PIACAGUERA INDIGENOUS LAND, Brazil (AP) — As a bonfire lit by children finished burning, the winners at the first Indigenous Games of Peruibe calmly welcomed their wooden medals around their necks with little fanfare otherwise.
The spectators, though, screamed and howled around the village’s arena as defeated competitors applauded in between smokes of their pipes.
The two-day competition last weekend in southern Sao Paulo state was not exactly the Olympics, but some of the friendly spirit of the past echoed among about 120 athletes of the Guarani, Tupi-Guarani and Fulnió ethnicities — plus 21 of their non-Indigenous friends allowed to compete at the Piacaguera Indigenous land.
The program was a mix of white imports and local traditions; archery, tug of war, soccer, a Brazilian Indigenous wrestling named Uca-Uca, a log carrying relay race on the beach, dart blowing and others. The spear and rock throwing competitions were suspended because of rainy weather. There weren’t enough people to play in the Indigenous badminton category, so it was canceled.
The Indigenous peoples spread among 17 villages around Peruibe, a beachfront city 138 kilometers (86 miles) south of Sao Paulo, frequently hold their sporting events during other celebrations of their culture. But one year ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics there is enough interest among youngsters for a solo sports competition, which elders expect to reinforce their heritage in the region.