The Indigenous Games

The Indigenous Games

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Soccer is the first sport that most people associate with Brazil, but the diverse nation of nearly 200 million people is home to a wealth of other athletic traditions. Nowhere was this so clear than at the 12th Games of Indigenous People, hosted in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso state.

Forty-eight Brazilian indigenous tribes participated in the event, presenting their rituals and competing in traditional sports such as archery, running with logs and canoeing.

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Wearing traditional dress, Brazilian indigenous people attend the opening ceremony of the Games.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Wearing traditional dress, Brazilian indigenous people attend the opening ceremony of the Games.

A participant holds a torch during a ceremony to light the Indigenous Sacred Fire.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

A participant holds a torch during a ceremony to light the Indigenous Sacred Fire.

Others take pictures on their mobile phones before attending the opening event.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Others take pictures on their mobile phones before attending the opening event.

Members of the Paresi indigenous group smile as they dance during the Games.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Members of the Paresi indigenous group smile as they dance during the Games.

Participants from the Kuikuro community dance before the opening ceremony.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Participants from the Kuikuro community dance before the opening ceremony.

A young man takes a picture during the Games.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

A young man takes a picture during the Games.

Members of the Enawene-Awe indigenous group strain at the rope during a tug-of-war competition.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Members of the Enawene-Awe indigenous group strain at the rope during a tug-of-war competition.

Kanela-Ramkokamekra people compete in the tug-of-war.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Kanela-Ramkokamekra people compete in the tug-of-war.

Members of the Krao ethnic group attend a presentation of a relay race.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Members of the Krao ethnic group attend a presentation of a relay race.

A Pataxo man competes in the spear-throwing competition.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

A Pataxo man competes in the spear-throwing competition.

Another Pataxo athlete takes aim during the bow-and-arrow event.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Another Pataxo athlete takes aim during the bow-and-arrow event.

Indigenous peoples line up before the archery competition.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Indigenous peoples line up before the archery competition.

A man in a feathered headdress watches indigenous athletes play soccer.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

A man in a feathered headdress watches indigenous athletes play soccer.

People gather to watch a swimming competition in the Cuiaba river.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

People gather to watch a swimming competition in the Cuiaba river.

Residents watch Brazilian indigenous people competing in a canoeing event.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Residents watch Brazilian indigenous people competing in a canoeing event.

Members of the ethnic groups Rikbatsa (left) and Shanenawa race against one another across the water.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Members of the ethnic groups Rikbatsa (left) and Shanenawa race against one another across the water.

People sit on the banks of the Cuiaba river during the Games.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

People sit on the banks of the Cuiaba river during the Games.

Indigenous people sit at computers inside a tent during the event.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Indigenous people sit at computers inside a tent during the event.

Others pose for a picture.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Others pose for a picture.

Members of the Mamainde ethnic group raise their trophy during the closing ceremony.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Members of the Mamainde ethnic group raise their trophy during the closing ceremony.

Participants from the Pataxo community pose with their trophy.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Participants from the Pataxo community pose with their trophy.

People watch fireworks exploding in the sky at the end of the Games.
. CUIABA, Brazil. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

People watch fireworks exploding in the sky at the end of the Games.