I wish there was more coverage on this event. According to the Wikipedia, my country (Canada) won two Bronze medals, but I can’t find much more info.
The World Nomad Games, a cultural and sporting festival centred on traditional nomadic sports, are happening in Kyrgyzstan this week.
Athletes from 104 countries are taking part in the games, which showcase sports of the Turkic peoples of Central Asia. Check out the various events, which end on Sunday.
Some photos and sources that I found:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_World_Nomad_Games
- https://worldnomadgames.org/en/accreditation-of-participants-of-the-vi-world-nomad-games/
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/world-nomad-games-photo-scroller-9.7329928
I went a few* years ago; it was super cool, and Kyrgyzstan is a crazy beautiful country.
I’m glad it’s back in Kyrgyzstan; when I went Erdogan was making a big deal of it and the following year it was supposed to be in Turkey and then it seemed to disappear of the radar for a bit. Good to see it back. I found a couple of pictures, God knows what I did with most of them…
.*: goddamn, a few = 8 years ago apparently. Damn.
Why is the the horseman on fire? Why is the person in the background also on fire? I wen through the links and can’t seem to find an explanation other than he is demonstrating his skills.
I found this other article, but it doesn’t expand on it past that it was a “stunt”
https://www.chosun.com/english/world-en/2026/09/04/PSPLRWL47RE4LAHNOWHAVH6CGY/
Thanks, well at least now I know there isn’t a horseback immolation competition, just a stunt.
Yeah, when I went there were the competitive events (Kok-Boru, wrestling, that kind of stuff) in the main stadia in Cholpon-Ata, but then a short Marshrutka ride away there was a second venue which was more like a town fair type deal, fields in the middle of nowhere with some competitive stuff (archery and the like) but also exhibition displays.
