The National Encounter of Indigenous Games and Sports

Mexico's commitment to indigenous sports shines through the National Encounter. It's more than competition – it's about preserving history, building community, and showcasing Mexico's unique sporting heritage on the world stage.

The National Encounter of Indigenous Games and Sports
A Zapotec man wearing traditional clothing plays Ulama, a modern version of the Mesoamerican ballgame, using her hip to strike a ball. Credit: CONADE

The National Encounter of Indigenous Games and Sports, which is held every year with the support of the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (CONADE), with the objective of preserving and promoting the activities that are part of Mexico's recreational and sports legacy, will celebrate its twenty-fifth edition in 2024, for which a series of special events are being prepared.

“This year we are preparing a calendar of activities focused on the 25th anniversary of the National Encounter; this time it will be held in July, in a venue to be defined,” said Ana Claudia Collado García, president of the Mexican Federation of Indigenous and Traditional Games and Sports (FMJDAT), in an interview with CONADE.