Category: Ulama-Pok Ta Pok (Maya-Mexica Sport)

Ulama Mesoamerican Ball Game Tournament 2017-Present

Results

YearWinners
2017Yo Creek Village (Orange District, Belize)
2018Ek Balam (Black Jaguars) (Yo Creek Village, Belize)
Ulama Mesoamerican Ball Game Tournament Champions 2017-Present [Reference: 1-2]

Report

The Pok ta Pok team from Yo Creek Village in Orange Walk District in Belize won the first Tournament in the revived Ancient Mesoamerican Ball Game now known as Ulama.

10 Mexican and one Belize team entered the Tournament which was played by the Ancient Olmec, Mayan and Aztec civilizations. The Tournament was held in Guatemala.

The following year, Ek Balam (Black Jaguars) from Yo Creek Village as they were now known, won again.

The Sport is played with the hips, with objective to knock a rubber ball weighing 4.4 pounds past the opposing team. It is known as Ulama in Mexico and Pok ta Pok in Belize.

Ulama Mayan Ball Tournament 2017 [Reference: 3]
Ulama – Mayan Ball Game Tournament 2017 [Reference: 4]

References

Websites

[1] Ctv3 News (2017) Belize Wins Ancient Mayan Ball Tournament [Internet] Available from: http://www.ctv3belizenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7990:belize-wins-ancient-mayan-ball-tournament- [Accessed 28 June 2019]

[2] Amber Griscaye (2017) Mexico v Belize in re-creation of the Maya Ball Game Ulama [Internet] Available from: https://ambergriscaye.com/photogallery/180521.html [Accessed 28 June 2019]

[5] News 5 (2018) Pok ta Pok, an Ancient but re-emerging Sport in Belize [Internet] Available from: https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/174771 [Accessed 28 June 2019]

Images

[3] Ctv3 News (2017) Belize Wins Ancient Mayan Ball Tournament [Internet] Available from: http://www.ctv3belizenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7990:belize-wins-ancient-mayan-ball-tournament- [Accessed 28 June 2019]

[4] Amber Griscaye (2017) Mexico v Belize in re-creation of the Maya Ball Game Ulama [Internet] Available from:https://ambergriscaye.com/photogallery/art/belize-maya-team-win-ball-game.jpg [Accessed 28 June 2019]

Acknowledgements

 

Thanks to Kimmage Development Studies Centre @ The Holy Ghost College, Dublin 6W.

 

About this document

 

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 11 January 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.