More than 2,000 athletes will revive ancient warfare skills in sports such as horseback archery and falconry.
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While the Paralympics concludes in Paris, in Astana, Kazakhstan, another global sporting event begins: the World Nomad Games.
This is a biennial initiative in which athletes use the ancient warfare skills of historically nomadic peoples.
The 21 disciplines include mounted wrestling, mounted archery, martial arts and falconry, as well as cultural and scientific games.
The World Nomad Games are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Listwith the aim of developing and preserving ethno-sports and the ethno-cultural movement.
“The World Nomad Games are a unique opportunity to showcase the rich historical and cultural heritage of our country to the world,” Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva told Euronews.
Furthermore, they allow the country “to show the spirit of our nation, to show the soul of the Kazakh people,” he added.
This edition of the Games will take place from 8 to 13 September.
More than 2,000 athletes from around 89 countries are taking part. Organizers say the list has grown well beyond countries with a nomadic heritage.
“The geography of the participating countries is interesting,” Kazakh Tourism President Kairat Sadvakassov told Euronews.
“From Australia to Canada, from South Africa to Britain,” he said. “States that in the past had little nomadic tradition… It means these games are growing all over the world.”
The first three editions were held in Kyrgyzstan, while the last one took place in Türkiye.
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