Kyrgyzstan’s great cultural festival attracted genuine public enthusiasm. Yet transport failures, overcrowding, ticketing disorder and complaints from competitors revealed how far the organisation lagged behind the spectacle. The VI World Nomad Games closed in Kyrgyzstan on 6 September after a week of equestrian sport, traditional wrestling, music, crafts and national celebration. The Games produced memorable
In autumn 2014, the first World Nomad Games were held on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. A new international project was taking its first steps, and no one yet knew what the future would hold. OCA Magazine, published in London since 2009, became a media partner of the inaugural Games. We dedicated the
The participation of Uzbekistan’s national football team in the FIFA World Cup is not only a historic sports achievement but also an effective instrument for promoting the country internationally, showcasing its tourism potential, cultural heritage, and national brand on the global stage, according to the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan’s appearance on the world stage
Uzbekistan will hold an international running marathon titled “In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great” in order to widely promote Uzbekistan’s sports tourism potential on the international stage, enhance the attractiveness of its regions, and increase the flow of both foreign and domestic tourists, the country’s Tourism Committee has announced. The marathon will begin on
On April 5, 2026, Tashkent will host the 8th Tashkent International Marathon. This prestigious sporting event, held for eight consecutive years, has become one of the largest sports events in the country. More than 15,000 participants from over 30 countries are expected to take part, the Tourism Committee has announced. The marathon is an international
Great Britain’s Kurash wrestlers produced some fine performances at the Paris International Tournament, achieving a gold and a bronze medal. This prestigious event, held in honour of the birthday of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, took place under the embracing shadow of the historic Eiffel Tower. The iconic tower was beautifully lit for the
Kazakhstan has taken first place in the team standings of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, winning 7 gold (including three in women’s boxing), 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. The Uzbekistan team is second with 6 gold (all among men), 2 silver and 3 bronze medals, RFE/RL’s Azattyq Asia reported. Brothers from Kazakhstan —
On September 8 in Tashkent, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Gianni Infantino. The FIFA President congratulated the Uzbek leader and the people of Uzbekistan on the historic event – the Uzbek national football team reaching the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States.
Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Meder Abakirov received Bady Kebir, the founder of the international equestrian rally Gallops, which is taking place in Kyrgyzstan from July 21 to 26 with the participation of about 100 horse riding and equestrian sports enthusiasts from all over the world. Abakirov noted with satisfaction the holding of a
by Paul Sawyer A three-strong British Kurash team, comprising Fiona Chan, Natasha Glassford and Danielle Batt and accompanied by coach Paul Sawyer, achieved outstanding success at the 2025 European Championships in Batumi, Georgia winning no less than one gold and two silver medals. For those unfamiliar with Kurash, it is the national sport of Uzbekistan,
On September 8, the opening ceremony of the 5th World Nomad Games was held in Astana. The Games, which will last until September 13, gathered competitors from 89 countries. Originated in Kyrgyzstan in 2014, the World Nomad Games have since been held three times in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul.
Kazakhstan-based billionaire Mikheil Lomtadze has bought England’s Wycombe Wanderers soccer club, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Lomtadze’s Blue Ocean Partners Ltd. paid an undisclosed amount for a 90 percent stake in the club, which plays in England’s League One, the third level of the English football league system, the BBC reported on May 5. The 48-year old Georgia-born