Participants gathered from different corners of Mexico to play in the Mesoamerican Ballgame championships. The game is an ancient tradition in the region dating back to 1500 BCE. Championships were held to celebrate Mexican heritage in the Teotihuacan ruins outside of Mexico City. | Voice of America

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The Mesoamerican ball game is the oldest known team sport in the world. It was practiced by ancient Pre-Columbian cultures of Central America and played almost a millennium before the establishment of the first Greek Olympic Games . A fast-paced, often brutal game tied in with religious ritual, contestants often lost their lives and human sacrifices were regular occurrences. From ancient times until the Spanish conquest in the 16 th century, the sport was not just a game but a major part of Meso

Ball like the ancient Mayans with a game of Mesoamerican ballgame. No hands and no feet allowed in this sport — it's all about the hips. | Great Big Story