Examples of traditional games and sports
Okanagan Elite Athlete community members have travelled to various continents, countries, and cities around the world. During their travels many have returned with stories of games played by ancient civilizations. A few of these examples in which members have participated in personally are below.
If you would like to learn more games, please visit our information about various programs and events Okanagan Elite Athlete can provide during your family/community/corporate event.
If you would like to learn more games, please visit our information about various programs and events Okanagan Elite Athlete can provide during your family/community/corporate event.
Ancient Egypt - English Translation: SENET
SENET is a game from ancient Egyptian times. It is still played in some areas of Egypt. It is not unusual to see some modern form of the game played in an ahwa (Arabic for coffee shop/cafe).
Require a board with 5 x 5 squares. Two players each have 12 discs/pieces of one colour (the other player has a different colour; all 12 discs are the same for the same player). 1) Decide who goes first, 2) Each player takes turn placing two pieces on the board at a time (one piece in each square), without any pieces in the centre square. 3) Player One moves on piece into the centre square. Pieces can then be moved up/down/sideways (not on an angle). If a player cannot move, they skip a turn. 4) Pieces are collected once you have trapped your opponents pieces between two of your own pieces. Once you trap the piece, you collect it. If you are able to capture the piece of an opponent, you get another turn.
Why is this important? Egyptians play this game for hours and hours at all times of the day. It is an African country's equivalent of what may be considered a North American/European board game.
SENET is a game from ancient Egyptian times. It is still played in some areas of Egypt. It is not unusual to see some modern form of the game played in an ahwa (Arabic for coffee shop/cafe).
Require a board with 5 x 5 squares. Two players each have 12 discs/pieces of one colour (the other player has a different colour; all 12 discs are the same for the same player). 1) Decide who goes first, 2) Each player takes turn placing two pieces on the board at a time (one piece in each square), without any pieces in the centre square. 3) Player One moves on piece into the centre square. Pieces can then be moved up/down/sideways (not on an angle). If a player cannot move, they skip a turn. 4) Pieces are collected once you have trapped your opponents pieces between two of your own pieces. Once you trap the piece, you collect it. If you are able to capture the piece of an opponent, you get another turn.
Why is this important? Egyptians play this game for hours and hours at all times of the day. It is an African country's equivalent of what may be considered a North American/European board game.
Cyprus/Egypt - English Translation: Slap Game
In Cyprus, the game is known as 'Ziziron'. In Egypt, the game is played amongst the desert peoples of the Sahara Desert. The desert peoples still actively play the game.
Stand with back to a group. The person uses their right hand and covers their right eye. The left hand is placed on the outside of the right elbow. Without telling the person, one person from the group hits the person left hand. The person then has to guess who hit him. They stay up there until their guess is correct.
Why is this important? The desert peoples must have games that do not require a lot of supplies as they have limited space on their camels. Additionally, with the speed in which sand storms can approach, one must be able to stay mobile and be able to quickly move at a moments notice to escape possible death. The game is a traditional game of Cyprus. There is a recent effort in the country to capture all of the traditional games of their cultures so these cultural artefacts won't be lost forever.
In Cyprus, the game is known as 'Ziziron'. In Egypt, the game is played amongst the desert peoples of the Sahara Desert. The desert peoples still actively play the game.
Stand with back to a group. The person uses their right hand and covers their right eye. The left hand is placed on the outside of the right elbow. Without telling the person, one person from the group hits the person left hand. The person then has to guess who hit him. They stay up there until their guess is correct.
Why is this important? The desert peoples must have games that do not require a lot of supplies as they have limited space on their camels. Additionally, with the speed in which sand storms can approach, one must be able to stay mobile and be able to quickly move at a moments notice to escape possible death. The game is a traditional game of Cyprus. There is a recent effort in the country to capture all of the traditional games of their cultures so these cultural artefacts won't be lost forever.
more information
For more information about the above traditional games, sport4one, or Okanagan Elite Athlete, please contact our community team!