The second ‘World Nomad Games’ (WNG) is scheduled to be held in September 2016 on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. Mongolia will participate in the sporting event, which is scheduled to be held from September 3^rd – 8^th. The host country is planning to increase the number of sports competitions to 25; this will include a festival of combat sports, horseracing and other horse competitions, archery contests, and demonstrations of different types of hunting with hunting birds and the famous Kyrgyz hunting dog – the Taigan..

The main idea of the WNG is the implementation of ethno-sport, ethno-cultural and academic programs. The event is dedicated to showing the history of nomadic nations, their traditions, lifestyles and culture. “The World Nomad Games demonstrates our rich cultural heritage,” said Daniiar Mukashev, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN.

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev first proposed the idea of holding the World Nomad Games in 2012. The first World Games of Nomads were launched on September 9, 2014 on the shores of Issyk-Kul, the Pearl of the Central Asia. Located to the north of the towering Tian Shan Mountains, it is the biggest lake in the country, ranking among the 25 largest lakes and the six deepest lakes in the world.

In the first World Nomad Games, competitions were held in 10 sports. The Games brought together athletes from 19 countries: Azerbaijan, Austria, Afghanistan, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mongolia, Russia, the United States, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, France, Sweden and South Korea. Thirty sets of medals in 10 sports were on offer (a total of 166 medals). The Games generated interest worldwide and were covered by more than 250 journalists and cameramen from leading media agencies.