WORLD GATEBALL UNION

Gateball Open Tournaments

2018.04.27

Asociacion Argentina de Gate-Ball held the International Gateball Tournament and its 30-year Anniversary Event. 

On April 8, 2018, the Asociacion Argentina de Gate-ball organized the international gateball tournament to commemorate its 30th anniversary at Urumakoen playground in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Some players from Uruguay, its neighbor, also participated. 

Following the tournament, there was a big commemorating ceremony attended by more than 200 people. During the event, messages from the WGU chairperson, Japanese Consule in Artgentina, chairman of the South America Gateball Union and the local representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency introduced. 

The history of Gateball in Argentina can go back to 1985 when it was introduced as a sport good to nurture the sound mind and body, through the local office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, starting from Japanese communities (about 50,000 to 60,000)and clubs of elderly people. Immediately, Gateball became very popular. 

Asociacion Argentina de Gate-Ball was established on May 27, 1987 and joined the World Gateball Union in 1989. The original members were 1300. Later, the number declined due to the decrease of the Nikkei (Japanese ancestry) first generation. Recently, however, the Gateball population is getting back as the Nikkei second and third generations are carrying on Gateball. 

The year 2018 is going to have various commemorating events to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the amicable relations between Argentine and Japan. 

The big commemorating ceremony which was attended by players from Uruguay, its neighbor, as well.