President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the grand opening ceremony of the 5th World Nomad Games, held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The event, which took place at the Astana Arena, brought together leaders from across Central Asia and beyond. Among the notable attendees were Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, Turkmenistan’s national leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and Tatarstan’s Chairman Rustam Minnikhanov.
The World Nomad Games, a prestigious international event celebrating the heritage and traditions of nomadic peoples, features more than 2,000 athletes from nearly 90 countries. Athletes from Uzbekistan are competing in various traditional sports, including wrestling, tug-of-war, archery, and horse racing.
The opening ceremony featured a spectacular theatrical performance, showcasing the rich culture, history, and customs of nomadic civilizations. The event highlighted the nomads' profound contributions to global history, particularly in the development of horseback riding, weaponry, and craftsmanship.
In his speech, President Tokayev expressed gratitude to the participating leaders, athletes, and distinguished guests. He emphasized the deep historical importance of nomadic civilizations in shaping global progress, from the domestication of the horse to the creation of advanced technologies and weapons.
“Since ancient times, the nomads of the Great Steppe have lived in Eurasia. The new technologies they developed provided the impetus for the global progress. Five thousand years ago nomads domesticated the horse and shaped a horseback riding culture that spread across the world. Masters of the steppe created advanced weapons and crafted marvelous jewelry. The archeological discovery of the Golden men of the Saks period is a bright testimony to that. Serving as a bridge between East and West, nomads played a crucial role in the rapprochement of various cultures. These spacious lands at various times saw the rise of the Hun empire and the Turkic Khaganates, and later the Golden Horde and the Kazakh Khanate,” President Tokayev voiced.
After the ceremony, President Mirziyoyev returned to Tashkent, having been escorted by Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov at Astana International Airport.
The World Nomad Games continue to serve as a platform for celebrating the nomadic legacy and fostering cooperation among nations. The event has attracted prominent figures, including officials from international organizations such as UNESCO, the Turkic Council, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
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