2-8 September 2018
Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic
more than 2,000 delegates from 82 countries
37 ethnosport disciplines, cultural program, and scientific program
The Third World Nomad Games strengthened the status of the project as an international platform that brings cultures together through traditions and sport.
In 2018, the Games brought together a record number of participants and countries, and the number of ethnosport disciplines increased to 37. This became an important breakthrough and a step toward further international expansion.
The events took place at venues around Cholpon-Ata — the hippodrome, Kyrchyn Gorge, the "Nomad Dordoi" amphitheater, "Rukh Ordo", and the Gazprom sports complex.
37 ethnosport disciplines, including:
Kok-boru, Salburun, Alysh, Kyrgyz kuresh, Ordo, Traditional archery, Intellectual games, National wrestling, and Horse competitions.
The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the hippodrome in Cholpon-Ata.
An ethno-town “Universe of Nomads” was set up in Kyrchyn Gorge with theatrical shows, aitys, concerts, craft exhibitions, and an ethno-bazaar.
Before the Games, the International Altaistic Conference “Folk Games, Traditions and Customs of Peoples” was held. Scientists from more than 45 countries took part in it.
The 2018 Games became an important milestone in the development of the project. They showed that the World Nomad Games can go beyond the region and unite cultures from around the world. It was in Cholpon-Ata that the decision was made to hold the next World Nomad Games outside Kyrgyzstan — in Turkey. This marked the beginning of a new stage of international development of the Games.