World Nomad Games: Olympics of Central Asia all set for grand show
World Nomad Games, often described as the Olympics of Central Asia, are just around the corner, ready to bring together the diverse and historically rich cultures of nomadic peoples from across the globe. From September 8 to 13, Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan will host this.
The World Nomad Games are a competition and are a celebration of the ancient sports and lifestyles that have been passed down through generations. Over 2,000 participants from around 100 countries will converge in Astana to compete in 21 sports that reflect the skills and traditions of nomadic peoples.
The fifth World Nomad Games in Astana will showcase not only sporting events but also intellectual disciplines. This year’s program includes exotic sports such as mas-wrestling, the national sport of Yakutia; Ovari, an intellectual game from West Africa; and Mangala, a strategic game from Türkiye. Ovari, an intellectual game from West Africa, was first documented by English explorer Richard Jobson in 1620.
Ovari is a two-player game played on a board with 12 small holes arranged in two rows, each containing six holes. Additionally, there are larger hole vaults where players store their collected stones. The game begins with 48 balls distributed among the small holes. The six holes on each player’s side of the board represent their field, and the six holes opposite belong to their opponent.
The objective of the game is to collect as many balls as possible in the vault. Players take turns moving the balls from their holes, capturing balls
