5th World Nomad Games 2024 - Astana, Kazakhstan

Central Asia - 5 countries in 22 days (Itinerary Map - Reeverking.blogspot.com)

It was my dream to visit Central Asia. As someone who did not usually read news and did not learn about the world history, actually I had no idea what countries are they. I only knew that those countries mostly ended with "-stan", which mean "land of" according to the Persian suffix. It consist of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan (finally I knew how to spell each country while reading and researching the itinerary :D). 

Looked forward for the 5th World Nomad Games 2024 - Astana, Kazakhstan

After around 8 months and so, we finally realized our dreams. We traveled to these 5 countries in 22 days. Our first stop was Astana or formally known as Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan. I looked forward for this trip because the 5th World Nomad Games happened to be held there in Astana from 8 to 13 September 2024. 

"The World Nomad Games are international sports competitions in ethnic sports. The competition is based on folk games of historically nomadic peoples of Central Asia. WNG are aimed at the development of ethno-sports and ethno-cultural movement as a heritage of human civilization." - worldnomadgames.kz

Kok Par/ Kok Boru/ Buzkashi/ Ulak Tartysh - 5th World Nomad Games 2024 - Astana, Kazakhstan

The World Nomad Games were also included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The 21 competitive games included horse races, national types of wrestling, horseback wrestling, traditional intellectual games, competitions in martial arts, traditional archery, national types of hunting with birds, horse racing, folk games, horse-back archery, kok par or kok boru, and so on.

5th World Nomad Games Opening Ceremony - 8 September 2024

We reached Astana on September 7th. And we were fortunate being able to get the opening ceremony ticket and watched it 'live' at the Astana Arena Stadium. It showcased the masterpieces of musical and choreographic culture in theatrical way. 

Famous local bands and singers were performing there too, such as: Dimash Kudaibergen with ”Kieli Meken” (Holy Land), Abyroy group sang “Rukh” (Spirit), Ulytau band playing Adai, Ayree with Oiladyn Ba, and so on (Fyi, I found out all about them only after returning back home. I would be crazy if I knew earlier about them and was watching them 'live' like that. Hahaha.... They were really super talented people and I loved hearing their music and songs). There were cultural performance and dances as well.

"The ceremony’s cultural performance took the audience through Kazakhstan’s history, featuring pivotal moments from the Tengri period, the legend of Altyn Adam (Golden Man), Tomiris, the Silk Road and the rise of the Kazakh Khanate, also known as Ulus of Jochi. The show of tradition and modernity highlighted Kazakhstan’s role as a unifier of nations, symbolized by the shanyrak, a Kazakh symbol of unity and peace." - Astanatimes.com

Singapore team at the 5th World Nomad Games - Astana, Kazakhstan

Just like Olympic games, the World Nomad Games had also a parade introducing each country's flag and participants of the games. I was surprised that Singapore had also sent athletes to participate in the games. Indonesia had also sent their athletes there and Reno Suri, the female athlete, won 1 gold and bronze medal for the archery competition. Well done!!! :)

Central Asia Head Leaders - 5th World Nomad Games 2024 - Astana, Kazakhstan

Since Astana was our first destination in our trip, I really had no idea on many things in Central Asia, including the their leaders and Presidents. So after coming back, I was so thrilled and surprised knowing that many of them were present during the opening ceremony, sitting together in one room with me :D 

Those who were there included: President of Kazahstan - Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Uzbekistan - Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Kyrgyz Republic - Sadyr Zhaparov, Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan - Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Head of the Republic of Tatarstan - Rustam Minnikhanov, the Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) - Aisen Nikolayev and former Mongolian President - Nambar Enkhbayar.

Representatives from international organizations, including UNESCO, the UN World Tourism Organization, the Organization of Turkic States and the European Union, also attended the ceremony.

5th World Nomad Games - Astana Arena - Kazakhstan

The games were held every two years. I really recommend everyone who are interested to visit Central Asia to come during the event (the future event) to experience a very rich and diverse cultural activities that you could get from the opening and closing ceremony, from watching the sport games competition, and also the Ethno-aul - the Universe of Nomads.

Fyi, the first World Nomad Games were held in Kyrgyzstan. The city of Cholpon-Ata has hosted international competitions three times (in 2014, 2016, and in 2018). The 4th World Nomad Games were held in 2022 in Iznik, and the 5th was in Astana, Kazakhstan. So, stay tune on where the 6th will be held in 2026 :)