World Indigenous Games

World Indigenous Games

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Ahead of the Summer Olympics in 2016, Brazil is host to a new international event - the World Indigenous Games, with contests including a hockey-like game using a ball of fire.

Competitors from ethnic groups in Brazil, also from as far afield as New Zealand and the Philippines, take each other on in events from tug-of-war and log-carrying, as well as soccer and athletics.

. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Brazil, home to nearly 900,000 indigenous people, has held a dozen Indigenous Games for its own natives since 1996 and decided to expand the games into an international event.

The inaugural games take place in Palmas, the capital of the northern state of Tocantins, gathering over 2,000 participating indigenous athletes from 30 countries.

. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino
An indigenous man from the Tabajara tribe is seen in Tocantins River before the games began.

Some of the sports contested are unique. They include a type of lacrosse (rokra) using sticks and coconuts, as well as a variety of soccer (xikunahity) using only the head to move the ball.

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Slideshow

An indigenous girl from the Xambioa tribe arrives to participate in the games.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous girl from the Xambioa tribe arrives to participate in the games.

A indigenous man from the Pataxo tribe boards a bus.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

A indigenous man from the Pataxo tribe boards a bus.

Indigenous women from the Xerente tribe take a picture before a soccer match.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous women from the Xerente tribe take a picture before a soccer match.

An indigenous woman from Pataxo tribe poses for photos.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous woman from Pataxo tribe poses for photos.

Indigenous women from the Kamayura tribe take part in a demonstration of Huka Huka fight.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous women from the Kamayura tribe take part in a demonstration of Huka Huka fight.

An indigenous boy from the Mamaind tribe uses a tablet during the Jikunahati competition.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous boy from the Mamaind tribe uses a tablet during the Jikunahati competition.

An indigenous man from the Kanela tribe competes in a spear-throwing competition.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous man from the Kanela tribe competes in a spear-throwing competition.

Indigenous people compete in tug-of-war.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous people compete in tug-of-war.

Indigenous men from the Kamayura tribe take part in a demonstration of an indigenous Kamayura game.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous men from the Kamayura tribe take part in a demonstration of an indigenous Kamayura game.

Arrows are seen inside the competition area.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Arrows are seen inside the competition area.

An indigenous man from the Pataxo tribe watches a competition.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous man from the Pataxo tribe watches a competition.

Indigenous men from the Tabajara tribe talk in front of the sports arena.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Indigenous men from the Tabajara tribe talk in front of the sports arena.

An indigenous man from the Kuikuru tribe watches a tug-of-war competition.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous man from the Kuikuru tribe watches a tug-of-war competition.

An indigenous man from the Xerente tribe watches a tug-of-war contest.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous man from the Xerente tribe watches a tug-of-war contest.

An indigenous woman from the Rikbaktsa tribe is seen at the sports arena.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous woman from the Rikbaktsa tribe is seen at the sports arena.

An indigenous man is seen at the sports arena.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous man is seen at the sports arena.

Indigenous people carry a torch of the sacred fire during the opening ceremony.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous people carry a torch of the sacred fire during the opening ceremony.

Participants in the opening ceremony of the World Indigenous Games cast their shadows.
. Palmas, BRAZIL. Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

Participants in the opening ceremony of the World Indigenous Games cast their shadows.