A Kyrgyz boy flings a young eagle into the air at the ethno-culture village in Kyrchyn George, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 3 Sep 2018. The Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan from the Soviet Union was August 31st, just three days earlier. People came out to Kyrchyn to show their support for the Games while celebrating the extended national holiday.
The opening ceremony of the III World Nomad Games drew inspiration from the myths and legends from Kyrgyzstan’s past, Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 2 Sep 2018.
Opening ceremony of the III World Nomad Games, Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 2 Sep 2018.
Athletes from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan compete in Alysh – traditional Kyrgyz belt wrestling – at the Sports and Recreation Center in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 2 Sep 2018.
Reenactment of past wars during the opening ceremony of the ethno-culture village in Kyrchyn George, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 3 Sep 2018.
An aerial view of Kyrchyn George, where the ethnocultural events of the World Nomad Games 2018 are held. Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 4 Sep 2018.
Old women wearing the traditional Kyrgyz dress rest and converse at the ethno-culture village in Kyrchyn George, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 4 Sep 2018.
Kazakh players practice Ordo, or bone tossing, a traditional Kyrgyz game to conquer the Khan’s headquarters by throwing chunks of cow bones. At the ethno-culture village in Kyrchyn George, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 4 Sep 2018.
A Kyrgyz grandfather wearing the traditional Ak Kalpak hat and his granddaughter at Kyrchyn George, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 4 Sep 2018.
Lanset Genel of Turkey shoots an arrow during the horseback archery competition at the ethno-culture village in Kyrchyn George, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 6 Sep 2018. She won gold in the women’s competition.
Spectators, athletes and volunteers mingle and lounge at the Hippodrome before the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games, Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 2 Sep 2018.
Er Enish, or horseback wrestling, at the World Nomad Games 2018, Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 5 Sep 2018.
Tourists take a dive and swim at a beach on the north side of Issyk-Kul, which is the world’s tenth largest lake and the second largest salt water lake. It is a popular destination in Central Asia. 6 Sep 2018
Kyrgyz locals sing and dance at a residential complex in Bosteri, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 5 Sep 2018.
A Kok Boru match between Kazakstan and Krasnoyarsk at the World Nomad Games 2018, Hippodrome, Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 5 Sep 2018. Kok Boru is the national sport of Kyrgyzstan. Men on horseback compete to carry the carcass of a headless goat weighing forty kilograms to a goal. It is a rough, and sometimes dangerous, sport, much like an extreme combination of soccer, polo and rugby.
Kyrgyz Kok Boru player Nurzhan Melisbek Uulu stands on the saddle of his horse Tornado and throws the dead goat into the goal during the final match against Uzbekistan, World Nomad Games 2018, Hippodrome, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 7 Sep 2018. Kyrgyzstan dominated and won 32-9.
Kyrgyz Kok Boru player Manas Niyazov falls off his horse and head down into the goal after throwing in the dead goat to score during the final match against Uzbekistan, World Nomad Games 2018, Hippodrome, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, 7 Sep 2018
World Nomad Games 2018 in Kyrgyzstan
The third biannual World Nomad Games took place in the Issyk-kul region of Kyrgyzstan from September 2nd to 8th, 2018, featuring 1,249 athletes from 74 countries. From horseback wrestling to falconry, the World Nomad Games showcased the nomadic traditions of Central Asia, which were pushed towards near extinction by decades of Soviet rule.
The Kyrgyzstan government is hoping that the Games will boost tourism and help with the national brand. Landlocked and impoverished, Kyrgyzstan is largely overlooked by the international community and trying to redefine its image. Only about one-third of its population of six million resides in urban areas, and the rest lead a semi- or seasonally nomadic life, herding livestock and living in round tents called yurts.
Some critics argue that the Games are for President Sooronbay Jeenbekov’s political gain and that the money should instead be spent on education and infrastructure. Following his footsteps, strongman-type leaders such as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary made an appearance at the opening ceremony; Turkey will hold the fourth World Nomad Games in 2020.
Still, the World Nomad Games 2018 were a proud celebration of Kyrgyz identity, full of action and fun. The generosity and hospitality of the Kyrgyz people were unrivaled.
