The cultural heritage of Kyrgyz people is deeply intertwined with their nomadic lifestyle. However, during the Soviet era, when settlers were forced to settle, many elements began to disappear, including traditional games.
Throughout the peak-enveloped valleys, the Silk Road twisted and turned, and nomadic cultures flourished in the fertile lands. The empires of Ghengis Khan, Tamerlane, and Alexander the Great plagued villages with their crusades.
The landlocked country of Kyrgyzstan was oppressed in bitter control under Soviet empires, freedom was stifled and democracy was defeated. Thousands of years ago, the Kyrgyz were divided into nomads and farmers. The nomads wandered from pasture to pasture with their herds, surviving most of the year high in the mountains and spending winters in the lower valleys.
After Kyrgyzstan became independent, communities throughout the country were motivated to revitalize and preserve their traditional culture. This was the context in which practitioners and knowledge bearers of traditional games from across the country met for the first time in 2007 to discuss challenges relating to the traditional games and safeguarding needs.
Participants identified many challenges, but those considered urgent were the loss of knowledge about traditional games and the lack of interest in games among the younger generation. Several safeguarding needs were identified during the lengthy discussion and deliberations that shaped the Nomad Games: Rediscovering Heritage program.
A consensus was reached by the traditional game practitioners that they should prioritize identifying and documenting traditional games in different parts of the country. The prioritization was made due to the fact that many people who know about traditional games were older, and the knowledge was at real risk of being lost unless it was documented.
Finally, Kyrgyzstan held the first World Nomad Games in 2014 at Cholpon Ata on the shores of Issyk Kul, which is the world's second-largest saline lake. The event captured the attention of the whole world and was a huge success.
Since then World Nomad Game (Olympid Nomad) is held every even number of years in Chlpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul Province, Kyrgyzstan, typically in September. This event highlights nomadic sports, culture, and lifestyle. Various games have been played since ancient times, including races, horse games, hunting demonstrations, and wrestling.
Today, Kyrgyzstan is looking forward to a brighter future and the people are eager to see what lies ahead. However, regardless of the country's prosperity and its diversity, its culture and history will not be forgotten.