― 9 сентября 2024 г.

Gathering of the Great Steppe: Official opening of the 5th World Nomadic Games

The official opening ceremony of the 5th World Nomadic Games  held at the Astana Arena Stadium gathered the President of Kazakhstan Kassym Jömert Tokayev, the President of Uzbekistan Shafkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, the Chairman of the People's Assembly of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the President of Tatarstan (RF) Rustem Minnikhanov, the President of the Republic of Sakha Yakutia Aysen Nikolayev and the former President of Mongolia Enhbayar Nambarin  as well as Mr. Bilal Erdoğan, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Türkiye Mr. Osman Aşkın Bak, the Minister of Justice of Türkiye Mr.  Yılmaz Tunç, the President of the World Ethnosport Confederation, Mr. Sultan Raev, the Secretary General of the International Organisation of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) and representatives of international organisations such as the United Nations, UNESCO, the Turkic Investment Fund, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and the European Union.
 

The opening ceremony of the 5th World Nomad Games, hosted by Kazakhstan took place under the motto"Gathering of the Great Steppe" and started  with the official parade of teams holding the flags of participating countries.
The national anthem of Kazakhstan was followed by the opening speech  of President Tokayev who thanked the leaders of kindred states who personally came to Kazakhstan to watch this international event.

Pointing out that  nomadic civilisation  first appeared and  developed in the lands of current Kazakhstan, President Tokayev said: “Five thousand years ago, nomads domesticated the horse and formed the basis of an equestrian culture that spread all over the world. Their craftsmen made advanced weapons and jewellery. The living proof of this is the ”Man dressed in a golden uniform" which dates back to the Sakha period. Kazakh lands are also the homeland of outstanding personalities of the World such as Farabi and Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, who made significant contributions to the development of science and humanist ideas. This endless steppe also witnessed the rising of the Hun Empire and  Turkic Khanates, the Golden Army and the Kazakh Khanate in different periods of history."

Noting that the World Nomadic Games is a special project aiming at the transmission of a priceless heritage to young generations, President Tokayev further said: ‘We are grateful to our Kyrgyz brothers who organised these games for the first time 10 years ago. Indeed, the World Nomadic Games which are the Olympic Games of Nomadic Peoples are the biggest competition of traditional sports in the world."
 

Stressing  his belief in the fact that  the World Nomadic Games will help strengthen international solidarity, President Tokayev  wished success to the athletes participating in the games.

In the statement he delivered on the occasion of the 5th World Nomadic Games, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev said that the nomadic games are one of the most important component  of the common culture of the Turkic World and said: “Nomadic games, which make us who we are, give us identity, reflect our Turkic way of understanding life and the world, were opened today with a magnificent ceremony. I am proud that TURKSOY is  part of this extremely important organisation.”

 
While the opening ceremony of the 5th World Nomadic Games was marked by colourful performances representing the rich history, culture and traditions of nomads, the scenes depicting the Sakha period, the historical Silk Road and the ancient warfare traditions of Turkic peoples were particularly appreciated by the audience.
 

The opening ceremony of the 5th World Nomadic Games, which lasted about two and a half hours ended with a performance by the world famous Kazakh artist Dimash Kudaybergen.

The 5th World Nomad Games, which are the ‘Olympic Games of Traditional Sports in the World’, will continue until 13 September 13th, 2024 with the participation of more than two thousand athletes from 89 countries who will compete in 21 traditional sports branches in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.