First World Games. The first ever "World Nomad Games"

Having gathered in early September for the next (fifth!) time to visit Kyrgyzstan (I haven’t been there since 2009 and really missed the beautiful nature of this country) and having already bought tickets for the Novosibirsk-Bishkek plane, I was surprised to find out (absolutely by chance when I worked out the route upcoming trip) that from 9 to 14 September in the area of the city of Cholpon-Ata, located on the northern coast of Issyk-Kul, the First World Nomad Games will be held. I must say that visiting the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul was not part of our plans, but how can you miss such a grandiose event! It was decided: first we go to Cholpon-Ata, to the Nomad Games, and only then to our beloved Kaji-Sai. It is located almost opposite Cholpon-Ata - one has only to swim across Issyk-Kul.
I found the program of the games on the website of the World Games, in addition, I contacted the organizers - the press secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of Kyrgyzstan Marlen Solyany and the coordinator of the foreign press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Akmatkaly kyzy Asel. These people helped me a lot to get additional information about the Games, for which I am very grateful to them!
We arrived in Bishkek on September 8, took a taxi to Cholpon-Ata, settled comfortably in a private boarding house with our old friend Maxim and, having prepared photo and video equipment, began to look forward to September 9 - the opening day of the World Games.

9th of September.

The main actions of the World Games took place on three sites: 1. Hippodrome - the official opening of the Games took place here, and in the following days equestrian competitions were held. 2. The Rukh Ordo Cultural Center provided its premises for sports competitions, concert programs, a fashion show and an exhibition and sale of products of Kyrgyz craftsmen. 3. Semenovskoe Gorge - located 30 km from Cholpon-Ata. In that beautiful place An ethno-town was located, consisting of more than two hundred yurts and representing all regions of Kyrgyzstan in all their cultural diversity.
I really liked the opening itself. Delegations of all countries (there were even people from Brazil!) passed by crowded stands, greetings from the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkey and other states sounded. Laser show, theatrical performance - everything was very well staged. The opening was filmed by television people from many countries, there were guys from Russia (in particular, from the TV channel My Planet, BBC, CNN, etc.). The only negative is the way back from the hippodrome to Cholpon-Ata (about 3 km). I had to get on a narrow dusty path in the dark. But it didn't spoil our mood.

Having successfully passed the accreditation at the press center of the Games (thanks to the lovely girl Assel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), I became the proud owner of the program of all events. I must say that for journalists, places were allocated in the Solemar boarding house, they were provided with food and transfers. The only negative is that the boarding house is far from Cholpon-Ata, so we preferred to stay directly in the city and get to all the events on our own. Moreover, on the morning of September 10, we met Bolot. Bolot is a musician and makes folk Kyrgyz instruments himself. He and his charming wife Panara specially came to the Games from Toktogul. We quickly became friends and went to almost all events together. I could not even dream of a better guide who knows the customs and culture of the Kyrgyz people! By Bolot's car, we got to the ethno-town in the Semenov Gorge (or, in Kyrgyz, jailoo "Kyrchyn").

Semyonovskoe Gorge is very beautiful. And the ethnic town (more than 200 yurts), in which all regions of Kyrgyzstan were represented, fit perfectly into the surrounding landscape. By the way, the location of the yurt camps of each region strictly corresponded to the place of the region on the map of Kyrgyzstan.

National music sounded everywhere, each region treated everyone with national dishes, theatrical performances were played. It was very interesting!

I saw how the national stringed instrument komuz is made and even played it. By the way, I really liked the Kyrgyz music, and the skill of the performers is beyond praise!

Having been on our feet for about three hours, we, of course, got hungry and enjoyed lunch with a real Kyrgyz pilaf (Uzgen rice, lamb ribs on top, and smoked lytki for an amateur). Rice, meat, tea - after such a meal, strength was restored quickly and we cheerfully went on ...

We saw how a frame for a yurt is made (by the way, the record for setting up a yurt is less than 10 minutes!), grind grain, and do other folk crafts.

We also looked at the ritual performed by a real shaman. He, accompanied by several other respected people, went from yurt to yurt and chanted wishes of happiness and health.

Probably, his prayers had their effect - everywhere on our journey through Kyrgyzstan we were met by good and interesting people, the weather was also pleasing, and we could see a lot of new things.
However, it was starting to get dark and we, having still managed to watch the theatrical performance, went back to Cholpon-Ata to gain strength. After all, there is still a lot of interesting things ahead of us!

The next day we went to the cultural center Rukh-Ordo. The national wrestling competition "Cossack kurosh" was held here. I am not strong in the rules of wrestling, but there was something to see! The Mongolian athlete weighing 196 kg was especially impressed. He fought with an athlete from Azerbaijan, three times he simply shook him out of his jacket, and in the end he also tore his belt.

And ahead of us was the hippodrome, where competitions in "Kok Boru" or, speaking in Russian, goat-breaking, were held. This is a very ancient team game. The teams fight for the carcass of a goat (previously skinned, with cut off hooves, but still quite heavy - about 30 kg).

The carcass must be bent from the horse, lifted from the ground and, fighting off rivals, thrown into their "cauldron" (round gate in the form of a well). Sometimes, along with the goat, a heated dzhigit flies into the well. In general, a game for the brave and hardy - Canadian hockey is just relaxing. Looking ahead, I’ll say that 3rd place in Kok-boru was taken by our Russian team from Altai, with which we congratulate them. And the first and second places were taken by the hosts of the games - the Kyrgyz teams!

In the cultural center Rukh-Ordo, a magnificent concert awaited us in the afternoon. Musical and dance groups represented not only Kyrgyzstan, but also the creativity of other nationalities. In particular, Ukrainian, Korean, Uighur, Kabardino-Balkarian, Chechen, Tajik teams performed. Many of the peoples listed above have their own cultural centers in Kyrgyzstan.
I really liked a Russian girl (Masha, I think) who lives in Bishkek and played first on Kyrgyz musical instruments, and already in the middle of the concert she delighted a large audience with Russian folk songs.

Several film crews worked at the concert at once, there were also representatives of the My Planet TV channel along with the inimitable presenter Andrey Ponkratov. We look forward to his film about the World Nomad Games. Andrei told me that the film could be seen on the screen closer to December. I really want to see what happens in the end...

All performances were good, but I was especially impressed by the Uighur young ladies. How beautifully they danced! And they are very pretty! How they managed to move, holding bowls of water on their heads, I have no idea!

Representatives of the Kabardino-Balkarian cultural center danced magnificently.

In general, the level of the concert

The first in history World Games Nomads"

In 2012, at the summit of the heads of the Turkic-speaking countries with the participation of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Turkey in Bishkek, the Bishkek Declaration was signed, where the heads of the Turkic-speaking countries decided to hold the World Nomad Games in the Kyrgyz Republic.

And on September 9, 2014 at 20:00 the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Atambaev Almazbek Sharshenovich announced the opening of the First World Nomad Games in the history.

The first World Nomad Games were held from 9 to 14 September 2014 on the shores of the pearl lake Issyk-Kul, within which sport competitions for the following sports:
Konno sports
1. Kok-boru;
2. Er eiish;
3. Kunan Chabysh;
4. Zhorgo salysh;
5. Alaman baige;
Traditional wrestling
6. Kyrgyz Kurosh;
7. Belt wrestling "Alysh";
8. Kazakhsha kuresh;
National games
9. Ordo;
10. Toguz korgool.

Also, within the framework of the World Nomad Games, demonstration performances for the following sports:
1. Zorkhana (Republic of Azerbaijan);
2. Cirit (Republic of Turkey);
3. Traditional wrestling (Republic of Turkey);
4. Teikiyon (Republic of Korea).

In general, athletes from 19 countries took part in the competition:
1. Republic of Azerbaijan;
2. Republic of Austria;
3. Islamic Republic of Afghanistan;
4. Kingdom of Sweden;
5. Kyrgyz Republic;
6. Republic of Lithuania;
7. Mongolia;
8. Republic of Belarus;
9. Republic of Kazakhstan;
10. Republic of Korea;
11. Russian Federation;
12. Republic of Tajikistan;
13. Republic of Uzbekistan;
14. United States of America;
15. Republic of Turkey;
16. Turkmenistan;
17. Federative Republic of Brazil;
18. Federal Republic of Germany;
19. French Republic.

771 people took part in sports competitions, including 583 athletes, 188 coaches and judges. 230 horses took part in equestrian sports.

30 sets of medals (total 109 medals) were played in 10 sports. General prize fund amounted to 16 million soms.

In the unofficial team standings, the Kyrgyz Republic took 1st place, winning a total of 55 medals, of which: 16 gold, 20 silver and 19 bronze medals.

1200 people were involved in cultural events.

Television broadcasting covered 230 million people from 40 countries of the world.

The first ever World Nomad Games were covered by 250 journalists, cameramen from the following media:
1. BBC (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland);
2. CNN (USA);
3. Washington Post (USA);
4. Los Angeles Times (USA);
5. CBS News (USA);
6. World Street Journal (USA);
7. NBC News (USA);
8. The Guardian (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland);
9. Mirror (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland);
10. Repubblica (Italian Republic);
11. Corriere (Italian Republic);
12. Canada.com (Canada);
13. Postmedia.com (Canada);
14. Al Jazeera (State of Qatar);
15. MSN News (Malaysia);
16. "Russia 1" (Russian Federation);
17. Russia Today (Russian Federation);
18. "My Planet" (Russian Federation);
19. TV-Novosti (Russian Federation);
20. ATV (Russian Federation);
21. "MIR" (Russian Federation);
22. Astana Times (Republic of Kazakhstan);
23. Azer News (Azerbaijan Republic);
24. Ictimai TV (Republic of Azerbaijan;
25. TRT AVAZ (Republic of Turkey);
26. TRT Turk (Republic of Turkey);
27.UBS (Mongolia);
28. "Sport" (Turkmenistan);
29. OTRK (Kyrgyz Republic);
30. ElTR (Kyrgyz Republic);
31. NTS (Kyrgyz Republic);
32. Channel 5 (Kyrgyz Republic).
As well as numerous news agencies and independent journalists from the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Poland, Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey, the Kingdom of Sweden and the Kyrgyz Republic.

For me, these 1998 World Youth Games have always been a mystery.

Suddenly, a ravine slanted down, with its wild thickets, creating the appearance of a small microdistrict immersed in greenery, in which it was so fun to make barbecue and at your leisure to fish out various small fish from the tiny tributary of the Setun, as if from a stream that crossed a deep ravine that had once formed along the according to senior comrades - back in the era of the "Jurassic period".

“our dear and beloved” mayor Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov is approaching Moscow

The wildness of nature was replaced by an extensive construction site. Local residents did not immediately realize what would be on the site of the former leisure paradise. It turned out that “our dear and beloved” mayor Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov was approaching Moscow, and he was carrying in his hands ... no, not a blazing, romantic torch from Greek Athens, but an incomprehensible World Youth Games. Who will play there, and for whom, and what, and what does all this dusty construction crap mean?

The locals were at a loss. It remained to observe how the virgin greenery becomes an industrial site and instills urban fears in the residents of the area. Rumble, clatter, rattle and roar of machines. For several years I lived in the mode of falling asleep at night to the accompaniment of construction work. I had to get used to it, because I had not seen construction sites in my native metropolitan areas for ten years.

Finally, the Olympic Village-98 appeared.

Finally, the Olympic Village-98 appeared. The houses were white, beautiful, high-rise. There were young athletes from several countries, like a cat cried, the village was built for future expensive sales. Games only gave status to the proposed elite area.

The World Youth Games themselves also happened. Accurately at the same time as the World Cup, and therefore the construction rumble was replaced by the roar of athletes from different countries, who sang national anthems in their own colorful way, after each goal scored their home teams.

the final of the football tournament was held, in which the Russian team measured the development of youth football with Turkish teenagers.

Some kind person threw me invitation cards to the closing of the Games. Citizens of Moscow did not show much interest in the competition, and therefore invitations were distributed to the right and left, which allowed the organizers to somehow show the world sports community that we have filled stands even at such obscure events. Fullness, however, was observed only at the opening and closing of the Games. And this is due to the fact that many students and volunteers were involved in the games.

Before the official closing, the final of the football tournament was held, in which the Russian team measured the development of youth football with Turkish teenagers. It turned out that we were exactly 1:0 better at the end of a boring match. And a brawl in the time added by the referee crowned this sad spectacle. The anthem rang out, Luzhkov, other officials, and the Children's Olympics ended, without making it clear - it was cool and massive or cheap and dull.

Later, I learned that Yelena Isinbayeva shone at these games with her pole and with a score of 4 meters, which gold medal young Yuri Borzakovsky won in the 800-meter run, that junior Andrey Kirilenko played remarkably in the final of the basketball tournament, that Alina Kabaeva appeared in rhythmic gymnastics, that Anastasia Ermakova and Anastasia Davydova received awards of the highest standard in synchronized swimming, that the stars of Elena Dementieva lit up in tennis and Anastasia Myskina.

And it became somehow offensive, for the coolness with which I personally reacted to the then seemingly frivolous World Games.

“I remembered yesterday how in 1998 we took part in the World Youth Games held in Moscow ... Then in the summer an insane number of young promising athletes and their coaches came from all over the world and settled them not far from our academy in a specially built new fashionable complex on Udaltsova street, codenamed "New Olimpic village"By that time, we had completed the 4th year, and the state called on many of us to help ensure the security of the Olympic venues and the events taking place on their territory.

In general, our schedules coincided with the Olympians - in the morning we run to the competitions, in the afternoon the competitions continue with varying success: little Kabaeva, Isinbaeva and Dementieva try to make themselves known in the world of sports, and in the evening we all return to rest in the same area: athletes - to a fashionable complex, and we - to the only Khlebosolye cafe in the area, which is near the metro station "Prospect Vernadsky" (now Obuv-city stands at this place).

The weather, I must say, at that time was excellent. It was nice to sit with friends on fresh air and talk about the day. Not forgetting to skip a mug or two of beer :) Usually by 9 pm, having put, in all likelihood, their wards in bed, coaches began to taxi up to a cafe with similar goals.

I already wrote that at that time there were no alternatives to Khlebosol in the region, and therefore it somehow spontaneously, without realizing it, quite by accident became an international platform that contributed to the knowledge of geography and strengthening friendly ties with representatives of various foreign states. And now I am writing this in all seriousness, because, for example, one day I not only met the coaches of the Qatar team, but also, in principle, learned that there is such a state on the world map.

The catalyst for the establishment of friendly relations was a drink that has lost its relevance today, but at that time claimed the title of the best in the 1998-99 season. - "Baltika No. 9". We advised it to someone, treated it to someone, someone treated us to it ... Someone liked it, and someone said that their national drinks are much better. I must say right away that we did not believe anyone's word - for example, the coaches of the Mexican national team had to run to the store for tequila. And then again or even twice, because from the first bottle the taste was not recognizable :)

Toward late in the evening after such tastings, representatives of foreign delegations showed a desire to get to know the capital of Russia better - to see with their own eyes the sights that they had heard so much about in their homeland. I remember how comrades from Greece, one named Socrates, persistently asked to be taken to the "Hungry Duck" :)

In general, it was a great time - the summer of 1998. 13 years have passed since then, "Hospitality" was wiped off the face of the earth, so to speak, and every time I pass by this place for some reason I remember how the main (or maybe just the oldest) coach of the Mexican national team under tequila lamented the fact that the daughter-actress did not work out as an actor after she played one of the roles in the television series "Just Maria""

The first World Youth Games were held in Moscow from 11 to 19 July 1998. The main goal of the Games is to involve sports youth in the Olympic movement, prepare them for the difficult psychological conditions of international competitions, and select young talents to participate in future Olympic Games. There has never been such a competition in the history of the Olympic movement.

The grand opening of the World Youth Games took place in Moscow on July 11, 1998. The motto of the Games: "Moscow - the open world of childhood." Opened games on main Olympic Stadium in Luzhniki the first president of Russia Boris Yeltsin. President of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch presented the Golden Olympic Order to Yuri Luzhkov. Young athletes from more than 140 countries of the world took part in sports competitions.

The Organizing Committee of the Games was headed by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, the working group was headed by Vice Mayor Valery Shantsev, and the Executive Directorate was headed by IGFSO General Director L. B. Kofman. Edmund Lipinsky was Deputy Head of the Executive Directorate of the 1998 World Youth Games in Moscow. The Russian Olympic Committee and the State Sports Committee of Russia provided great assistance in preparing and holding the Games.

Sports delegations from 131 countries participated in the competition. Through Olympic Solidarity, the IOC provided financial assistance in the amount of 100 thousand US dollars, which made it possible to provide travel for small delegations from 30 countries.

All five continents were represented: Europe - 45 countries, Asia - 35, Africa - 27, America - 20 and Oceania - 4. The most representative were the delegations of Russia - 344 people, Ukraine - 229, Belarus - 221, Poland - 208, Brazil - 205, Egypt - 200, South Africa - 156, USA - 152, Portugal - 147, France - 123, Finland - 122. 32 IOC members, 43 NOC presidents, sports ministers of 13 countries, 15 presidents of International sports organizations, 2148 officials from 131 countries.

Competitions were held in 15 sports that are most popular among young people: basketball, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, volleyball, handball, sports and artistic gymnastics, judo, athletics, swimming and synchronized swimming, tennis, table tennis, fencing, football.

4,676 athletes participated in the competition. Average age participants - 15.5 years. 1,400 judges, including 320 foreign ones, were involved in servicing the games. The competition was attended by about 1 million spectators.

162 sets of awards were played at the games. Medals were won by 682 athletes from 68 countries. Within the framework of the Games-98, the 1st International Forum "Youth - Science - Olympism" was held, in which 250 scientists from 41 countries of the world took part. Within the framework of the forum, 96 reports were heard at scientific conferences, which are final results scientific research on the Olympic theme.

During the games sports federations, associations and clubs participated in the non-Olympic sports program. In demo sports programs 3,500 athletes from Russia and about 1,000 participants from 48 countries competed in 32 sports. These competitions were attended by about 140 thousand spectators.

Young athletes of Russia performed at the World Youth Games with great success. They won in the competitions of the main program of the Games 124 prize medals, of which 64 gold, 29 silver and 31 bronze. The games lasted 9 days and closed on 19 July.

in the center of the disk is the emblem of the Bank of Russia (the double-headed eagle of the artist I. Bilibin, below it is the inscription in a semicircle "BANK OF RUSSIA"), framed by a circle of dots and inscriptions in a circle: above - "ONE RUBLE", below - "1998", on the left - the designation of the metal, the sample of the alloy, on the right - the purity of the precious metal and the trademark of the mint.

Reverse

volleyball player at the moment of hitting the ball against the background of the contour image of the globe, in the background on the right is the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in the Moscow Kremlin. Inscriptions all around: on the left - "MOSCOW 1998", on the right - "WORLD YOUTH GAMES".

Authors

Artist: Yu.G. Mayorova.
Sculptor: Yu.G. Mayorova.
Minting: Moscow Mint (MMD).
Edge decoration: 200 corrugations.

The First World Youth Games (Moscow, July 11-19, 1998) are sports competitions for young athletes from more than 140 countries of the world. The Program includes sports that are most popular among young people: football, Athletics, swimming, basketball, volleyball, tennis, sports and gymnastics, synchronized swimming, fencing, judo, Greco-Roman wrestling. The games were held under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The motto of the Games: "Moscow - the open world of childhood." There has never been such a competition in the history of the modern Olympic movement. The main goal of the Games is to involve in Olympic Movement sports youth, its preparation for the difficult psychological conditions of international competitions, the selection of young talents for participation in future Olympic Games. Since 2004, the World Youth Games will be held continuously, one year before the Olympic Games.