The fifth World Nomad Games have kicked off in
Astana. Nearly 3,000 performers participated in the grand opening ceremony at the Astana
Arena stadium, presenting a theatrical performance dedicated to the rich
culture and history, traditions, and customs of nomadic civilization, while
also calling for the preservation of our shared home – the Earth. Honored guests at
the event included heads of Turkic states, the World Ethnosport Confederation President, and leaders of international
organizations such as UNESCO, the
Conference
on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the World Tourism
Organization, and the Organization of Turkic States. In his speech, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
specifically highlighted that nomadic civilization has left a profound mark on
world history.
«The nomads of the Great Steppe have inhabited Eurasia
since ancient times, contributing to global progress with innovative
technologies. 5,000 years ago, they domesticated the horse and developed a
horseman culture that spread worldwide. The steppe artisans crafted advanced
weaponry and exquisite jewelry, with the Golden People from the Saka period
serving as a vivid example,» he said.
According to the Head of
State, the Nomad Games are a special project inspired by the main goal of
preserving the invaluable heritage and passing it on to the younger generation.
«We are grateful to our Kyrgyz brothers who organized
these competitions for the first time ten years ago. These are the world’s
largest competitions in national sports, we can say the Olympics of nomads.
These games promote nomadic civilization on a global level. Sport is a symbol
of mutual respect and solidarity. Its primary mission is to strengthen the
friendship of peoples. Kazakhstan is known to all as a territory of peace and
harmony. Different ethnic groups live in peace and harmony in our country. We
have established good ties with near and far-abroad countries, and we want
other states to be in good relations with each other as well. I am confident
that the Nomad Games will contribute to strengthening international solidarity,»
Tokayev added.
This year, athletes from
Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Australia are taking part in the World Nomad Games.
The opening ceremony of the large-scale ethnic competitions was broadcast by
domestic TV channels and media outlets from the Kyrgyz Republic, Türkiye, Russia,
Tatarstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
