A week of nomadic life, horses and wrestling: international sports competitions in ancient Kazakhstan (photos)

The city of Astana, Kazakhstan, will host the 5th World Bedouin Games from September 8 to 14 this year, with extensive participation from more than a hundred athletes to witness and experience life in Bedouin countries from September 8 to 14, and even non-Bedouin countries are invited to participate.

According to Qatari media reports, the World Bedouin Games have been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The mission of the Games is to revive, develop and preserve national culture and national identity. Promote tolerant relations among groups and peoples around the world.

Competitions in 21 competitive sports such as horse racing, folk wrestling, traditional intellectual games, martial arts competitions, traditional archery, folk bird hunting, horse racing, folk games will be held in the best sports venues in Astana, and a total of 97 medals will be distributed during the games.

Horseback riding is one of the most important components of nomadic culture and plays a pivotal role in the lifestyle of the Kazakhs and Arabs. Horses are an indispensable companion in daily life, including in migration, war, hunting and trade. Horses were first domesticated in what is now Kazakhstan about 5,500 years ago.

One of the most anticipated events is Kokpar, an exciting and dynamic competition where teams of mounted horses compete for control of a goat carcass while demonstrating great skill, strength and strategy, while spectators will enjoy a variety of traditional sports such as archery, wrestling and falconry, each of which holds special historical significance and showcases the diverse skills our ancestors honed to succeed in the vast and challenging region of Central Asia.

Daily cultural events will also be held in the “Bedouin Ethnic Village”, where past and present traditions live in harmony, and one of the highlights of the cultural program will be the traditional Aitis music competition hosted by folk poets and singers. , Fashion lovers will enjoy the Ethnic Fashion Festival, which will include a platform display decorated with clothing samples.

The World Nomad Games, which will take place next September, promise to be an unforgettable experience, blending fierce competition with rich cultural heritage.