Fifth World Nomad Games open in Astana with grand ceremony

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.