World Nomad Games with 43 disciplines underway in Kyrgyzstan
The sixth World Nomad Games, international competitions in traditional sports of the peoples of Central Asia, are being held in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 6. This year, representatives of about 100 countries are taking part in 43 disciplines, ABC News Australia reports.
Kyrgyzstan launched the Nomad Games in 2014. The first competitions brought together 20 countries and 10 traditional sports. The current tournament’s program includes mounted archery, hunting with golden eagles and falcons, er enish horseback wrestling, kok-boru, 11-kilometer races, competitions in quickly setting up a yurt, and ordo — a game with sheep knucklebones.
Traditional disciplines
In kok-boru, two teams of riders try to throw a stuffed sheepskin into a target to score points. Ahmed Kharat, captain of Australia’s shooting disciplines team, compared the sport to Australian football and rugby league, but on horseback. Kazakhstan’s national team won gold in horseback wrestling in the up to 60-kilogram and up to 70-kilogram categories.
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Twenty-nine-year-old Kyrgyz athlete Sezim Zhumabekova competes in mounted archery. She has practiced the sport competitively for only three years and has learned tricks and acrobatics on horseback. Australian archer Danya Aziz said that participants in mounted archery receive a horse for competition by drawing lots after arriving in Kyrgyzstan.
Tourism and national identity
Gulshat Roziyeva, a researcher at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, called the Games an important factor in shaping Kyrgyzstan’s national identity. According to her, the competitions also have economic importance: visitors book hotels and support local businesses.
Tourism is among the most valuable sectors of Kyrgyzstan’s economy. Travel company Intrepid Travel reported a 900% increase in bookings for trips to Kyrgyzstan this year compared with the previous year. Kyrgyz archer Asel Sadyrova also believes that traditional sports help girls develop strength and confidence while preserving historical heritage.
