The annual Naadam Festival, the biggest celebration in Mongolia was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic in July.

However, the governors of three Mongolian provinces namely, Selenge, Khovd and Dornod announced that they will host horse races in August.

Entitled ‘Selenge Khurd (speed)’ the horse racing competition will be held on 6-8 August. Separately, two provinces will hold horse races on same days. The competitions are to be held to mark 8^th years of Mongolian horse racing listed in the Guinness World Records.

Young Mongolian boys and girls aged 7-12 compete in this ancient tradition – racing horses at top speeds on the country’s vast steppes. These cross-country horse races are some of the longest in the world.

What social-distancing measures will be taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is a matter of some concern.