Kazakhstan is set to host the fifth World Nomad Games, a distinctive international sports event that highlights ethnic sports rooted in the traditions of Central Asia’s nomadic peoples, from September 8 to 13. According to a statement from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India, this event aims to promote ethno-sports and the ethnocultural movement, celebrating them as integral aspects of human civilization.
Approximately 2,500 participants from nearly 100 countries are expected to attend, with the event anticipated to draw over 100,000 domestic and foreign tourists. Organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, UNESCO, the Organization of Turkic States, and other organizations, the games will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, under the motto “The Gathering of the Great Steppe.”
Competitions will be held in 21 sports at premier venues, featuring horse races, national wrestling styles, traditional intellectual games, martial arts, traditional archery, national bird hunting, and folk games. A total of 97 sets of medals will be awarded.
Earlier this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of the games, stating that they are crucial for both promoting national sports and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. “The World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan will be a major event. They are important both for the popularization of national sports and a healthy lifestyle, and for the expansion of cultural and humanitarian ties between fraternal peoples – heirs of the nomadic civilization of the Great Steppe,” Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was quoted in a release from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India.
The World Nomad Games were created to celebrate the traditional sports and cultural heritage of nomadic peoples worldwide. The inaugural games took place in 2014 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, and have since become a significant biennial event. They were also hosted in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2016 and 2018 and in Turkiye in 2022, with each edition witnessing increased participation and recognition, highlighting the global appeal of nomadic cultures.
Kazakhstan is ideally positioned to host the games due to its historical connections to nomadic traditions and its experience in hosting major events, such as EXPO 2017. By organizing the Fifth World Nomad Games, Kazakhstan aims to celebrate and preserve the rich cultural heritage of nomadic peoples, promote its cultural identity, and strengthen international ties.
The games are a crucial cultural event for Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region, serving as a platform to honor and maintain the traditional practices, sports, and lifestyles of nomadic peoples, as stated by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India.
For those outside Central Asia, the World Nomad Games present a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant and diverse cultures of nomadic peoples. Attendees can expect to witness rare and unique sports that are rarely seen beyond their native regions, as well as engage in interactive learning through workshops, traditional crafts, and authentic nomadic cuisine.