On September 8, the opening ceremony of the 5th World Nomad Games was held in Astana.
The Games, which will last until September 13, gathered competitors from 89 countries.
Originated in Kyrgyzstan in 2014, the World Nomad Games have since been held three times in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. The first Games attracted participants from 19 countries, mainly from Central Asia, whereas the 4th Nomad Games hosted by Iznik, Turkey, in 2022, saw athletes from 81 countries.
The opening ceremony at the Astana Arena stadium featured the traditional parade of delegations of participating countries, with athletes from Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Australia.
In his speech at the event, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed that nomadic civilization has left a deep mark in world history.
“Since ancient times, the nomads of the Great Steppe have lived in Eurasia. The new technologies they developed provided the impetus for the global progress. Five thousand years ago nomads domesticated the horse and shaped a horseback riding culture that spread across the world. […] Serving as a bridge between East and West, nomads played a crucial role in the rapprochement of various cultures.”
According to Tokayev, the Nomad Games are a special project inspired by the creative goal of protecting the priceless heritage to pass it on to the future generation.
“We are grateful to our Kyrgyz brothers for hosting the first of these tournaments 10 years ago. This is the biggest sports competition of its kind in the world, so to say, the Olympics of nomads. These games promote nomadic civilization at the global level. Sport itself is a symbol of respect and solidarity. Its key purpose is to strengthen friendship among nations. Kazakhstan is known to everyone as a land of peace and coexistence. Indeed, various ethnic and religious groups coexist peacefully here. We have established close ties with both neighborly and distant countries. We wish to see other states also live in harmony with each other. I am confident that the Nomad Games will help foster international solidarity,” Tokayev said.
The opening ceremony was attended by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, and Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Aisen Nikolayev.
Photo: akorda.kz
