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Around 800 BCE the Greeks played a game called ‘episkyros’ with some coincidental similarities to US football. The game was played between two teams of usually 12 - 14 players each, with one ball and the rules of the game allowed using hands. There was a white line between the teams and another white line behind each team. Teams would change the ball often until one of the team was forced behind the line at their end. The ball was made of leather pieces sewn together and painted with vivid colors and geometric shapes.

Photo: Greek marble relief of a man with a ball on his knee (400 BCE). Athens Archeological Museum.

Roman mosaic with boxing match. Athletes wear one of the dangerous variations of the ancient boxing "gloves", the myrmekes, which with their lethal spikes, could cause permanent damage or a fatal outcome; the boxer on the left bleeds from the abdomen, while the one on the right raises his knee to keep his distance.
The use of such offensive "boxing gloves" in some events organized in the imperial age led to the violent and brutal extremeization of Greek boxing competitive competitions. We know little of the changes and technical developments and regulations, which the use of this kind of tool required to comply with the logic of these athletic events; The mosaic is dated to 300-350 AD. and is located in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Trier, Germany.

Roman mosaic with scene of Pankration (total combat sport, a mixture of wrestling and boxing with minimum rules) in the gym, on the sand, dated to 200-220 AD.
The two mature athletes, with powerful and vigorous physique, probably carry out the combat training phase while standing, the one we nowadays refer to as the term sparring, using striking techniques (the use of percussion, such as punches).
The mosaic was found in Salzburg (ancient Iuvavum), in Austria, when the Mozart monument was erected (in modern Mozartplatz). The series of mosaics that formed the floor bore the Latin inscription "hic habitat felicitas, nihil intret mali", "happiness lives here, nothing that is bad enters it", now visible at the Salzburg Museum.

Zihgir-a special ring for archery used by the Ottoman Caliphate.

The Roman "turricula"

It is a bronze turret dating back to the 4th century. A.D. (found in Germany in 1985) used to play dice without cheating.
The dice, introduced by the player in the upper part of the structure, randomly rolled between the internal slats exiting the lower part.
The perforated writing reads "Pictos victos, hostis deleta, ludite securi", that is "The Picts have been defeated, the enemy destroyed, play calmly".

We will be hosting Virtual LIVE Zoom Meeting on Traditional Sport and Games (TSG). As Corona outbreak hugely impacts people social live around the World, we want to show some solidarity within TSG community, continue to collaborate, support each other, share our thoughts as we go through this Corona outbreak. We do understand that in last several weeks/months, everybody around the world has been so worried about their own life, scared and anxious. But we believe that as we go through this Corona outbreak, it is important to stay connected, encourage each other, share our thoughts, and keep TSG spirit alive since we are a STRONG community. During our meeting, we show some solidarity, advocacy, and spirit. As they reflect on their joyful moments in last several years, We will be discussing many personal and professional experience and achievements through TSG , as well discussion many topics and questions such as;
How does the outbreak impact TSG community in their countries?
What does it take to keep TSG spirit alive even though the corona outbreak?
How do they maintain positive energy to keep their community alive?
If any, How do they prepare their future event even though there may be some uncertainty in some part of World?
What are they are going to do differently if they host any TSG event?
Please join us to hear our distinguished panelists from around the World
Panelists:
Adem Kaya, Ast. Prof, Moderator, USA
SA Scott Wendel, President of US TSG, North America)
Hassane Fousseni Nadey, Benin (Africa),
Nawab Furqan Khan, President of TSG Pakistan (Asia)
Ana Claudia Collado, President of TSG, Mexico
Kazimierz Waluch, the Editor of www.traditionalsports.org, Poland (Europe)
Topic: World Traditional Sport and Games "Strong" Zoom LIVE Meeting
Time: Apr 14, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/437898854…
Meeting ID: 437 898 854
LIVE ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/Traditional-Sports-and-Games-Research-and-Development-Center-100504281423286/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Hendrick Avercamp (Dutch, 1585 - 1634), A Winter Scene with Two Gentlemen Playing Golf

Wooden stalls in the cathedral of Toledo are decorated with beautiful sculptures that show people and animals. One of these little sculptures shows gymnastic exercises.

Despite the name Pacu Jawi (literally 'bull race' or 'cow race' in Minangkabau), this is not a direct competition between animals. Each rider chooses his two best cows for the "team". Then he puts on a harness (ropes) and stands on a wooden plow connecting them, which has two functions. First of all, it creates a platform, unstable and not very comfortable, for a daredevil participating in the race. Secondly, it prevents animals from separating on the route. Animals are usually bulls between the ages of 2 and 13 whose run in pairs.
More: http://www.traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/asia/pacu-jawi-indonesia.html

Picturing more than two hundred children playing over eighty different games, Children’s Games (1560) is one of Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s most intriguing and least understood paintings.

More: http://www.traditionalsports.org/partners/organizations/bangladesh-ethnosport-association.html

Lake Circus Girls' High School "Annual Ethnosport Competition 2020", Dhaka, Bangladesh

An Ancient Indus die: A cubical die with 1 to 6 dots was found in rubble during excavations at Harappa. Many such dice were also found at Mohenjo-daro. John Marshall writes: "That dicing was a common game at Mohenjo-daro is proved by the number of pieces that have been found. In all cases they are made of pottery and are usually cubical, ranging in size from 1.2 by 1.2 by 1.2 inches to 1.5 by 1.5 by 15 inches. . .. The dice of Mohenjo-daro are not marked in the same way as to-day, i.e. so that the sum of the points on any two opposite sides amounts to seven. Instead of that, 1 is opposite 2, 3 opposite 4, and 5 opposite 6. All the examples found are exceedingly well made with well-defined edges; the points are shallow holes averaging 0.1 inch in diameter. The clay of which they are made is light red in color, well baked, and sometimes coated with a red wash. These dice must have been thrown on a soft surface, such as a piece of cloth, or on dusty ground, for their edges show little sign of wear. It is not yet known whether these objects were used in pairs, but two specimens found in the Dk Area [of Mohenjo-daro], not far from each other, are exactly the same size." (Marshall, Mohenjo-daro and the Indus Civilization, pp. 551-2) These terra-cotta dice are roughly 2cm cubes, and are dated between 1900-2500 BCE.

Tahtib is a sport already known in the time of the pharaohs. More about tahtib: http://www.traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/africa/tahtib-or-tahteeb-egypt.html

Evidence that curling existed in Scotland in the early 16th century includes a curling stone inscribed with the date 1511 found (along with another bearing the date 1551) when an old pond was drained at Dunblane, Scotland. The world's oldest curling stone and the world's oldest football are now kept in the same museum (the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum) in Stirling. The first written reference to a contest using stones on ice coming from the records of Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire, in February 1541. Two paintings, "Winter Landscape with a Bird Trap" and "The Hunters in the Snow" (both dated 1565) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder depict Flemish peasants curling, albeit without brooms; Scotland and the Low Countries had strong trading and cultural links during this period, which is also evident in the history of golf.
The word curling first appears in print in 1620 in Perth, Scotland, in the preface and the verses of a poem by Henry Adamson. The sport was (and still is, in Scotland and Scottish-settled regions like southern New Zealand) also known as "the roaring game" because of the sound the stones make while traveling over the pebble (droplets of water applied to the playing surface). The verbal noun curling is formed from the Scots (and English) verb curl, which describes the motion of the stone.

A boat was an important element of the Khmers culture, who used it to navigate the waterway, avoiding wild animals. The waterway also solved the communication issue, as it was difficult to build and maintain roads and bridges in those conditions.
Over time, the boats became faster, which was caused, by tactics during the ethnic war and many conflicts. Tuk Ngo boats were created to escape or quickly attack. Therefore, the boat became an inseparable element of the life of people from these areas, as it was a method of transport used to transfer people and cargo.

More: http://www.traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/asia/ghe-ngo-vietnam.html

The first evidence of kemari was found in the city of Nara (a former capital city) and dates from around 644 AD. It has been recorded in the Nihon Shoki, an ancient historical chronicle. (documents dating back to the Taika Reform). From 1192 till 1333 the game was a popular sport amongst samurai. The rules were standardized from the 13th century. The game was influenced by the Chinese sport of Cuju (the very earliest form of football). The characters for Kemari are the same as Cuju in Chinese. The sport was introduced to Japan about 600, during the Asuka period. Nowadays, it is played in Shinto shrines for festivals. It actually became a compulsory game for the court nobles during the Heian Period. By the Edo era (1603 – 1867), the game’s popularity had extended beyond the samurai to also include townspeople and wealthy landowners: Kemari had become a sport of mass appeal.
More: http://www.traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/asia/kemari-or-mari-koju-japan.html

The Gili Danda competition in Karachi will take place in a few days. We invite everyone interested.
Karachi Gilli Danda Championship 17 January 2020 Karachi, Sindh Pakistan

We invite you to read the article: http://www.traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/asia/chovquan-chovqan-azerbaijan.html

African Traditional Games Competitions of Botswana, Nkange River, 2019, December 31
A great event promoting traditional sports organized by Botswana Traditional Sports & Games Confederation.

The first evidence of kemari is from 644 AD. The rules were standardized from the 13th century. The game was influenced by the Chinese sport of Cuju (the very earliest form of football). The characters for Kemari are the same as Cuju in Chinese. The sport was introduced to Japan about 600, during the Asuka period. Nowadays, it is played in Shinto shrines for festivals.
It is a non-competitive sport. The object of Kemari is to keep one ball in the air, with all players cooperating to do so. Players may use any body part with the exception of arms and hands – their head, feet, knees, back, and depending on the rules, elbows to keep the ball aloft. The ball, known as a mari, is made of deerskin with the hair facing inside and the hide on the outside. The ball is stuffed with barley grains to give it shape. When the hide has set in this shape, the grains are removed from the ball, and it is then sewn together using the skin of a horse. The one who kicks the ball is called a mariashi. A good mariashi makes it easy for the receiver to control the mari, and serves it with a soft touch to make it easy to keep the mari in the air.
Kemari is played on a flat ground, about 6–7 meters squared. The uniforms that the players wear are reminiscent of the clothes of the Asuka age and include a crow hat. This type of clothing was called kariginu and it was fashionable at that time.

More: http://www.traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/asia/kemari-or-mari-koju-japan.html

Gasing from Malaysia.

Mallakhamb (India), photo from the Umanath Hiremath collection.

Kasagak- traninig.
Tokyo National Museum collection.

Arrow maker, Ya-shi. From Shokunin Zukusi-zu Byoubu (Kita shrine collection), late 15th - early 16th century.

 

Zugh d 'tutto zugh (game of all games) and signed lower right MI.FE. The work depicts 21 panels, arranged on three lines, 20 of which depict a traditional game. Autor Giuseppe Maria Mitelli (Bologna, 1634-1718).
From the first box on the top left, proceeding to the right, the games are listed: gioco delle carte, trottola (prilla), bocce, "gioco dell'amore tira tutto" (non identificato), tric-trac (tuccatigli), trucco a terra (trucc), mulino (schiera), battimuro, birilli (zun), pallamaglio (palamai), pallacorda (balla), pallone col bracciale (ballon), ruzzola (ruzla), dama, cappelletto, lippa (giare), dado (da), borella (burella), ? (non identificato), biribissi. According to Gioacchino Priscoglio, the unidentified games correspond to: biglie, filetto, morra, ruota della fortuna.

Attributed to the artist Sanvlah; Queen Humay Playing Polo with Her Slaves, from an illustrated Dara-nama (The Tale of Darab) India; Mughal period (1526–1858), reign of Akbar, ca 1580-1590;The British Library.

Concluyó el Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Charrería 2019
• El Cócono de Morelos se corona campeón al ganar la final con 334 puntos • La escaramuza Rancho Santa María de Jalisco se llevó el título femenil • Nayarit, Casa de la Gran Familia Charra

More: http://fmcharreria.com/noticias/concluyo-el-campeonato-nacional-mexicano-de-charreria-2019/