Kazakhstan – The World Nomad Games

The World Nomad Games travel summary:

Visited: September 2024

Duration of visit: 4 days (total Kazakhstan: 10 days)

Capital city: Astana

Population: 19 million (2024)

The World Nomad Games travel blog reading time: 7 minutes

• The folk games of the region’s historically nomadic peoples.
• Attending a range of little familiar nomad sports events.
• Interacting with Kazakh minority groups, dressed in traditional costumes.

I visited Kazakhstan twice:

• In 2023 Kazakhstan was the last country after exploring Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
• In 2024, when my primary objective was to attend the Nomad Games in Astana.

In this article I describe my impressions from The World Nomad Games: The Opening Ceremony, sport competition and cultural activities, Ethnic village, mas wrestling, throwing of sheep knuckle bones, a mix of horse riding and rugby, horseback wrestling and archery.

More articles about my Kazakhstan travel adventures are available here:

The World Nomad Games are an international competition celebrating Central Asia’s traditional sports. Rooted in the folk games of historically nomadic peoples, the first three editions were held in Kyrgyzstan, the fourth in Turkey, and the fifth in Astana, Kazakhstan, in September 2024.

After finding out about the games during my first trip to Kazakhstan, I was eager to attend as a visitor. The first four editions took place in rural settings, while the fifth was hosted in Astana, raising the event’s organization to a new level.

Around 2,500 competitors from 89 countries participated in 21 sports, while more than 100 cultural events took place in the specially created Ethno Village.

The World Nomad Games, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, were one of my greatest cultural highlights ever.

Purchasing tickets online in advance was remarkably simple. Prices were affordable, except for the expensive Opening Ceremony, allowing me to attend all events during my stay in Astana. The main challenge was planning my itinerary around different venues across the city.

Although I had carefully analyzed the events, formats, rules, and locations, I wasn’t sure about the visibility at the venues. At most locations, I was close enough to follow the action, but at the open Hippodrome and the Opening Ceremony, the distance significantly limited the view.

For me, these games represent much more than athletic competition. They showcase the cultural heritage, sportsmanship, and traditions of nomadic nations while strengthening connections among athletes, visitors, and volunteers.

The Opening Ceremony in the Astana Arena was the most extraordinary live event I have ever attended.

Two-hour cultural show featured traditional dances, costumes, and performances, enhanced by modern scenery, lighting, and special effects, celebrating Kazakhstan’s rich cultural heritage.

Teams representing participating nations paraded in alphabetical order, receiving enthusiastic support from a crowd of over 20,000, including countries’ leaders. President Tokayev highlighted nomadic heritage, the need to preserve it, and cultural exchange’s role in global unity.

The theatrical celebration of nomadic traditions highlighted values such as harmony with nature, respect for the land, and the shared responsibility to protect our planet. The performances reflected the heritage of the Tengri era, historic khanates, and Kazakhstan’s journey toward modern statehood. Many artists performed, though their names were unfamiliar to me.

Beside sport events, the main goal of Nomad games is also to expose and protect national heritage. Therefore, The National cultural complex – Ethnoaul was set up to allow visitors to acquaint with a rich history, culture, art and traditions of the Kazakh people. Nomadic culture, village festivities, costumes, music, and theater performances were presented in traditional tents called yurts.

People from all regions of Kazakhstan shared traditions, posed, and performed. Some men were exceptionally strong or tall, while women were remarkably beautiful.

It was a fascinating experience with many things to do to wander among the yurts, observe traditional clothing, taste local food, and watch performances.

The event featured 21 sports disciplines, many of which I experienced for the first time. Some were completely new to me, while others resembled Olympic sports such as judo, wrestling, and archery.

Here is a compilation of the sports events I attended.

Mas wrestling is commonly referred to as a one-on-one stick tug of war, with competitors participating in a best-of-three series. The wrestlers sit on the ground, facing each other, their feet resting on a wooden board that lies between them. Both men and women take part in these contests.

Each competitor grips the stick with both hands, attempting to either extract it from their opponent’s hold or pull it into their own territory.

Some matches can be resolved in just a few seconds, while others may last up to a minute. The athletes are in excellent physical shape and have dedicated years of training to master their sport.

Players of Assyk atu compete on a specially prepared, level surface. In the middle of this area, fifteen asyks, traditionally made from sheep knuckle bones, are positioned. Players alternate turns, attempting to throw their hitting knuckles at the asyks from a distance of six meters, aiming to displace them from the circle. An asyk is considered knocked out when it is hit and lands outside the circle.

In the game of Assyk atu, I did not identify any unique skills that could not be mastered with some practice.

The long distance from the throwing zone to the knuckles area meant results depended as much on luck as throwing accuracy.

In general, Assyk atu is an outdoor activity that develops children’s analytical thinking and physical skills, People play it mostly during celebrations and gatherings.

Kokpar and Kok Boru are ancient nomadic sports of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, played for centuries. Kokpar is associated with Kazakh culture, while Kok Boru originates from Kyrgyzstan.

The games combine elements of rugby and horseback riding, with the objective of scoring goals.

The main objective is to seize the goat carcass—nowadays often replaced by a specially designed dummy—from the opponents and carry it into the opposing team’s scoring area. In Kokpar, the scoring area is a raised, donut-shaped structure, while in Kok Boru it is marked by a circle on the ground. The game demands strength, courage, and exceptional horsemanship.

The team that throws the most serke dummies into the goal wins. A serke typically weighs between 30 and 33 kilograms.

I watched the events at the National Hippodrome from a considerable distance, with limited visibility. Nevertheless, the stands were packed with spectators, creating a great atmosphere as they passionately supported the Kazakh team against their American rivals.

Known as Audaryspak in Kazakh, horseback wrestling is a traditional equestrian contest that tests riders’ strength and balance. Originating from the training practices of nomadic warriors, it has evolved into a popular sport showcasing courage, agility, and exceptional horsemanship.

Two muscular, bare-chested men on horseback, wearing blue or red belts, grapple within a 15-meter circle until one emerges victorious.

A decisive victory goes to the person who pulls their opponent off the saddle or makes them fall. Points can also be won by pushing opponents out of the circle or lifting their leg above the saddle.

This was one of the most exciting events for me. After a VAR review showed that the Kyrgyz competitor’s horse had bitten the Kazakh competitor, the win was given to Kazakhstan.

Powerful Nomad has five main events: lifting and carrying a 100-kilogram stone, throwing a heavy javelin, squatting with a 130-kilogram log, squatting with a 100-kilogram bag, and pulling a 200-kilogram trolley.

The strongman competition is similar to other international events that determine the strongest person.

Twelve competitors showed their strength in front of a mostly Kazakh audience, who strongly supported all the athletes. Although the Iranian competitor was very strong, the Kazakh athlete had better balance between power and technique, which helped him win the gold medal.

I found it very rewarding to watch the competition from just a few meters away. It allowed me to truly appreciate the competitors’ strength and hard work.

Horseback archery stands out as one of the most exhilarating competitions, involving the shooting of arrows while riding a horse at high speeds. This technique has been historically significant for hunting, protecting herds, and warfare, making it evident that competitors must possess advanced skills.

Horse riders approach the three targets placed next to each other and shoot with great accuracy.

In a performance lasting about 15 seconds, riders shoot arrows in three stages: first while moving forward, then sideways, and finally backward as they finish their run.

Points are awarded based on successful hits and the time taken to finish the course. A faster completion time gives a higher score.

I admired the combination of agility, balance, and speed truly remarkable.

I also witnessed the traditional archery event, where competitors shoot at targets placed 60 meters away for women and 70 meters away for men.

Qazaq Kuresi reminded me of judo, with the main difference being that the entire match takes place while standing.

From the breathtaking Opening Ceremony to the exciting competitions in unique nomadic sports and the opportunity to meet minority groups from across Kazakhstan and visitors from around the world, I was truly captivated by this remarkable event.

I hope to attend one of these competitions again in the future, perhaps in a different country and a more rural setting.