President Erdogan attends World Nomad Games opening in Bishkek

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan on Monday attended the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games at Bishkek Arena Stadium, where they were welcomed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and First Lady Aigul Japarova.

The presidential couple traveled from their hotel to the stadium for the evening ceremony, where they briefly spoke with the Kyrgyz leadership and posed for a commemorative photograph. Erdogan later joined fellow heads of state to watch the opening festivities, standing to applaud as Türkiye's delegation entered the stadium during the parade of participating nations.

Nomadic traditions on display

During the ceremony, the Turkish first lady took to social media to share her impressions of the event, which coincides with the 35th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's independence. "We witnessed the richness of nomadic culture, whose roots stretch back centuries, and the splendor of ancient traditions carried from the past to the present," Emine Erdogan said in a post on the Turkish platform NSosyal. She also extended congratulations to Kyrgyzstan on its Independence Day, wishing "prosperity and well-being to the friendly and brotherly Kyrgyz people."

Diplomatic context

The Erdogans' attendance at the games formed part of their broader visit to Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which brought together leaders from across Eurasia. The World Nomad Games, held every two years, showcase traditional sports and cultural practices from nomadic civilizations, with Türkiye participating as a key contributor to the region's shared heritage. The event continues through the week with competitions in traditional wrestling, horseback archery, and other disciplines rooted in Central Asian history.