Athletes from 104 countries are participating in the World Nomad Games, a festival centered on traditional nomadic sports, in Kyrchyn Gorge, about 314 kilometers east of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital. The event, now in its 6th year, showcases sports such as horseback archery and kok-boru (a game involving throwing a headless goat carcass into a well). A total of 104 countries are represented at the games, which conclude on Sunday. The festival features various competitions, including horse riding, archery, and equestrian disciplines.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The World Nomad Games are taking place in Kyrgyzstan, a country located in Central Asia, from August 31 to September 6. This is the 6th edition of the festival, which focuses on traditional nomadic sports and culture. Athletes from 104 countries are participating in the games, including Kazakhstan and Australia, which has sent its first team to compete in archery events. The games showcase a range of unique sports, such as horseback archery, eagle and falcon hunting, and Kok-boru, where teams wrestle for a sheep on horseback. These sports are part of the cultural heritage of Central Asia's nomadic peoples, who were once widely dispersed across the region but are now largely concentrated in Kyrgyzstan. The World Nomad Games were launched by Kyrgyzstan in 2014 as a way to preserve and promote these traditional sports and cultures.
Written for “World Nomad Games” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 3988 · logged 2026-09-04
IN PHOTOS | Best of World Nomad Games
Festival focuses on horseback archery, other nomadic sports traditional to Central Asia
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Festival → focus → Asia
The World Nomad Games, a cultural and sporting festival centred on traditional nomadic sports, are happening in Kyrgyzstan this week.
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Games → centre → Kyrgyzstan
Athletes from 104 countries are taking part in the games, which showcase sports of the Turkic peoples of Central Asia.
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which → take → Asia
Check out the various events, which end on Sunday.
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which → check → Sunday
A view of the venue on Wednesday where participants and spectators gather for the 6th Games in Kyrchyn Gorge, about 314 kilometres east of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.
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participants → gather → capital
Participants march holding golden eagles for a competition.
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Participants → march → competition
A participant interacts with a hunting bird during a competition on Thursday.
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participant → interact → Thursday
A rider from Kazakhstan competes in the traditional equestrian discipline tyiyn enmei (pick up the coin) on Friday.
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rider → compete → Friday
The competition requires riders to gallop at speed and pick up coins or a pouch from the ground while remaining mounted.
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competition → require → ground
A participant shows his skills as he takes part in the horse riding competition.
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he → show → competition
Horse riders from the Uzbekistani and Russian teams compete in the traditional Central Asian sport of kok-boru (gray wolf) or buzkashi (goat grabbing), on Wednesday.
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riders → compete → Wednesday
Mounted players compete for points by throwing the carcass of a headless goat into a well.
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players → compete → well
A participant aims an arrow during an archery competition on Friday.
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participant → aim → Friday
Spectators also enjoy the food and take in craftsmanship skills, too.
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(Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP/Getty Images)
(Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP/Getty Images)
Kyrgyz women display their craftsmanship skills spooling wool on Thursday.
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women → display → Thursday
