Since their inaugural edition in September 2014, the World Nomadic Games have experienced remarkable growth. Held every two years in Kyrgyzstan, at Cholpon-Ata on the shores of the famous Lake Issyk-Kol, they continue to draw large crowds from across Asia and around the globe. Various unique sporting competitions, rooted in nomadic culture, are scheduled during this grand event.

Cultural festivities of all kinds are also on the agenda: dance, music, and more. The Nomadic Games have consistently attracted extensive international media coverage, rapidly gaining worldwide significance. If you want to immerse yourself in nomadic cultures, this is simply the Kyrgyz event you cannot miss in 2018!

The World Nomadic Games: A Spectacular Beginning!

As a reminder, the Nomadic Games took place for the first time in 2014, specifically from September 9 to 14, 2014, in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The event brought together athletes from 19 countries including Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Russia. During the occasion, several sporting competitions rooted in nomadic culture were organized. Among the most notable were the famous Buzkashi, an equestrian sport where riders compete for a goat carcass. There were also other well-known disciplines such as Alysh (a form of wrestling), Salburun (a sport combining mounted archery, hunting with Taigan sighthounds, and falconry), and various equestrian sports including baiге. The event was a great success, particularly thanks to international media coverage that brought it to the world's attention. This paved the way for a second edition in 2016, which proved even more impressive than the first.

The 2016 World Nomadic Games: An Even More Impressive Second Edition!

The second edition of the Nomadic Games took place from September 3 to 8, 2016, at the same location as the first edition. While the first edition brought together 19 countries, the 2016 Nomadic Games succeeded in uniting 63 countries. Thus, no fewer than 1,000 athletes from Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, etc.) participated in this 2016 edition. Numerous sporting competitions (23 disciplines) were on the agenda, including the celebrated Er Enish (mounted wrestling) and Kurash (traditional Central Asian wrestling). Various cultural events also took place: traditional dances, folk music, theater, and more. A parade of all participating teams was also organized and led by acclaimed American actor Steven Seagal, a special guest of the Games. Once again, numerous international media outlets came to cover the event. This situation helped raise the country's profile and increased its appeal to tourism.

A second edition marked by the greatest number of victories for Kyrgyzstan

The 2016 World Nomadic Games were largely dominated by Kyrgyz athletes. Indeed, they won the largest number of medals at the end of the event. Across all competitions combined, the Kyrgyz national team won 25 gold medals, 25 silver medals, and 29 bronze medals. This amounted to a total of 79 medals. The country with the most medals after Kyrgyzstan was Turkmenistan, with 15 medals in total. In third place was Kazakhstan, which won 12 medals.

The 2018 World Nomadic Games: The Event You Cannot Miss in Kyrgyzstan!

Since their creation, the World Nomadic Games have become an unmissable event in Kyrgyzstan. Between the first two editions, the number of foreign visitors increased considerably (no fewer than 60,000 foreign visitors from around the world for 2016 according to media reports). The number of participating countries also experienced phenomenal growth between the 2014 and 2016 editions (from 19 countries in 2014 to 63 countries in 2016). For 2018, the Games aim to achieve another feat by bringing together more than 80 nations. Among the expected participating countries are China, India, Iran, and most nations that participated in the first two editions. Various countries from other continents such as Benin, Germany, Brazil, Italy, and Eswatini have also been invited to celebrate the nomadic spirit and way of life during this year's Games. Organizers have planned 36 traditional nomadic sports for 2018. On the agenda, you'll witness Buzkashi, Salburun, and many other unique and thrilling disciplines. Performances will also be featured including traditional dances, folk and modern concerts like pop, archery demonstrations and agility displays, and more. In short, it will be an opportunity to discover various nomadic cultures from different regions of Asia and around the world. It will also be a chance to make new connections and sample traditional specialties from various nations.

Don't miss this event and join us to experience firsthand all the excitement of these nomadic games. Our tour: World Nomadic Games - 9 days for €700