UNESCO has officially distanced itself from the Pakistan-based International Council of Traditional Sports and Games (ICTSG), issuing a firm clarification against the unauthorized use of its name, acronym, and logo.

The statement follows a series of complaints from former members of UNESCO’s now-dissolved Ad Hoc Advisory Committee, raising alarms over ICTSG’s misleading implications of an ongoing partnership with the United Nations agency.

UNESCO’s Sport Section has confirmed that there is currently no affiliation or cooperation with ICTSG. The organization has taken swift action, formally instructing ICTSG President Mr. Khalil Ahmed Khan to immediately cease all use of UNESCO’s name, branding, and logos on its website, social media platforms, and official documentation.

Notably, Mr. Khan had previously chaired the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Traditional Sports and Games until its dissolution in 2019 under circumstances that remain unclear. Since then, UNESCO has emphasized transparency and ethical governance, making today’s clarification especially significant.

Philipp Müller-Wirth, Chief of the Sport Section within UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, reiterated the agency’s commitment to integrity, stating: “We urge all concerned stakeholders to recognize that ICTSG’s claims of affiliation with UNESCO are entirely unfounded. UNESCO remains committed to protecting the integrity of its identity and mission.”

UNESCO has called on all organizations involved in traditional sports and games to circulate the clarification widely, urging vigilance against misinformation and unauthorized representation.

The move reinforces UNESCO’s broader mission to safeguard cultural heritage and uphold accountability in global sporting initiatives.