The World Nomad Games were first held in 2014 and took place every two years, bringing together athletes, artists, craftsmen, and visitors from around the world. Over the years, delegations from nearly every continent – except Antarctica – participated, including teams from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China, Russia, Turkey, and the United States. The competitions featured traditional sports that had been practiced for centuries, including horse racing, wrestling, hunting with birds of prey, and strategic board games.
Over the years, the World Nomad Games became a platform for a wide range of traditional competitions, including:
- Kok-Boru & Er Enish (horseback games)
- Wrestling (various traditional styles, including mas-wrestling)
- Hunting (Salbuurun) (eagle hunting and dog racing)
- Horse Racing (various disciplines)
- Intellectual Games (mangala and other strategy-based board games)
Locations: Multiple venues around Issyk-Kul.