The ceremony of the sacred fire opened the first World Indigenous Games - billed as the indigenous Olympics - in the remote city of Palmas, Brazil, this week.
![Indians from Panama pose for photos before the start of the ceremony. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/BZEBHJP53NWPOM7RUUKZ4UDQGA.jpg?auth=15c9e42b81eca5d8338af45b23059ba2070089b1e4737fd299c182a94e388928&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
The games were expected to bring 2000 athletes from dozens of Brazilian ethnicities as well as people from across the globe- including from New Zealand, Ethiopia and Siberia - to the South American country.
![A Siberian indigenous person (centre) talks with Indians from Panama. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/6U3WCRRUM6KZ5VMBHR7ZCC6QKM.jpg?auth=cb7626a44faca5702489b1a970a18a044733767d9908bdab026724f90c28c036&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)