Statement of the Secretary General Baghdad Amreyev on the postponement of the 4th World Nomad Games

The initiative to organize World Nomad Games with the motivation to revive, develop and preserve national games of the Turkic peoples was put forward by the Kyrgyz Republic at the 2^nd Summit of the Turkic Council held in Bishkek in 2012. The proposal was strongly supported by the Heads of State of the Member States of the Turkic Council and so far, three rounds of World Nomad Games have been staged with the support of the Member States and the Secretariat of the Turkic Council.

As a unique and unifying initiative which represents the cultural heritage of all Turkic Speaking States and peoples as a common treasure, the Games have brought together thousands of sportsmen, spectators, as well as high level state officials from all over the world. Combining various traditional sports disciplines, the World Nomad Games has been an incredible celebration of diversity and inter-cultural dialogue that highlighted the unique power of sport to bring different communities together under one banner. It has also been very instrumental in introducing to the world the ancient culture and traditions of the Turkic Speaking peoples.

At the 6^th Summit of the Turkic Council convened in Cholpon-Ata in 2018 simultaneously with the 3^rd World Nomad Games, the Heads of State of the Turkic Council decided that the 4^th edition of the Games will be staged in Turkey in 2020.  

However, despite the ongoing preparations by Turkey along with other Member States and the Secretariat of the Turkic Council for the excellent organization of the Games in Turkey, the 4^th World Nomad Games had to be postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the world. 

I am confident that the Games, which are gradually becoming a world brand through the joint efforts of the Member States, will be conducted in Turkey in 2021 in a way worthy of the common heritage of the Turkic Speaking States and peoples, and of ensuring the protection of the health of sportsmen and all other participants coming from across the world. Secretariat of the Turkic Council will take its requisite role in the successful conduct of the 4^th World Nomad Games as it has done in the previous Games.