Vatican newspaper highlights World Nomad Games

September 04, 2026

L’Osservatore Romano devoted two articles in its September 3 edition to the World Nomad Games, which are taking place in Kyrgyzstan.

An unsigned front-page article began:

Traditional costumes, horses, music, and imagery that transport the viewer back to the era of the great nomadic peoples of Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan has transformed the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games, taking place in the country from August 31 to September 6, into a fascinating journey through the region’s history and traditions.

Nomadic culture has defined the vast, sparsely populated steppes of Central Asia for centuries. This culture is now being rediscovered through sport, serving both as a bulwark of local traditions and as a powerful tool for intercultural dialogue.

In a second article, Bianca Tombini reported that “spectacular images are arriving from the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games, a global competition in which teams from over 100 countries compete in the traditional sports of nomadic peoples, took place on August 31 at the brand-new Bishkek Arena.”

 

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Further information:

• I Giochi della steppa (L'Osservatore Romano, 9/3/26)
• In Kirghizistan un dialogo tra sport, tradizioni locali e cultura (L'Osservatore Romano, 9/3/26)