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BISHKEK (TCA) — The 3rd World Nomad Games officially closed in Kyrgyzstan on September 8, with Turkey having assumed hosting the next edition of the games in 2020. We are republishing this article on the issue, written by Nicholas Muller and Chris Rickleton, originally published by Eurasianet: Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — A U.S. delegation comprised of American cowboys, Country Western-style entertainers, and Peace Corps Volunteers are participating in the Third World Nomad Games taking place on September 2-8 in Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyzstan, the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek said. In recognition of the enduring friendship between the Kyrgyz Republic and the United States of America, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic Brian Stimmler, and Acting U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Regional Affairs in South and Central Asia Emilia Puma also joined Kyrgyz and other international participants to celebrate the cultural heritage and diversity of nomadic civilizations around the world. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — As Kyrgyzstan makes final preparations for hosting the World Nomad Games, the event is also expected to shed more light on the ongoing tensions among Kyrgyzstan’s political elite. We are republishing this article on the issue, originally published by Eurasianet: Continue reading
ASHGABAT (TCA) — The international rally Amul–Hazar 2018 initiated by the Turkmen leader will take place from September 9–14 along the Silk Road route in Turkmenistan. That was announced at a media forum dedicated to the preparations for the international rally held in Ashgabat on August 5, State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported. Foreign press at the media forum was represented by journalists from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Jean-Louis Schlesser, the General Director and organizer of the famous motor rally Africa Eco Race, said that “It is a great honor for me and my team to be co-organizer of the rally, which would run across great Turkmen desert. At first, we thought it would be a complicated and hard task to organize such competition within a short period. However, having started the work with the Turkmen team and inspired by personal example of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, we have achieved great results as for today.” The rally will be held from the east to the west of Turkmenistan along the route of the ancient Silk Road. Total distance of the race running across the big desert is more than 1,500 kilometres. Jean-Louis Schlesser explained that the route is divided into 5 stages and every speed part has a number of surprises for the pilot and navigator. Therefore, Karakum Desert is the heart of the project giving huge experience to true adventurers. Turkmen desert is not that homogeneous as the African one and generously gives unusual impressions, which are able to surprise anybody, as it is a living ecosystem not affected by human activity impact, Schlesser said. The race will finish in Avaza National tourist zone, located on the Caspian coast. Organization of International rally Amul–Hazar 2018 will be important for the development of international tourism along the Silk Road in Turkmenistan and in the region in general.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (TCA) — Denis Ten, Kazakhstan’s first Olympic medalist in figure skating, died of injuries after he was stabbed by unknown assailants in Almaty on July 19. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — Considering that the World Nomad Games are to be held in 2018, it is expected that there will be a deficit of Kyrgyzstan’s state budget in the second half of the year, the Eurasian Development Bank said in its monthly macroeconomic review. World Nomad Games According to the Finance Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, it is planned to spend 306.3 million soms for the coming World Nomad Games (WNG) to be held from September 2 to September 8 on the Lake Issyk-Kul coast. Earlier this month, the WNG organizers asked businesses and state organizations to provide voluntary financial support for the event. The State Ecological Inspectorate is still the only state agency that has allocated money for the Games. The Inspectorate’s employees transferred their one-day salaries to the account of the World Ethnic Sports Confederation in favor of preparations for the WNG 2018. Meanwhile tickets for the third World Nomad Games are already on sale. Entrance tickets are strictly individual, with QR-codes. Tickets should be bought only for the opening and closing ceremonies (from 400 to 4.9 thousand soms). Entrance to other events will be free. Deputy Minister of Culture, Tourism and Information Ainura Temirbekova believes that the upcoming competitions will outperform the past ones in 2014 and 2016. At Kyrchyn jailoo, an ethno-town is being constructed. From 3 to 6 September, a cultural program will be held there including national songs and dances, clothing and food exhibitions, theatrical staging of Kyrgyz traditions and customs, yurt design and assembling, and folk crafts contests. The WNG organizers will try to surprise and delight the guests. In 2016, the appearance of a thousand of komuzists at the arena of the hippodrome caused the spectators’ admiration. Komuz is an ancient Kyrgyz string instrument. Foreign guests were more interested in customs and traditions of nomads than sports competitions. Therefore, this year the organizers decided to improve the cultural part of the program focused on both the external attributes of the nomadic life and the inner world and spirit of nomads. However, the lofty intentions to hold a high-level international event are not fully implemented. Scandalous road Scandals are continuing around the construction of a ring road around Issyk-Kul Lake, on the shore of which the WNG will be held. Recently, the Prosecutor General's Office initiated a criminal case related to the construction of the Balykchi-Korumdu road. According to the investigation, the Transport Ministry illegally used budget funds in attracting consulting services. Construction of this road, estimated at 6.8 billion soms, is the only major project financed from the state budget. The construction project which began in 2015 and was due to be completed in December of 2017, was accompanied by corruption scandals. In April of 2016, the scandal over this road led to the resignation of then Prime Minister Temir Sariev and Transport Minister Argynbek Malabaev. The total length of the Balykchi-Korumdu road is 104 kilometers, and only a section from the 33rd to 104th kilometer has been completed. Travel safety The incident...
