World Nomad Games

291 Shares

World Nomad Games: Kyrgyzstan 2018

The World Nomad Games began life back in 2014, a showcase for Central Asian culture, tradition and sport. Held in and around the Kyrgyz town of Cholpon-Ata, on the shores of Lake Issyk-kul, the games have grown in popularity and stature ever since. Held every two years, its third incarnation in 2018 was the biggest yet. From humble beginnings the event has grown rapidly, with numbers of sports, countries and participants trebling or quadrupling. The worldwide exposure has grown too, and with broadcast numbers increasing, it’s clear that the World Nomad Games are here to stay.

The Soul Of The Games

While the World Nomad Games have exciting sports like Kok Boru (‘dead goat polo’) and Er Enish (‘horseback wrestling) as their main events, the event is in fact about so much more. A huge number of cultural events also take place, showcasing the gentler side of the region’s traditions. In Kyrgyzstan, this side to the games has taken place in the dramatic setting of Kyrchyn Gorge, a wide grassy valley dominated by the surrounding mountains. It’s here that the personality of the Kyrgyz people has come forth – the true heart of the World Nomad Games. The violently competitive events in Cholpon-Ata drew large crowds, but the soul of the games was in Kyrchyn.

Thrilling individual events like horseback archery and hunting with eagles were held in the gorge; these were perfectly complemented by yurt building, weaving and blanket folding competitions. Temporary yurt villages were open to everyone, their owners inviting people in to eat and drink from overburdened tables. Impromptu singing sessions sprang up here and there. It was a true festival atmosphere.

New Beginnings

After being held three times in Kyrgyzstan, in 2020, the next World Nomad Games will take place in Turkey. Beyond that, not much is known. One thing is certain though – it will be a very different games from those witnessed in the Kyrgyz Republic. The sports will be there, but the unique culture of the Kyrgyz people will be sadly missed. A chance however for Turkey to celebrate its own rich and complex culture.

For now let’s appreciate the people, skills, traditions and events of the third World Nomad Games – a fascinating insight into the rich, historical tapestry of a nomadic people.

Click into the pictures to see them full size and read more about each one.

Another happy guy at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. This man stopped us, serious faced, and asked to have his picture taken. As soon as the camera was up, he broke into a wide smile. There he stands, beaming in his baseball cap with the yurts gleaming in the sun behind him. What a pleasure!

Dressed in traditional hunting gear, this guy was without doubt the happiest person at the World Nomad Games. Smiling from ear to ear, eyes squinting in delight, he's carrying a stuffed animal over his shoulder.

A woman adds a piece of bamboo cane to the mat. Each cane has already been individually wrapped according to the design, so each has an exact place it must go. The dangling strings are held weighed down by small rocks; as each cane is slid in, the strings are moved to the opposite side, crossing each other to bind the cane to the mat. One of many traditional skills on show at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.

Sitting regally on her black horse, this woman takes the prize for the best coat at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. The orange and gold vertical stripes pf her long coat glint in the sun and her long braided black hair hangs below her flowing white headdress.

Hanging out on a traditional swing at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, these two young ladies were an instant draw for anyone with a camera. Dressed in traditional clothing, they are standing at either end holding onto two diagonal ropes that hold the swing. Very sedate and calm.

This woman, dressed in an elaborate embroidered outfit at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, is expertly wrapping wool around the thin bamboo cane, to be used as part of the pattern in one of the traditional decorative mats.

Colourful children's clothing, hung up to dry outside one of the traditional Kyrgyz yurts in Kyrchin Gorge at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.

Two women take a rest as others pass piles of folded blankets, heading towards the arts and crafts contests.

A fascinating display of yurt assembly at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. Three men rush to get the roof covering on the red painted frame of the yurt. The aim of the contest was to put together the yurt - from scratch - in the fastest possible time. Judges would measure not just time but that they were all correctly assembled.

After a whole sheep was cooked in a massive pot, the meat is being hacked into large chunks, placed in large stainless steel bowls and prepared for sharing around the many yurts in Kyrchin Gorge at the 2018 World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. Offered a cup of broth from the pot: one of the richest, full favoured, most delicious things we've ever tasted.

In their element, these venerable ladies at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan are showing off their skills by expertly spinning yarn. Dressed in traditional clothes and wearing elaborate hats and scarves, they are sitting on a colourful rug in the sun.

The red painted wood of the yurt frame, ready and waiting for the yurt assembling competition at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.

ENJOYING OUR PHOTOGRAPHY?

COME JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM

A trick rider prepares to enter the arena at the Worl Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, catching the eye with her bold red outfit, in sharp contrast to her gleaming white horse.

Bread, bread bread - freshly baked and delicious. Fresh bread hot from the oven, piled in layers. The perfect thing to keep you going at the World Nomad Games.

The art of blanket folding. One of the many interesting cultural contests to see at the World Nomad Games.

The More Dramatic Events

The turbulent and tumultuous history of the Turkic peoples has bred rough and violent games. The most notable of these is the intensely popular Kok Boru, also known by Buzkashi and other names in the countries of Central Asia. Two teams battle over a headless goat carcass. Players haul it onto their horses and gallop to their opponents end, attempting to heave it into a kazan – something like a huge bin. It’s not unusual to see the rider thrown in with the dead goat as his horse stops abruptly. At these World Nomad Games, it was master against apprentice as Kyrgyzstan destroyed everyone put in front of them. They finished by demolishing neighbouring Uzbekistan 32-9 in the final, cheered on by an adoring crowd in the Cholpon-Ata Hippodrome.

The horseback wrestling (Er Enish) was also a crowd favourite, as were the huge variety of both traditional and modern forms of wrestling held inside the Gazprom building in Cholpon-Ata.

The two main areas of the games, Cholpon-Ata and Kyrchyn Gorge, felt like very different sides to the same coin. The gorge wasn’t without its own drama though, the excitement provided by disciplines such as horseback archery, hunting with eagles and trick riding.

Horseback archery is one of the most exciting and eagerly anticipated sports at the World Nomad Games. The combination of core strength and skill from this Hungarian archer was a sight to behold. Looking behind as his black horse gallops forward, he looses an arrow towards the target while admiring crowds look on.

A game of kokboru at the hippodrome in Cholpon-Ata. The game - often referred to as 'dead goat polo' has a long history throughout Central Asia. At these World Nomad Games, Kyrgyzstan were untouchable, willed on by fantastic support from the cheering crowds. Here, two players tussle for the goat carcass while their teammates look on in anticipation.

A trick rider at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan takes the crowd's acclaim after an skillful show of acrobatics. He is raising one hand aloft in acknowledgment as his horse kicks up a huge cloud of dust from the dry ground.

Horseback wrestling, known as Er Enish, is one of the main sporting events at the World Nomad Games. The aim is to pull your opponent from his horse using a series of dangerous holds. It's a sport in which the horse's strength and skill is just as important as the wrestler's. Two barechested riders tussle while the referee looks on.

How do get a good view of the action when you're at the back? Stand on your horse of course! Young men stand on the saddles of their horses to see what's happening at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.

The crowds head towards one of the many gates at the World Nomad Games festival site in Kyrchin Valley. The site was split up into different ordos - places representing towns, cities and areas around Kyrgyzstan.

World Nomad Games: Kyrgyzstan 2018

The World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan was a fascinating experience. After long anticipating the occasion, it lived up to expectations in many ways. We hope you enjoyed our pictures from this unique event and that it’s inspired you to attend in the future. We’re excited to see how the games develop in Turkey and the years to come.