The European Association of Traditional Games and Sports (AEJeST) was founded on 28 April 2001 in Lesneven, Brittany, France, by around one hundred delegates representing various organizations. This initiative stemmed from multiple international scientific meetings and festivals held between 1980 and 1990. The founding members aimed to establish a network of European institutions committed to the preservation, study, and promotion of traditional games and sports (TSG).
AEJeST primarily operates within Europe, fostering collaboration among educational institutions (universities, training schools), federations, sports associations, cultural organizations, museums, and individuals dedicated to traditional games and sports. Through its extensive network, AEJeST works to safeguard and revitalise traditional games as part of Europe’s intangible cultural heritage.
Recognising the importance of international cooperation, AEJeST has played a key role in the creation of the International Traditional Sports and Games Association (ITSGA). This broader network includes representatives from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, aiming to promote the global recognition of TSG. However, AEJeST's primary focus remains on strengthening and developing TSG within Europe.
Traditional games and sports are leisure and recreational activities that often carry deep cultural and historical significance. They are rooted in regional and local identities, forming an essential part of Europe’s diverse heritage. Whether played individually or collectively, these games are governed by rules accepted by the organizing community, whether competitive or not.
While traditional games are popular and community-driven, their transformation into modern sports has often led to increased standardization and institutionalization. AEJeST strives to maintain a balance between tradition and evolution, ensuring that these games continue to thrive while preserving their cultural authenticity.
Recognition and Impact
AEJeST is an officially recognised non-governmental organisation (NGO) by UNESCO. It serves as the primary European platform dedicated to the development, promotion, and transmission of traditional games and sports. Through research, events, and educational initiatives, AEJeST fosters intercultural dialogue, social well-being, and historical continuity across Europe.
With its European-centred mission and international connections, AEJeST remains at the forefront of efforts to preserve and revitalise traditional games and sports, ensuring their legacy for future generations.
The Asian Traditional Sports and Games Association (ATSGA) is a non-profit organization that promotes traditional sports and games in Asia and is affiliated with the International Traditional Sports and Games Association.
The aims of ATSGA are:
To represent at the Asian level its network of traditional sports and games in order to safeguard, study, exchange, promote, and develop their practice for better social health, better intercultural dialogue, and better living throughout the world.
The objectives of ATSGA are:
- To encourage the practice of traditional sports and games in general and to promote them in all Asian countries
- To unite and support sport or cultural organizations of ATSGA;
- To support the setting up of new organizations for traditional sports and games.
- To support and promote an information network's support research and the publishing of reports, magazines, newsletters, booklets, or books, and the use of informational and training technology.
- To support and promote international meeting and conferences;
- To contribute to the development of friendly relationships between the federations, networks, associations, and individuals of the Asian nations in general.
- To support any initiative or youth educational policy that improves the life quality of the general population (adults, the elderly, the disabled, etc.).
The AAJST is the African organization of traditional sports and games. It is an NGO created in 2018 with representatives from several African countries: Republic of Congo, Benin, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Tunisia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Madagascar, and South Africa.
It is made up of national or regional organizations of sports and cultural associations and organized into six sub-federations:
1. AAJST NORTH AFRICA
2. AAJST SOUTHERN AFRICA
3. AAJST CENTRAL AFRICA
4. AAJST EAST AFRICA
5. AAJST WEST AFRICA
6. AAJST INDIAN OCEAN
The objective is the safeguard and promotion, but also the support for the management, of traditional African sports and games in order to perpetuate the values of this intangible cultural heritage. More generally, the aim is to activate and highlight the central role of communities and individuals on the African continent in the process of transmitting knowledge and practices of Africa's intangible cultural heritage in light of the urgency that exists today.
The AAJST brings together numerous volunteers from all social categories with the necessary experience, knowledge, and expertise of our traditional African cultural and sporting heritage. Indeed, the management, preservation, and promotion of African culture in general is the duty of all Africans, already to develop the mutual trust of the African population through the potential of their own culture.
L’AAJST est l’organisation africaine des jeux et sports traditionnels. C’est une ONG créée en 2018 avec la participation de représentants de plusieurs pays d’Afrique : République du Congo, du Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Tunisie, Tanzanie, Cameroun, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Madagascar et Afrique du Sud.
Elle est aujourd’hui composée d’organisations nationales ou régionales d’associations sportives et culturelles et organisée en six sous-fédérations :
1. AAJST AFRIQUE DU NORD
2. AAJST AFRIQUE AUSTRALE
3. AAJST AFRIQUE CENTRALE
4. AAJST AFRIQUE DE L’EST
5. AAJST AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST
6. AAJST OCEAN INDIEN
L’objectif est la sauvegarde et la promotion, mais aussi le soutien à la gestion, des jeux et sports traditionnels africains de façon à perpétuer les valeurs de ce patrimoine culturel immatériel. Plus généralement, le but est de mettre en avant le rôle central des communautés et individus du continent africain dans le processus de transmission des savoirs et pratiques du patrimoine culturel immatériel de l’Afrique, ceci devant l’urgence qu’il y a aujourd’hui de relever ce défi pour les pays africains
L’AAJST regroupe de nombreux volontaires de toutes les catégories sociales ayant l’expérience, les connaissances et l’expertise nécessaires de notre héritage culturel et sportif traditionnel africain. En effet, la gestion, la sauvegarde et la promotion de la culture africaine en général, c’est l’affaire de tous les Africains, déjà pour développer la confiance mutuelle de la population africaine à travers le potentiel de notre propre culture.
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