The first edition of the Games was held in Palmas, Brazil, from October 23 to November 1, 2015, while the second (and most recent) was hosted by Alberta, Canada, in 2017.
[2] These games consist of body paint replacing sportswear, bare feet instead of sneakers and a looser conception of competition that comes with little value to winning.
[5] International sporting events have become a means to project positive images and garner social, political, and/or economic benefits for their communities.
The WIN Games were first proposed at a global conference of aboriginal leaders in 1977 by Wilton Littlechild,[8] a 50-time provincial, regional, national and international champion who has been inducted into seven sports hall of famer.
[3] Littlechild advocated for the event for about 40 years and met with a lot of resistance (lack of support from government, financial restraints), until the games finally came to life in 2015.
For example, B. Spencer states that in Arnhem Land the people decorate the bodies of young boys for initiation ceremonies.
They include this in the games by forming social forums, activities for the indigenous women and lectures and fairs for all to join and listen to.
It is expected that indigenous people run the Olympics however, important guests could be invited to talk or take part somehow in the games.
[14] Events included: opening and closing ceremonies, traditional and contemporary games, a global business forum, youth conference, education conference, discussion forums on lands, resources and climate change, upholding and implementing Treaty rights, sovereignty and traditional knowledge, and an international Elders gathering.
[15] Representatives from 29 countries took part in the opening ceremonies[14] and participated in events including: spear throw, tug of strength, log races,[3] Mexican version of hockey (puck is on fire), Brazil's jikunahati (like soccer except players whack a small ball only with their heads),[3] canoeing, Indian horse relays, lacrosse, Denesuline hand games,[16] bow and arrow, swimming and soccer.
[2] As mentioned earlier, the WIN Games were based on the Olympic model, but organizers wanted to make sure the cultural component of Indigenous traditions was included.
[20]The WIN games in Brazil, hosted in Palmas, capital of the state of Tocantins, were developed on a partnership led by the Municipality of Palmas, under the administration of mayor Carlos Franco Amastha, the Intertribal Committee, ran by chiefs Carlos and Marcos Terena and the Ministry of Sports of Brazil.
Over 300 international media and press companies covered the event, 3000 athletes competed, and the 10 days programme was followed by an audience of 10.000 people on a daily basis.
The opening ceremony was attended by former president of Brazil Dilma Rousseff and several indigenous leaders and diplomatic representatives of the 30 participant countries.