tejo (sport)

The exact origins of Tejo are uncertain.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} It is widely accepted that the sport has origins in native aboriginals from central Colombia, where it might have been played in a similar form.[http://www.boyacacultural.com/turmeque/tejohisto.php History of tejo] This form of tejo used a golden disc called a {{Lang|chb|zepquagosqua}}, which means "I play" in the Chibcha language.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Tejo is a popular sport in Colombia, and some see it as a connection to the pre-Columbian era of the Americas. Only soccer has a larger and more supported industry in Colombia.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

In Colombia, it is common to find professional tejo teams around the major cities and smaller towns. A few of the teams are sponsored by local companies or someone that loves tejo. In the past, the playing of tejo was accompanied by chicha (an indigenous maize-based alcoholic beverage), whereas modern tejo players refresh themselves with beer.[http://www.educar.org/Educacionfisicaydeportiva/historia/tejo.asp Historia del Tejo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008102910/http://www.educar.org/Educacionfisicaydeportiva/historia/tejo.asp|date=2006-10-08}} Tejo has been widely exploited by beer companies in Colombia. Tejo aficionados are trying to change the image of the sport in popular culture from a rowdy bar game to a serious sport with a rich history.{{cite web |title=Tejo – Colombia's national sport |date=28 August 2013 |url=http://thecitypaperbogota.com/uncategorized/homepage-featured/tejo-most-muddy-sport/ |access-date=28 August 2013 |publisher=thecitypaperbogota.com}} There are many people in Colombia who are in disagreement with the use of beer in this sport, and some Colombians want to prohibit alcohol companies sponsoring the game.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Modern tejo competitions are highly organized tournaments. Tournaments, known as "torneos Relampago," are the most common, and are usually played over one weekend by direct elimination of teams. Prizes include trophies, medals, and money. Household items are awarded to finalists in combination with money or coupons. Tejo has no mass media coverage, apart from the National Games, but sponsoring and targeted marketing efforts make it attractive to brands that position themselves as "popular".{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Tejo has become a popular cultural activity for backpackers travelling Colombia, with a number of hostels throughout the country hosting free tejo nights.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} Professional tejo teams exist in neighboring countries, including Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. Tejo's following and industry is much less developed outside of Colombia.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

File:Monumento a los Indígenas-2.jpg

The game consists of throwing a metal puck/disc (called a {{Lang|es|tejo}}) across a field at a {{Convert|1|by|1|m|ft|adj=on}} board at a distance of approximately {{Convert|18.5|m|yd}}. The board is covered with clay and set at a 45-degree angle.

Wooden frames covered in clay act as a protective board to keep the {{Lang|es|tejo}} from hitting other elements or people in the neighboring area, and are called {{Lang|es|tablas}}. Inside the {{Lang|es|tablas}}, there is a metal pipe or car spring, designed to cushion the impacts of the {{Lang|es|tejo}}. This pipe is the target where the {{Lang|es|tejo}} is meant to hit. The pipe is set at the same angle as the frame (45 degrees).

The {{Lang|es|tejo}} must be thrown from within the throwing area, and the goal is to impact the inside of the target at the end of the field. A chief characteristic of the sport is its use of small, exploding targets that contain gunpowder, commonly known as {{Lang|es|mechas}}. These usually triangle-shaped envelopes with explosive material inside are set on the edges of the pipe. When struck by the {{Lang|es|tejo}}, they explode loudly, creating a sound similar to the one created by a small revolver. Modern adaptations of {{Lang|es|tejo}} also exist, with electronic sensors instead of the traditional {{Lang|es|mechas}} being used to detect a hit.{{cite web |date=2014-09-04 |title=Tecnotejo - Tejo, con la 'mecha' de la tecnología |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-14486716 |access-date=2023-03-05 |publisher=eltiempo.com |language=es}}

Although scoring can be arbitrary, the following format is commonly used:{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

• Hand: grants 1 point to the {{Lang|es|tejo}} that is closest to the target at the end of a round
• Hit: grants 3 points to every player that explodes a {{Lang|es|mecha}}
• Bulls-eye: grants 6 points to the player whose {{Lang|es|tejo}} has impacted inside the target
• Strike: grants 9 points to the player that scores a hit and a bulls-eye in the same throw

File:Tejo measurements.png|Tejo field with measurements in metric and feet. 1.Post 2.Throwing area

File:Tejo field full.jpg|Tejo field with person and two posts visible

File:Tejo post with tags and clay.png|Tejo post with clay. 1.Protective board 2.Post frame 3.Clay 4.Target 5.Firecracker

File:Tejo post no clay.jpg|Tejo post without clay and target structure visible

• Chaza
• Muisca

• [https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/colombia/articles/tejo-colombias-national-sport/ Tejo: Colombia's National Sport]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FVFcycr4CU Allegorical music to the sport tejo]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMFTzaHJaKo Learning Tejo in Colombia]

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Category:Indigenous sports and games of the Americas

Category:Sport in Colombia

Category:Sports originating in Colombia

Category:Precision sports

Category:Culture of Colombia

Category:Muisca

Category:Throwing games