Like all nations, the Kyrgyz have historically developed and still preserve traditional games and competitions. The development of physical culture and sports is connected, firstly, with the necessity to be ready for the defense of the Motherland, to stand out in bravery, agility, endurance, and strength; secondly, with livestock breeding and the nomadic lifestyle of the people. Therefore, competitions of heroes — balban kyurësh (belt wrestling of heroes), er sayysh (heroic combat on spears), and various horseback games were widely spread among the people; at the same time, games of strategic importance: ordo (a game with small balls), toguz korgool (a board game), chatyrash (chess), etc. were everyday games. We know from written sources, folk dastans, ethnographic materials, archaeological finds, and historical works that Kyrgyz people skied and rode sleds. Different exercises and competitions are classified as follows: military-physical horseback games and competitions (jamby atmay, er sayysh, er oodarysh, er chabysh); horseback games and competitions with a sporting character related to livestock breeding (at chabysh, jorgo salysh, kyz kuumai, ulak tartysh, tyin enmey); men's competitions and board games (kyurësh, ordo, toguz korgool, upay, chatyrash); games showing social inequality (tyo chechmey, atala bash, epkyo chapmay, taz syzysh, etc.); active children's games (ak chölmyok, zholuk tashtamay, chikit, chakan tash, etc.); ritual traditions and games (tusho kesyuu, zhar koryu, kyz oyunu, etc.); hunting (kush saluu, taygan agytyu, kapkan saluu, etc.).
In most cases, folk games and competitions dedicated to victories in war or significant events in the lives of heroes, khans, and beys were held at feasts. Kyrgyz folk active games and heroic competitions are vividly and fully depicted in the epic "Manas" and in smaller epics ("Er Töshtkö", "Ko- jozhash", "Zhanil Myrza", "Er Tabyldy") and others. They tell about the rules of the games, the customs of holding competitions, the qualities of the participants and their horses. Every year at fairs, anniversary celebrations, or gatherings, heroic competitions, horse races, archery, kökbörü, and others were held. In Kyrgyz folk games and competitions, alongside men, women also participated, for example, in such activities as spear fighting, belt wrestling, and archery. These games were vividly depicted in dastans.
In the mid-19th century, when Kyrgyzstan became part of Russia, the economy and culture of Russia had a significant influence on the Kyrgyz. Changes also occurred in the field of physical culture. Among Kyrgyz children, active games (ball games, chizhik, etc.) began to spread. Games that humiliated human dignity and were dangerous to health (er sayysh, tyo chechmey) were banned, and the rules of some competitions were brought into order. Russian scientists who arrived in Kyrgyzstan, such as N. A. Severtsov, S. E. Dmitriev, V. V. Radlov, and others, described Kyrgyz traditional games and competitions in their works.
Physical culture and sports received wide development after the establishment of Soviet power in Kyrgyzstan, especially during the years of the Civil War. In May 1920, a decree was issued by the Central Committee of the Turkestan Republic and the Revolutionary Military Council of the Turkestan Front on universal military training in Central Asia. Great attention was paid to the comprehensive physical training of reserves for the Red Army and the organization of competitions in military-applied sports. The All-Union Training Management prepared reserves for the Red Army and provided significant assistance in the development of universal training in physical culture in Kyrgyzstan.
In 1920, thanks to the efforts of Komsomol members, the sports club "Olymp" was established in Bishkek. On April 8, 1925, the regional Council for Physical Culture and Sports of the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Region began to operate. It included district, city, regional, and volost councils. These organizations trained in military affairs and classical sports.
In the 1920s, there were 26 physical culture circles in the territory of the Kyrgyz Autonomous Region, uniting 1200 people. However, there was a sharp shortage of physical culture personnel, a lack of sports facilities and sports equipment (there was only 1 instructor with special education). To develop physical culture, dozens of specialists arrived in Kyrgyzstan from Moscow and Leningrad for organizational work, and assistance was provided in the construction of simple sports facilities and in the supply of sports equipment.
In 1925, an industrial cooperative "Intergelpo" arrived in Bishkek from Slovakia. The arrival of 1080 people from Europe had a significant impact. Among them were athletes — football players, gymnasts, track and field athletes, climbers, and others. Organized international meetings at sports venues contributed to the development of sports in Kyrgyzstan. On June 24, 1927, the first All-Kyrgyz holiday of physical culture took place. Sports competitions in athletics, shooting, football, and basketball were held. Three teams from Bishkek (a total of 40 athletes) and representatives from Osh, Karakol, Chui, and Talas regions participated in the competitions. Athletes who earned the title of champion were sent to zonal competitions in Orenburg.
In the early 1930s, to improve the management of physical culture and eliminate shortcomings, a Council for Physical Culture was organized. A new stage in the development of the physical culture and sports movement began with the introduction of the All-Union physical culture complex "Ready for Labor and Defense" (GTO) in 1931. By 1934, there were already 3068 GTO badge holders in Kyrgyzstan. The GTO complex contributed to the emergence of new physical culture collectives and the training of qualified athletes.
The establishment of voluntary sports societies in Kyrgyzstan opened a new page in the history of sports in the republic. In 1935, the sports society "Spartak" was created, followed by "Teacher," "Burevestnik," "Temp," "Pishchevik," "Red Flower," and others. On July 27, 1936, the Republican Committee for Physical Culture was established in the Kyrgyz SSR.
In the 1930s, the development of physical culture and sports was closely linked to politics. Many sports events and competitions were held in honor of party and Komsomol congresses, elections to the Supreme Soviet, and others. For example, for the report to the All-Union 10th Congress of the Komsomol on the labor successes of the Komsomol of Kyrgyzstan, seven skier athletes (A. Perlov, I. Nikolaev, I. Turkmenov, A. Samtyrov, N. Krasnikov, A. Nazarov, R. Sharipov) completed a ski run from Bishkek to Moscow in 54 days (1936). The time of repressions and false accusations also affected athletes. The famous coach and experienced teacher V. Sinusov was falsely accused and arrested. One of the participants in the ski run from Bishkek to Moscow, I. Nikolaev, was also repressed.
From the first days of the Great Patriotic War, the physical culture organizations of the republic began to restructure their work for military purposes: "Everything for the front! Everything for victory!" The main tasks were: ensuring the training of combat reserves for the Red Army, organizing military-physical training for the civilian population, and restoring the combat capability of wounded soldiers through therapeutic physical culture.
In the Great Patriotic War, the warrior-athletes of Kyrgyzstan demonstrated courage, heroism, and agility. Among them were Ch. Tuleberdiev, a student of the Frunze Aeroclub T. Begeldinov, and GTO badge holder K. Usenbekov.
During the war, the Committee for Physical Culture and Sports, together with OSOAVIAKHIM, trained 917 GTO instructors, 2870 fencing instructors, 650 GTO badge holders of the 2nd degree, 35373 skiers, 2984 shooters, 838 car drivers, 543 motorcycle drivers, and others.
Among the participants in the war who showed bravery were athletes — teacher of the Kyrgyz Pedagogical Institute Yu. Musin (who was the commander of a special cavalry military regiment), football player K. Otorbaev, gymnast A. Sukhov, climber A. Chaybekov, weightlifter I. Mikhalyuk. In 1943, following the results of the All-Union socialist competition, the Committee of Kyrgyzstan for Physical Culture and Sports ranked first in the republic and was awarded the Transition Red Banner and a special certificate.
During the war, at the initiative of Leningrad residents, "thousanders" emerged, and shooters, swimmers, skiers, and athletes in fencing and grenade throwing were trained. Among them were M. N. Strebkova, A. Veselova, M. Jumadylov, S. Ulmesov. Many production facilities and educational institutions were evacuated to Kyrgyzstan. In 1942, the Leningrad State Institute of Physical Culture named after P. F. Lesgaft was evacuated to Bishkek. The presence of this oldest physical culture educational institution in Kyrgyzstan had a significant impact on the development of physical culture and sports work in the republic. In physical culture organizations and hospitals, the institute conducted therapeutic gymnastics, improved work in sports sections, and provided significant practical and methodological assistance in organizing competitions in various sports. Preparatory courses were opened at the institute, where local youth began to study. The institute trained the first specialists with higher physical culture education, including D. Omurzakov, S. Kopaev, K. Makeshova, Z. Amankulov, and others. In 1943, a children's sports school was opened in Bishkek, and in 1948, a physical education faculty was established at the Kyrgyz Pedagogical Institute. In 1946-47, over 160 new republican records in various sports were set. Despite this, physical culture and sports in the republic were not yet a mass phenomenon; only 1% of the population participated in sports societies and physical culture circles. The number of athletes with high ranks and titles was small. Physical education classes in schools were conducted at a low level.
On April 5, 1949, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan adopted a resolution "On the Expansion of the Mass Physical Culture Movement." This resolution noted the need for the wide development of tourism, hunting, fishing, boating, kyurësh, oodarysh, at chabysh, and kush salysh in the republic. In 1954, the rural DSO "Kolhozchu" was established. The Spartakiads of the peoples of the USSR and the opening of the Kyrgyz State Institute of Physical Culture provided a significant boost to the development of physical culture and sports in the republic. In January 1955, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a resolution "On the Conduct of the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR." On March 25, 1955, the government and the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan published a resolution "On Preparation for the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR." A delegation for patronage arrived in the republic, consisting of well-known masters and coaches of sports — A. Kollegorsky, A. Varyakonsa, Yu. Logikovichus, G. Finokhinder. Kyrgyz athletes were trained by Leningrad coaches V. Polubabkin (athletics), Yu. Portnykh (basketball), B. Kolman (water polo), and others. At the 1st Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR in 1956, the Kyrgyz team ranked 17th out of 18 teams. Participants included S. Toktogulov (boxing), P. Zhukov (classical wrestling), R. Bogomolov (multi-event), O. Nelyubova (400m run), S. Mursalymov (equestrian sports). At the next Spartakiad, more significant successes were achieved. Excellent performances were shown by L. Ivanov (10,000m run), V. Donin (fencing-sabre), V. Andreev (trap shooting), M. Grishkovets (boxing), M. Kulchunova (400m run). The title of Master of Sports of the USSR was first awarded in Kyrgyzstan to T. Mamyr in high jump. On July 15, 1955, the Kyrgyz State Institute of Physical Culture was opened based on the physical culture faculty of the Kyrgyz State Pedagogical Institute. Significant practical and methodological assistance was provided to the institute by teams from the Moscow and Leningrad institutes of physical culture. Among its staff were candidate of pedagogical sciences, Leningrader A. V. Egurov (the first rector of the institute), V.A. Khorobrov, Yu. P. Komelyov, D. A. Alipov, E. K. Polyakova. Experienced teachers and coaches emerged, and the skill of athletes significantly increased. Among young athletes, V. Sokolov won the world champion title in freestyle wrestling. Master of Sports B. Andreev participated in All-Union, European, and world competitions in trap shooting. Significant successes were achieved by K. Mukhtarov in classical wrestling and A. Tarev in 5 sports. The high skill of Kyrgyz athletes opened the way to the Olympic Games. In 1960, at the Rome Olympics, Spartakiad champion S. Mursalymov participated. In subsequent Olympic Games, athletes included L. Ivanov (1964), V. Chichaeva (1972), V. Korsakov (1972), O. Barch (1968, 1972, 1976); A. Mursalymov (equestrian sports, 1964), A. Anarbaev (swimming, 1972), A. Abushakhmetov (fencing, 1976). In the 1970s, a new large group of top athletes emerged. At the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow, A. Melentyev won the championship in small-caliber pistol shooting with a new world record of 581 points. Olympic champions also included weightlifter K. Osmonaliev (lightest weight — up to 52 kg), who lifted a total of 245 kg in the combined event; T. Kolpakova set a new Olympic record in long jump with a result of 706 cm; A. Blinov won a gold medal in team victory in equestrian triathlon and a silver in individual competition. The first among marathon runners to win a bronze medal was S. Jumalazarov in the 42 km 195 m run. Among women, M. Sysoyeva successfully competed, taking 5th place in high jump (191 cm). In 1988, Kyrgyz athletes participated in the Olympic Games held in Seoul. In 1992, at the 25th Olympic Games in Barcelona (Spain), 5 Kyrgyz athletes competed. Gold medals were won by E. Baranova (basketball), T. Duyshbaev (handball), I. Dzyuba took 4th place in the road race (cycling), D. Maksutova, who participated in world-level competitions for the first time, took 7th place in judo, and I. Paklin took 9th place (athletics). In 1993, professional boxer O. Nazarov became the world champion, who subsequently became world champion 7 more times. In Iran, in the city of Tabriz, S. Duyysheev (52 kg) won a silver medal at the Asian Weightlifting Championship; U. Mainazarov (52 kg) won a bronze medal. In 1993, the Games among women of Islamic states were held in Tegeran. Our female athletes competed in tennis, shooting, athletics, volleyball, basketball, swimming, badminton, and handball. Kyrgyz female athletes took 1st place in athletics, basketball, and volleyball.
The time of perestroika also affected physical culture and sports. In 1987, the Republican Council of the trade union sports society was created in Kyrgyzstan. In 1991, the National Olympic Committee of the republic was established.
On July 10, 1992, the government approved the State Committee for Physical Culture, Sports, and Support for the National Olympic Movement. In 1996, the Committee was transformed into the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and in December 1996 — into the State Agency for Tourism and Sports under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. In December 2000, the structure was renamed the State Committee for Tourism, Sports, and Youth Policy. In 1994, the "Health" complex was created based on the GTO, and the program "Healthy Nation" for 1994-2000 was adopted. Since 1993, every year the Day of Physical Culture is celebrated in the republic. In 1995, 120 sports competitions were held in Kyrgyzstan, with the participation of 3400 athletes; in international competitions — 192, including 18 in world championships, and 22 in the Asian championship. At the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996), the sports team of Kyrgyzstan (33 athletes) participated for the first time as a sovereign team. In 1997, 102 sports competitions were held, with the participation of 13,433 athletes.
In June 1996, the 1st Spartakiad of the Kyrgyz Republic in classical sports was held in Bishkek, dedicated to the 5th anniversary of independence.
Kyrgyz athletes also participated in the Central Asian Games. The first competitions took place from September 2 to 8, 1995, in Tashkent. Athletes from 5 republics (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan) competed for 156 sets of medals in 12 sports. Athletes from the Kyrgyz Republic won 67 medals (13 gold, 14 silver, 40 bronze). In the unofficial team standings, Kyrgyzstan took 3rd place. The second Central Asian Games were held from September 13 to 20, 1997, in Almaty in 13 sports. Athletes from Kyrgyzstan won 13 gold, 96 silver, and 56 bronze medals and took 3rd place. The third Central Asian Games started from October 1 to 7, 1999, in Bishkek. Athletes from 5 republics competed in 12 sports. Kyrgyzstanis won 146 medals (27 gold, 61 silver, 58 bronze) and took 2nd place.
The most significant sporting event of 2000 was the participation of athletes from the Kyrgyz Republic in the 27th Olympic Games in Sydney. The national team consisted of 51 athletes who competed in 10 sports. Our judoka A. Smagulov (weight 60 kg) won a bronze medal; 4th place — A. Rayimkulov; 8th place — U. Kalilov (Greco-Roman wrestling); A. Askarov (freestyle wrestling); A. Kovalevsky (freestyle wrestling). In the unofficial points tally, the Kyrgyz Republic team ranked 76th among 199 participating teams.
The Kyrgyz State Institute of Physical Culture plays an invaluable role in the physical culture and sports of the republic. In 1995, a branch of the KGIIFC was opened in the city of Jalal-Abad. The number of employees at the institute is about 400 people. Several leading specialists of the institute have made significant contributions to sports science. Current issues of the theory and methodology of physical culture are developed by Professor N.I. Sharabakin, medical-biological issues of physical culture by Professor B. Turusbekov, the use of national sports by Professor X. F. Anarkulov, and the reform of the education system, including higher physical culture education in the Kyrgyz Republic by Professor A. M. Mamytov, and the history of physical culture and sports by Associate Professor M.K. Saralaev.
Honored coach of the USSR M.E. Kogan (basketball), honored coaches of the republic V.Kh. Polubabkin (athletics), V. I. Bakanch (Greco-Roman wrestling), and others have achieved significant success in training Olympians, world and Asian champions.
The institute has transitioned to a multi-level system for training bachelors, sports managers, bodyguards, specialists in national sports, and is improving the training of specialists in Eastern sports and therapeutic gymnastics.
In addition to higher and secondary educational institutions preparing personnel in physical culture, sports schools and sports federations have made significant contributions to the training of athletes.
In independent Kyrgyzstan, competitions in national sports and folk active games have resumed. For the 1000th anniversary of the epic "Manas" (1995) and the celebration of the 3000th anniversary of the city of Osh, competitions in national games and sports were held throughout the republic, followed by Spartakiads in national sports. Currently, alongside the former traditional federations, federations such as "kökbörü," "toguz korgool," and "kyurësh" are operating. Sports titles have been established for ten national sports, including "at chabysh," "oodarysh," "ordo," "jorgo salysh," "tyin enmey," "upay," and "kulatuu."
The State Committee for Tourism, Sports, and Youth Policy is developing a concept for the development of physical culture and sports in the republic until 2010. This concept provides for the promotion of mass physical culture, priority development of certain sports, national sports games, strengthening the material and technical base, and scientific and methodological support for sports.
