Guam will send its first-ever delegation to the 2025 World Indigenous Traditional Games, scheduled for Dec. 6–13, 2025 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, according to a release issued Nov. 28 by the Department of Chamorro Affairs (DCA). The DCA said a 27-member delegation will represent Guam, with the effort organized in conjunction with Taiwan’s Council of Indigenous Peoples and supported by the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB).
The Games will bring together over 300 athletes from Indigenous communities worldwide, with participating countries listed as including Palau, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, Guatemala, New Zealand, Japan, Guam, Hawai‘i, the Northern Mariana Islands, Canada, and the Philippines. The event, organized by the Council of Indigenous Peoples, is a celebration of Indigenous identity, heritage, and traditional sport, and as a platform for global cultural exchange.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero called Guam’s participation “a meaningful moment,” saying the trip is “more than competition” and that the athletes will carry Guam’s spirit and share the island’s heritage with Indigenous communities from around the world. Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio said the delegation is carrying forward traditions that define the people of Guam, while DCA President Melvin Won Pat-Borja said participation strengthens Guam’s cultural presence internationally and reflects an ongoing commitment to protecting and promoting Chamorro identity.
GVB President Régine Biscoe Lee said Guam’s participation creates an opportunity to connect with Austronesian ancestry and showcase Chamorro culture, while also building cultural connections through events including the Guam International Dance Festival in December and the Guam Micronesia Island Fair in June 2026, according to the release.
Vincent Reyes will head Guam’s delegation as they compete in multiple disciplines, including traditional archery, music and dance, wrestling, road running, weight carrying, and tug-of-war, and will include both emerging young practitioners and experienced cultural athletes.
