Published : 2024-09-02

On September 2, 1982, the first National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of China (the "Games") opened in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

The precursor of the Games was the "National Ethnic Sports Display and Competition Conference" held in Tianjin from November 8 to 12, 1953. This was the first ethnically styled sports festival held since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, embodying the equality and unity of all ethnic groups.

Subsequently, in the 1980s, with the approval of the State Council, the National Sports Commission and the National Ethnic Affairs Commission confirmed that the National Ethnic Sports Display and Competition Conference was renamed as the National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of China, and it was decided to hold it every four years.

The first China's Ethnic Games lasted for 7 days, with a total of 863 athletes and coaches from 56 ethnic groups in 29 provinces participating, 593 of whom were ethnic minority athletes.

The competition was divided into competition items and performance items. The former included an archery record-breaking invitation competition and Chinese-style wrestling, while the latter included 68 items, such as the Flower Stick (of the Li ethnic group, 黎族), Bian Dan Dance (Zhuang ethnic group, 壯族), Rod-pushing (Qiang ethnic group, 羌族), Yajia (Tibetan ethnic group, 藏族), etc.