(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
ICTSG Leads Global Celebrations for International Day of Traditional Sports and Games 2025
Florida, USA – 14 August 2025: The International Council of Traditional Sports and Games (ICTSG), the world’s only global platform dedicated to preserving and promoting centuries-old sporting traditions, has led worldwide celebrations for the International Day for Traditional Sports and Games (TSG) 2025.
From bustling city squares to quiet rural villages, communities across continents came together to honor indigenous games, ancestral competitions, and folk traditions passed down through generations. ICTSG, headquartered in Florida with regional offices in Kyoto, Lahore, Cannes, and across Africa, continues to spearhead global efforts to ensure these cultural treasures survive for future generations.
In his keynote speech, ICTSG President H.E. Khalil Ahmed Khan said:
“When a sport disappears, it is like a language no longer spoken—its stories, values, and lessons risk being lost forever.”
A UNESCO-recognized initiative, the International Day for TSG is more than a celebration—it is a movement for cultural revival, heritage protection, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.
This year, ICTSG introduced the SRETS Elevation Framework, a six-stage plan to:
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Identify endangered games
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Boost grassroots participation
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Gain national recognition
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Foster international collaboration
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Protect traditions as living heritage
Women’s leadership was a key highlight in 2025, with new initiatives to train female coaches, referees, and cultural leaders—recognizing the historic role women have played as custodians of heritage. ICTSG also announced leadership openings in over 50 National Chapters, inviting passionate individuals worldwide to join its mission.
The celebrations concluded with the adoption of the ICTSG Global Declaration, calling on governments and cultural bodies to actively support TSG revival, including contributions to the ICTSG Online Encyclopedia. Awards were also presented to the Top 100 global contributors for their outstanding dedication.
From Mongolian archery and Senegalese wrestling to Filipino stick-fighting and South Asian kabaddi, these are not just sports—they are living vessels of language, music, rituals, and craftsmanship. As Khalil Ahmed Khan reminded the world:
