Long before modern stadiums, scoreboards and Olympic medals, sport was part of everyday life. Strength was tested on wrestling grounds, horsemanship was passed from one generation to another, and games of strategy brought communities together. Many of those traditions remain alive today, and this week they have found a common stage in Kyrgyzstan.
The 6th World Nomad Games are underway in Bishkek and around Issyk-Kul, bringing athletes and delegations from more than 100 countries together for a week of competition, culture and traditional sports. The Games officially opened on August 31 at Bishkek Arena, while the main competitions are being held in and around Cholpon-Ata and other venues in the Issyk-Kul region. The event runs through September 6.
There is a distinctive character to the programme. Alongside familiar forms of wrestling, the Games feature horseback competitions, traditional martial arts, national games and disciplines that have rarely appeared on the world's major sporting calendars. In total, 43 traditional sports disciplines are included in this year's programme.
Kyrgyzstan is hosting an event where sport and history come together. The athletes have come to compete, but the sports they represent carry stories of their own - stories about how different communities travelled, worked, celebrated and trained. Among the participants are Azerbaijani athletes, bringing their own national sporting traditions to the competition.
Azerbaijan is represented by a 17-member delegation comprising 10 athletes, six coaches and one delegation official. Azerbaijani competitors are taking part in nine disciplines: alysh, Kyrgyz kuresh, kushtingiri, wrestling, pahlavan wrestling, Kazakh kuresi, guresh, mas-wrestling and mangala. Azerbaijan's centuries-old traditions take the spotlight Some of these competitions have deep roots in Azerbaijani sporting culture.
Wrestling, in particular, has been part of the country's traditions for centuries, while the figure of the pahlavan remains deeply rooted in Azerbaijani folklore. The pahlavan was more than a strong man capable of defeating an opponent. He represented courage, discipline and honour - qualities that helped turn wrestling into a respected part of community life.
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