The BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 are being held in Ahmedabad today, October 12, with 11 countries presenting heritage sports at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the programme under India’s BRICS Chairship. Unlike a medal event, the Ahmedabad gathering is built around demonstrations, cultural exchange, documentation and interaction between practitioners. The official PIB announcement confirms the final date and venue, while today’s Hindustan Times report describes it as a one-day programme.
Key Highlights
- Ahmedabad is hosting 11 countries and more than 30 listed traditional or indigenous sporting practices.
- India is presenting Mallakhamb, Yogasana and Kalaripayattu.
- The programme is non-competitive, so there is no medal table or winner-based format.
- The final October 10 government release lists October 12, replacing an earlier proposal for October 12-13.
What Is Happening At The BRICS Traditional Games 2026 Today?
Mansukh Mandaviya opened the Games on Monday, with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Union Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse and Gujarat Sports Minister Jayram Gamit among the officials linked to the opening. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Gujarat government are organising the event.
The format is different from a normal international championship. Countries are demonstrating sports tied to local history and cultural heritage rather than chasing medals. The programme ranges from martial arts and wrestling to rope-skipping, board games and log racing. The official release says the focus includes demonstration, documentation and knowledge-sharing.
Official X Update: SAI Media on X, the Sports Authority of India’s official sports-news handle, has posted about the Ahmedabad event, highlighting October 12 and the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
Which Countries And Traditional Sports Are Taking Part?
The government’s country-wise list gives the event a broad mix of BRICS members and partner countries.
- India: Mallakhamb, Yogasana, Kalaripayattu
- China: Wushu, Lion Dance, Health Qigong
- Brazil: Zarabatana, Corrida de Toras, Brazilian Para-Jiu-jitsu, Capoeira
- Russia: Gorodki, Sambo
- South Africa: Kgati, Iintonga
- Iran: Zoorkhaneh, Haft Sang, Ghanieh
- Kazakhstan: Asyk Atu, Togyzkumalak, Qazaq Kuresi
- Belarus: Gorodki
- Bolivia: Lucha de Cholitas, Tinku, Rayuela, Trompo, Cachinas, Carrera de Sacos
- Ethiopia: Tegel wrestling, Ethiopian Gena, Selus Gebeta/18-12/Bube/Shahe
- United Arab Emirates: Al Tabbah
The official list contains more than 30 named practices. Brazil’s Capoeira may be familiar globally, while Kazakhstan’s Asyk Atu or South Africa’s Iintonga will be new to many Indian viewers. India’s three showcases also span different traditions: Mallakhamb centres on acrobatic movement, Kalaripayattu on martial practice and Yogasana on formal postures.
BRICS Games Ahmedabad Schedule And What Visitors Should Expect
The final government announcement confirms October 12 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. It does not publish a sport-by-sport clock timetable, so exact start times circulating elsewhere should be treated cautiously unless organisers issue a venue update.
For today, the publicly confirmed programme includes:
- Opening: inauguration led by Mansukh Mandaviya and attending dignitaries.
- Demonstration sessions: country presentations across the listed sports.
- Knowledge exchange: interaction and documentation involving practitioners and delegations.
- Bilateral meetings: talks on sports cooperation and promotion of traditional games.
There is also a useful schedule correction. At the August BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting in Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad was proposed for October 12-13. The newer October 10 PIB release and current coverage place the final event on October 12, with reports calling it a one-day programme.
Why The Ahmedabad Event Has Wider BRICS Significance
The Games arrive during India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship and follow the Sports Ministers’ meeting in Visakhapatnam. They sit alongside wider BRICS sports initiatives involving technology, manufacturing and cross-country cooperation. Bilateral meetings in Ahmedabad are intended to explore further work on traditional and indigenous sports.
Mandaviya also used the inauguration to link the event with India’s larger sports push, highlighting investment in Khelo India and future-ready infrastructure. For Ahmedabad, bringing 11 delegations and dozens of heritage sports into one venue adds another international sporting programme to the city’s calendar.
For anyone following the BRICS Traditional Games 2026 in Ahmedabad today, the main takeaway is simple: this is a cultural sports showcase, not a medal contest. Follow official government and SAI updates through the day for live programme changes or venue announcements.
FAQ
When are the BRICS Traditional Games 2026 being held in Ahmedabad?
The final government schedule places the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on October 12, 2026, at Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
How many countries are participating in the Ahmedabad BRICS Games?
Eleven countries are listed officially in the Ahmedabad programme: India, China, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Iran, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Bolivia, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.
Which sports is India showcasing at the BRICS Traditional Games?
India is presenting Mallakhamb, Yogasana and Kalaripayattu, giving the host country three traditional showcases covering acrobatics, formal postures and martial movement for visiting delegations today.
Are the BRICS Traditional Games 2026 a competitive tournament?
No. The Ahmedabad event is a non-competitive demonstration platform focused on cultural exchange, documentation, practitioner interaction and sharing traditional sporting knowledge rather than medals or rankings
Is there a full hourly schedule for every sport today?
The final public government release confirms the date, venue and participating sports, but it does not provide a sport-by-sport hourly timetable for October 12 in its October 10 update.
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