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World’s first ‘Indigenous Olympics’ held in Brazil

The event is billed as a chance for indigenous groups from as far as Ethiopia and Mongolia to test their mettle.

World Indigenous Games
Indians from various ethnic groups and countries dance during the opening ceremony of the World Indigenous Games in Palmas, Brazil. [Eraldo Peres/AP]
Published On 28 Oct 2015

Palmas, Brazil – Archers, wrestlers and runners from ethnic groups from around the world have descended on the Brazilian Amazon city of Palmas to take part in the world’s first Indigenous Games.

The sporting event, which is bringing together athletes from more than 20 countries, officially opens on October 23 and will run until November 1.

Participants are competing in 10 sports, ranging from running and swimming, to wrestling and football, as well as more traditional games like spear throwing and racing with heavy logs.

This is the first year that Brazil has opened its annual indigenous games to foreigners, giving it the flavour of what some describe as a low-key version of next year’s Summer Olympics, being staged in Rio de Janeiro.

World Indigenous Games
Billed as the 'Indigenous Olympics', the games are expected to attract athletes from dozens of Brazilian ethnicities, as well as from such nations as Ethiopia and New Zealand. [Eraldo Peres/AP]
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World Indigenous Games
This is the first year that Brazil has opened its annual indigenous games to foreigners. [Eraldo Peres/AP]
World Indigenous Games
The multisport event, with over 2,000 participating indigenous athletes from 30 countries from all over world, runs until November 1. [Fernando Bizerra Jr/EPA]
World Indigenous Games
A New Zealander indigenous woman reacts as she takes part in a parade of the World Indigenous Games. [Fernando Bizerra Jr/EPA]
World Indigenous Games
Brazil is home to nearly 900,000 indigenous peoples that speak a total 274 languages. [Fernando Bizerra Jr/EPA]
World Indigenous Games
Athletes representing the Xerente tribe perform a ritual dance before the start of a soccer match against the Pataxo tribe. [Eraldo Peres/AP]
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World Indigenous Games
It is estimated that there are 370 million indigenous peoples making up more than 5% of the world's population. [Eraldo Peres/AP]
World Indigenous Games
The sporting event, which is bringing together athletes from more than 20 countries, officially opens on October 23 and will run until November 1. [Fernando Bizerra Jr/EPA]
World Indigenous Games
About 1,800 athletes from 23 countries were scheduled to take part, watched by an expected 10,000-30,000 spectators a day. [Eraldo Peres/AP]