The 2026 World Nomad Games got off to an impressive start yesterday as the opening ceremony in Bishkek set the ball rolling for a week of competition featuring athletes from 90 countries, some 4,000 taking part in total.
Over 150 Kazakhstanis are there taking part in the range of both physical and intellectual events, and although the 2026 medal table is yet to take shape, some of them will be hoping to repeat the success of the 2024 WNG which saw the host nation finish in top spot when the games took place in Astana.
Flag bearer, Kurmanbek Turganbek, captain of the kokpar team, was delighted with the way the ceremony went and took the time to congratulate his Kyrgyz brothers and sisters on Independence Day.
Often called the Steppe Olympics, quite rightly, this massive event has grown and grown since the very early years when it was envisioned as a celebration of Kyrgyz nomadic culture, before the founder, Askhat Akibayev, very quickly saw its potential as an international competition.
UNESCO is fully on board with WNG as it believes the bi-annual staging of this fascinating gathering to be crucial to fostering ties between nations and preserving culture.
As stated, the opening ceremony took place in the Kyrgyz capital on Independence Day, making the affair very special for this additional reason, and various world leaders, including Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vladimir Putin were in attendance showing the respect that they have for this as yet undiscovered gem of world culture.
The following week will see medals won in over 40 disciplines, none of which can be done justice here but can be understood better via this link.
Team GB arrived ahead of the opening ceremony with their Tug of War team up for the challenge, as well as there for the honour of being part of something which, by rights, should be far better known around the world.
