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World Nomad Games and SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan

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2026-09-08 07:07 UTC → 2026-09-09 19:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The sixth edition of the World Nomad Games has concluded in Kyrgyzstan, having moved from its opening ceremonies in Bishkek to the Issyk-Kul region. The biennial event brought together thousands of athletes and artists representing approximately 90 to 109 countries to showcase traditional Central Asian disciplines, such as horseback archery, wrestling, eagle hunting, and ‘kok-boru’. Integrated into the games was the ‘Kochmondor Sanaty’ International Festival of Traditional Music. This four-day festival hosted artists from 38 countries, focusing on storytelling and vocal-instrumental performances. Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Culture, Mirbek Mambetaliev, noted that the festival serves to “strengthen cultural ties and preserve the spiritual heritage of nomadic peoples.” Recognized by UNESCO as a practice for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, the games aimed to revitalize ancient traditions. The event combined athletic competition with a broader cultural experience involving traditional crafts, music, and cuisine. To demonstrate regional customs and hospitality, an ethno-village featuring approximately 500 traditional Kyrgyz yurts was established at the Kyrchyn Gorge. As the competition concluded with a grand closing ceremony in Cholpon-Ata, final statistics confirmed approximately 3,000 athletes from 109 countries competed in 42 traditional sporting disciplines. Kyrgyzstan finished at the top of the official medal standings with 72 medals (30 gold, 29 silver, and 13 bronze). Kazakhstan secured second place with 64 medals, and Russia took third with 34 ~~medals,~~ medals. Beyond standard athletics, the games featured unique disciplines such as ‘ordo’, a military strategy game played with ~~29 countries earning medals in total.~~ sheep or goat bones, and various forms of ‘kurash’ martial arts. Equestrian skills were central to events like ‘er enish’, a mix of Greco-Roman wrestling and riding, ‘tyiyn enmei’, and ‘salburun’, a hunting game utilizing falcons, taigan dogs, and archery. During the closing ceremony, Kyrgyzstan officially handed over the hosting rights for the next games to the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.

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