practitioners, coaches, researchers, educational institutions, and cultural experts across BRICS countries. The third proposes regular demonstrations of traditional and indigenous sports at future BRICS sporting events, embedding cultural showcases into the broader BRICS sporting calendar.

'BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Games provide a platform to showcase not only how a sport is played, but also the history, values and cultural context that make each tradition unique,' Mandaviya said, addressing representatives of participating countries.

India's Sporting Ecosystem Push

The minister used the occasion to outline India's broader sporting ambitions, framing sport as central to nation-building. He said India's approach spanned grassroots participation, talent identification, coaching, sports science, infrastructure development, athlete welfare, and international exposure. He noted that nearly $3.76 billion (US dollars) had been committed under the 'Khelo India' initiative to drive this transformation.

'India is placing sport at the centre of nation-building. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is transforming its sporting ecosystem by creating opportunities from the playground to the podium,' he said.

Mandaviya also highlighted the Fit India Movement and, specifically, the 'Sundays on Cycle' campaign, which he said had brought more than five million people together for cycling across over three lakh locations every Sunday, with 94 editions held across India to date.

A Cultural Showcase Across 10 Nations

The event brought together country delegations, athletes, practitioners, technical officials, and partner institutions from Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi was also present at the inaugural ceremony.

Belarus and Russia jointly showcased Gorodki, while Russia additionally presented Sambo. Bolivia demonstrated Lucha de Cholitas, Tinku, Rayuela, Trompo, Cachinas, and Carrera de Sacos. Brazil presented Zarabatana (an indigenous blowpipe activity), Corrida de Toras (log racing), Brazilian para-Jiu-jitsu, and Capoeira.

China showcased Wushu, Lion Dance, and Health Qigong. India's demonstrations included Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu. Iran presented Zoorkhaneh, Haft Sang, and Ghanieh; Kazakhstan demonstrated Asyk Atu, Togyzkumalak, and Qazaq Kuresi; South Africa presented Kgati and Iintonga; and the United Arab Emirates showcased Al Tabbah.

Why This Matters Beyond the Sports Arena

The BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games represent a softer but strategically significant dimension of the BRICS framework — one that uses sport and culture as instruments of people-to-people diplomacy. This comes amid a wider push by BRICS nations to diversify their cooperation beyond trade and geopolitics. Notably, India's proposals — particularly the shared repository — could give New Delhi a leadership role in shaping the cultural architecture of an expanded BRICS grouping. Participating teams were felicitated at the conclusion of the programme, with cultural presentations accompanying each sports demonstration to provide contextual depth to the audience.

How the voluntary repository proposal is received by other member states, and whether it is formalised at future BRICS ministerial meetings, will be closely watched.