He emphasized that the organizers adhere to the principle of apoliticism in sports and strive to preserve cultural traditions.
“Sports should remain outside of politics, and we cannot allow negative interpretations to overshadow its essence. We advocate for the promotion of ethnoculture and ethno-sports, which is why kokpar will be represented at the World Nomad Games. Our teams are already preparing for participation, and we hope that our Kazakh brothers will also take part in these games,” noted Kazybek Moldazhiyev.
He added that the inclusion of both sports disciplines contributes to maintaining a sports balance and equal conditions for all participants.
It is worth noting that during the 2024 World Nomad Games in Astana, an incident occurred during a kokpar match between the teams of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, when a player from Kazakhstan struck an opponent with a whip, leading to a scuffle on the field. The match was suspended to clarify the circumstances.
As a result, the Kyrgyzstan team lost to Kazakhstan with a score of 5:4. After the games, representatives of the Kyrgyz Kok Boru Federation expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing, calling it unfair.
The organizers of the WNG hope that the upcoming Games will take place in an atmosphere of fair competition, mutual respect, and strengthening cultural ties between countries.
