Some time ago, preparations for the 6th World Nomad Games were underway in the Kyrchyn Valley, located in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul region. Traditional Kyrgyz yurts were being erected, competition grounds were being prepared, and areas that would showcase the culture of individual regions were being set up.
APA’s correspondent dispatched to Bishkek visited the ethno-village created in the Kyrchyn Valley as part of a media tour at the time, observed the preparation process on site, and became acquainted with the venues where the ancient traditions of nomadic peoples are preserved.
Kyrgyz folk music echoing through the valley, the sound of horses’ hooves, falconry, and archery demonstrations created an initial picture of the upcoming major sporting and cultural event.
During the media tour, Azerbaijani journalists listened to Kyrgyz folk music performed by members of the Salburun organization and watched traditional horseback competitions, falconry and archery demonstrations.
Almazbek Akunov, head of the Salburun organization, said that the organization’s main goal is to preserve the nomadic lifestyle and traditional culture of the Kyrgyz people and pass them on to future generations.
“Salburun is a traditional complex hunting culture involving birds of prey, bows and hunting dogs. Our main goal is to preserve this heritage and pass it on to future generations,” he emphasized.
Salburun is not merely a sport. This tradition brings together the nomadic people’s relationship with nature, hunting skills, and experience in using horses, birds of prey and specially bred dogs. These skills, passed down from generation to generation for centuries, are preserved today in the form of competitions and cultural presentations.
According to Almazbek Akunov, Salburun has been recognized as a national sport in Kyrgyzstan since 2012 and is supported by the state. The sport has already spread beyond Kyrgyzstan’s borders to various countries.
“Today, representatives from many countries, including Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, European countries and Azerbaijan, participate in our competitions. In recent years, traditional archery has also been developing rapidly in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani athletes come to us, and we also visit Azerbaijan. About two years ago, we presented Salburun and the art of traditional archery in Azerbaijan,” the head of the organization said.
The next destination of the media tour was the ethno-village created in the Kyrchyn Valley. Journalists visited the traditional Kyrgyz yurts set up there and became closely acquainted with the nomadic lifestyle of the local population, national cuisine, examples of craftsmanship and handicrafts.
At that time, final preparations were underway in the ethno-village. Traditional yurts were being erected, areas where cultural programs would be held were being prepared, and grounds intended for competitions and demonstrations were being set up.
Askaraly Madaminov, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan and chief of staff of the main venue of the World Nomad Games, had said that construction work was planned to be fully completed in early August.
According to him, the selection of the Kyrchyn Valley as one of the main venues of the World Nomad Games was not accidental.
“This venue has been chosen as the main arena since the first World Nomad Games held in 2014. This is a historic area. Our ancestors lived in this valley. There are burial mounds dating back to the Saka period here, and archaeologists are currently conducting research at these sites,” he emphasized.
In addition to being a modern competition venue, the Kyrchyn Valley is a historic area that preserves traces of the ancient nomadic civilization. Every yurt erected here, the examples of craftsmanship displayed, and the horseback competitions held are presented as part of the shared memory of nomadic peoples.
Askaraly Madaminov said that the main goal of the World Nomad Games is to introduce national sports that are being forgotten and the cultural heritage of nomadic peoples to the international community.
The deputy minister also noted that Azerbaijan is one of the regular participants in the World Nomad Games.
“Azerbaijan is a regular participant in the World Nomad Games and has not missed any of the Games held so far. Azerbaijan is expected to participate this time as well. Azerbaijan’s national wrestling style, Gulash, has already been included in the main sports program of the World Nomad Games,” Askaraly Madaminov noted.
The expectation expressed in the future tense during the media tour has now become a reality. Preparations in the Kyrchyn Valley have been completed, and the ethno-village has begun welcoming competition participants and guests.
The area, which resembled a preparation site just a few weeks ago, now gives the impression of a living museum of Kyrgyzstan’s nomadic culture. The yurts erected here, handicrafts on display, examples of national cuisine, horseback competitions and traditional hunting scenes give visitors an opportunity to see the historical way of life of the Kyrgyz people up close.
Following the completion of the preparation stage, the solemn opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on August 31.
The ceremony, held at the newly commissioned Bishkek Arena, was marked by a parade of delegations from the participating countries. The Azerbaijani delegation also marched through the arena under the tricolor flag.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.
The opening ceremony featured an extensive artistic program showcasing the history, lifestyle, national costumes, music, equestrian traditions and ancient rituals of nomadic peoples. The parade of athletes from different countries demonstrated that the World Nomad Games have evolved from a regional event into a broad international sports and cultural platform.
Thus, the preparation process that began in the Kyrchyn Valley entered a new stage with the solemn ceremony held in Bishkek. Following the opening, attention once again turned to the Issyk-Kul region – the main competition and cultural venues of the Games.
The 6th World Nomad Games will continue from August 31 to September 6. The main competitions will be held in the Issyk-Kul region, particularly in the city of Cholpon-Ata and the Kyrchyn Valley.
Azerbaijan is represented at the Games by a 17-member delegation. The delegation includes 10 athletes, six coaches and one representative. Azerbaijani athletes will compete in nine sports.
In the coming days, Issyk-Kul will host horse races, national wrestling disciplines, traditional archery, intellectual games and various cultural events reflecting the lifestyle of nomadic peoples.
Azerbaijan’s participation in the Games once again serves not only to promote the country’s national sporting traditions internationally, but also to strengthen ties based on shared historical and cultural values.
The Kyrchyn Valley, where preparations were underway some time ago, has now become one of the main venues of a major sports and cultural celebration. The competition stage, which began following the solemn opening in Bishkek, will continue until September 6, and during this period, Kyrgyzstan will be the center of the world’s nomadic culture.
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