PM Modi Attends Opening Ceremony of World Nomad Games
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games at the Bishkek Arena in Kyrgyzstan on Monday, greeting the Indian contingent as it walked into the arena carrying the national flag. The Indian team comprises 87 members, including 73 athletes, 10 cultural representatives and four participants in the scientific programme.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Attended the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games in Bishkek. My best wishes to the Indian contingent." He was seen waving to the contingent as it passed by, and interacting with several world leaders during the ceremony.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on X that PM Modi, along with other SCO leaders, participated in the official opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games. The MEA described the biennial event as celebrating "the rich sporting traditions, culture and heritage of nomadic civilisations, bringing together countries in a vibrant celebration of their shared culture."
Games Showcase Traditional Sports and Heritage
The 6th World Nomad Games are being held from August 31 to September 6, bringing together athletes and participants from across the world to showcase traditional sports, culture and the heritage of nomadic civilisations. The main events will be organised across venues in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrchyn and other locations around the Issyk-Kul region.
The Games feature a wide-ranging sports programme comprising 43 disciplines, including traditional wrestling forms such as Goresh, Kurash and Mongol Bokh, as well as Kok Boru, Kekpar, equestrian events, Toguz Kargool, Mangala, Oware, Chuko, Ordo, tug of war and strongman competitions. The cultural programme includes events such as the international ethnic song festival 'Echo of Nomads', Nomad Fest, 'Heritage of Nomads', Art Lab and an Ethno-Bazaar.
The World Nomad Games were conceived following the Bishkek Declaration signed in 2012 by Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey at the Summit of the Heads of Turkic States. The first edition was held in Kyrgyzstan in 2014, with subsequent editions in 2016 and 2018 in Kyrgyzstan, 2022 in Iznik, Turkey, and 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
PM Modi's Visit to Kyrgyzstan
PM Modi is visiting Bishkek at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. He arrived in Bishkek on Sunday, the second leg of his two-country visit after concluding a state visit to Uzbekistan. During his stay, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
Immediately after ending bilateral discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, the two leaders travelled together in the same car to the opening ceremony at the Bishkek Arena. This followed a similar display of camaraderie during the SCO Leaders' Summit in China's Tianjin last September, when they travelled together to the venue of their bilateral meeting.
Bilateral Discussions and Ukraine
PM Modi held bilateral talks with several world leaders on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. During his meeting with President Putin, PM Modi reiterated India's support for all efforts towards peace in Ukraine, asserting that it is essential for the well-being of humanity to move from an endless war towards an end to the war. He said, "India supports all efforts towards peace and will continue to do so. Every day spent in war pushes humanity backwards, while every step taken towards peace fills humanity with a new hope and enthusiasm. We must move from endless war to an end to war. This is essential for the well-being of humanity."