Preparations for the fifth World Nomad Games are also underway abroad. In Astana, athletes from Hungary will demonstrate their skills, competing in togyzkumalak and mangala. Being familiar with nomadic traditions and games, they recognize similarities in national competitions. Nevertheless, their current training differs from the traditional approach. In addition to physical training, they are also utilizing artificial intelligence.
«I wrote a computer program for togyzkumalak; it’s quite basic for now, but there I can faster analyze the things. And my friends, for example, I recently showed them the mangala and toqyzkumalak games, and they are really enjoying it. We also hope that we can maybe establish a base here in Hungary to invite more people to get engaged in these kinds of sports,»said Balazs Gonter, participant of the fifth World Nomad Games from Hungary.
«Actually, about the assyk, we have the same in Hungary. And we play it with the bones, with stones or with the buttons, and I didn’t know it before I get to know the Kazakh version. So, I think it reflects our common roots, and it’s really good for Hungary to get to know their own culture thanks to the Kazakh culture,» said Timea Janurik, participant of the fifth World Nomad Games from Hungary.
Turkish athletes also plan to test their skills at the fifth World Nomad Games. They have submitted applications to compete in wrestling and are eagerly anticipating the start of the competition.
«This will be a great experience for me. I believe that national games allow us not only to meet people from Turkic-speaking countries but also to get to know each other better. The World Nomad Games hold great importance for Turkic states, for all of us,» said Anil Berkan Kilicsallayan, participant of the fifth World Nomad Games from Türkiye.
The fifth World Nomad Games will be held in Astana from September 8 to 13, with over 2,000 athletes from 89 countries expected to participate. This major international event in ethnic sports will feature 97 medal sets across 21 sports disciplines.
