Games & Sports Zone

Launches 15 August at 1pm
Children around the world play all manner of different games. We've chosen a selection of just six for you to choose from and have a go at. You just need to complete one to sign off your Games & Sports Zone, but we love them all so feel free to play as many as you like. Each game has a PDF link below it with full instructions on how you can make the games at home with items found around the house or in the garden.

Chiyato, Zambia

Chiyato, or ichienga, is a Zambian game traditionally played by girls and is similar to jacks played in Britain and North America.

Watch the video below of two people playing the game.

Disc Golf, Canada

Disc golf was first invented in the early 1900s. The first game was held in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1926. Ronald Brandon Cain and a group of his Bladworth Elementary School buddies played a game of throwing tin lids into 4-foot wide circles drawn into sandy patches on their school grounds.
You can find out the full rules below but be sure to check out our PDF document with how you can make this game garden friendly. If you take this game out into the local park, make sure there is plenty of space so you don't upset the neighbours!

Hiko, Tonga

Almost every schoolgirl in Tonga knows how to juggle. The Juggling is called HIKO, and integrates object manipulation, an ancient song, a playful game, a fun competition, and a cultural dance. Tui tui nuts from local trees are the most common juggling object and thrown only in a shower pattern.

This beautiful video shares a little of the culture in Tonga, including their Hiko.

Hobby Horsing, Finland

Originating in Finland, the sport of hobby horsing has riders – with a toy consisting of a stick with a model horse head – scoring their performances.

Sapo, Peru

An Ancient legend tells that in the Inca sacred Lake Titicaca, the royal Inca King, son of the Sun God would travel to Lake Titicaca and try to catch the attention of a Sapo by throwing gold pieces into the lake. In those days “El Sapo” (frog) was known for their magical powers and the Incas believed that if a frog caught the gold piece in its mouth, the person would be instantly awarded a wish and the frog would turn into solid gold. To honour all the wishes that had been granted by the Sapo, the Inca King built a golden statue of a great Sapo in the gardens of his palace in Cusco. There members of the royal court invented the game.

The video below uses a modern version of the game board but gives you an idea of how the game works.

Yut Nori, Korea

Yut-Nori ('Nori' means 'game') is a traditional board game played in Korea, especially during Korean New Year.

The video below explains how the game works but don't forget to look at the PDF document too as it contains a printable game board and instructions on making this game at home.

Useful Links

Want to take it further? There are lots of strange and unusual sports on this website. Why not have a go at adapting one to play at home?
If you prefer the games to the sports then this website has some more games from around the world which could easily be played or adapted for the house or garden.