Goat polo, stick-wrestling, bone-throwing at nomad Olympics
Posted September 06, 2016 7:00 am
MOSCOW (AP) - Olympic Games, stand aside: the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan is hosting the World Nomad Games, a competition where polo players ditch their mallets and try to catch a dead goat instead.
The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong.
The World Nomad Games features such unorthodox sports disciplines as eagle hunting and bone throwing. Arguably the highlight of the games is the horse-riding competition, called Kok-boru, which dates back to when men used to hunt wolves that preyed on their livestock. Fierce competition is also expected in "stick wrestling," an event in which two competitors try to gain control of a small stick.
In this photo taken on photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, a Kyrgyz woman in traditional outfit displays traditional work rafts during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, U.S. actor Steven Seagal rides a horse during the opening ceremony of the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, participants perform during an opening ceremony of the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, participants perform during an opening ceremony of the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, U.S. actor Steven Seagal rides a horse during the opening ceremony of the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, a Kyrgyz man prays during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, people in traditional clothes depict a nomad village during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, participants perform during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, a Kyrgyz boy holds a golden eagle during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, a Kyrgyz boy holds a golden eagle during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, a boy performs a tight-rope walk during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, a boy performs a tight-rope walk during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, a family cooks traditional food during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, participants hold golden eagles for an eagle hunt during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, participants hold golden eagles for an eagle hunt during the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, Slovakian, right, and Mongolian, left, and participants from other countries attend the second World Nomad Games at Issyk Kul lake in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The Games, which opened on Saturday on a picturesque mountain plain in eastern Kyrgyzstan, bring together athletes from 40 countries including Russia and the United States where nomadic traditions are strong. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.