AKIPRESS.COM - The UAE is being invited to celebrate traditional sports such as falcon hunting and horse and camel racing, at the upcoming World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, Khaleej Times reported citing the country's ambassador as saying.

The six-day World Nomad Games – which will begin on September 3 in Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul region – is part of an effort to revive and preserve the historical cultural heritage of the world's nomadic peoples, as well as showcase their values and traditions.

Athletes from over 40 countries are expected to participate in the games, where they will compete in 23 kinds of 'ethnosports', ranging from horse racing to simulated hunting with dogs, eagles and falcons.

Other sports at the games are derived from ancient disciplines with useful military applications, such as horseback wrestling, archery and javelin-throwing.

Another event, kok-boru, known as buzkashi in Afghanistan, where it is the national sport, involves horse-mounted players competing against one another to place the carcass of a goat or calf in a goal.

Although the list of participating athletes is yet to be finalized, Chyngyz Eshimbekov, Kyrgyzstan's ambassador to the UAE, is inviting UAE residents to go to Kyrgyzstan to watch the games and take part in future events, noting that nomadic traditions of the Bedouins of Arabia are in many ways akin to those of Central Asia.

"The theme of ethnic sports is a kind of hallmark of all people in different countries and regions of the world. The ethnic games reflect traditions, culture and a way of life of people in every country around the world, from ancient times to modernity," he said. "The nomad cultural phenomena had its roots from geographically vast areas of Central Asia, Southern Siberia, Mongolia, the Middle East and Africa, all the way to Eastern Europe."

"In this regard, the traditional games of falcon hunting, horse and camel races and other traditional sports in the UAE and the Gulf are distinguished by their uniqueness, and at the same time could be considered as part of a larger mosaic of Asian and nomad cultures," he added. "I believe the traditional games of the UAE could contribute significantly in the years to come to growth and international cooperation in the field of ethnic and nomad sports."

In addition to the games, the event will include a purpose-built town in Kyrchyn Gorge which will recreate nomadic yurts (felt tents), as well as cultural events and concerts, and demonstrations, and a conference being held under the theme of "Nomadic Civilization: Historical Heritage and Modernity".