Indigenous groups keep ancient sports alive in Mexico

Athletes filed onto the field carrying a mystifying array of sporting tools: tree trunks, gourds, dried palm fronds and balls made of woven cornstalk.

These weren't your typical ballplayers.

Once a year, supporters of the ancient sports of Mexico stage an exhibition of games like pash pash, corozo, garabato and kuachancaca.

This past November they gathered in Villahermosa, the hot, humid lowland capital of the Mexican state of Tabasco.

Which was the homeland of the Olmec civilization that predated the Maya civilization to show off their sports.

Read the rest here.