International Council of Traditional Sports and Games

UNESCO played a role in creating the conditions to found the International Council of Traditional Sports and Games (ICTSG) in 2018. Khalil Ahmad Khan became the president,^[1] and Shammi Rana was appointed as the position of Secretary General; however, Rana was terminated in early 2025 for alleged misconduct.^[2] The organisation declared the 14th of August as the International Day of Traditional Sports and Games.^[3]

As of 2025, the leadership of ICTSG includes several high-profile international figures:

• Khalil Ahmed Khan – President^[4]
• Joel Bouzou – Ambassador-at-Large^[5]
• Yahya Al-Mataar Jobe – Vice President (Africa)^[6]
• Harko H. Brown – Official Coordinator, Pacific Region^[7]
• Bulat Galimgereyev – Vice President (Europe)^[8]
• Dr. Michael Shamsu Mustapha – Vice President (Africa)^[9]

As of April 2025, internal discussions have reportedly taken place between the International Council of Traditional Sports and Games (ICTSG) and UNESCO regarding the use of institutional identity and heritage references. No joint public statement has yet been issued, but these discussions are believed to be part of a broader effort to clarify roles and strengthen collaboration.

ICTSG has issued a public statement asserting its status as “an independent, external, and non‑governmental organization.” It acknowledges its origins in UNESCO‑facilitated consultations but emphasizes that it is not governed by UNESCO, nor does it form part of its legal, administrative, or financial structure.

According to the statement: “ICTSG wishes to reaffirm its status as an independent, external, and non-governmental organization, distinct in legal identity and institutional framework from UNESCO.” This wording highlights both the historical connections and current autonomy of ICTSG.^[10]

In March 2025, Shammi Rana, the former Secretary General of the International Council of Traditional Sports and Games (ICTSG),^[11] took part in a high-level event organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) at the UN Headquarters in New York. The event, titled "Securing the Legacy: Debriefing from Paris 2024 for Future Major Sporting Events," commemorated the fifth anniversary of UNOCT’s Global Sports Programme.^[12] It brought together global stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving the safety, inclusiveness, and lasting impact of upcoming international sporting events.^[13]

Rana took part in a side event focused on the World Games for Indigenous Peoples, where the accomplishments related to Article 31 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples were highlighted. The event, co-hosted by ICTSG and the Comité Intertribal Memória e Ciência Indígena, also featured a preview of the upcoming World Indigenous Games 2025 in Brazil.^[14]

Additionally, Rana also participated in another side event on the Commonwealth Sport Declaration, organized by WIN Sports International and the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development (IOIRD), which focused on supporting Indigenous athletes and cultural initiatives.

^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}