Jordi Solé traveled from Sant Miquel de Balenyà in Osona to Kyrgyzstan to compete at the World Nomad Games, entering an international tournament that grew from 500 athletes in 2014 to 3,000 competitors across more than 40 disciplines by its sixth edition. Recognized by UNESCO, the festival preserves traditional nomadic sports and cultural heritage, bringing together nations that range from Central Asian founders to European delegates.
From an Accidental Social Media Discovery to the Spanish Delegation
Solé and his travel-blog business partner, Víctor López, first encountered the World Nomad Games two years prior through social media. Their initial attempt to secure press credentials hit a dead end when organizers requested paperwork the pair could not complete. Seeking an alternative route, they contacted Casa Kazaja, the organization managing the Spanish team, which noted that journalist access remained restricted but spots for active competitors were open.
“We said yes, but that we didn’t want to go fight against a 300-kilogram giant, and they told us there were also intellectual games,” Solé recalled. They selected Oware—a traditional board game originating in Ghana—as their easiest entry point. Training began in June via a mobile application and website, supplemented by two boards Solé purchased during a summer vacation in Senegal. Practice matches occurred strictly between the two friends, as no one else in their immediate circle knew the rules.
Opening Ceremony Under Vladimir Putin and International Delegations
The competition opened on August 31, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s independence from the former Soviet Union. More than 30,000 spectators and roughly 20 heads of state and government watched the parade of delegations from the stands, including Vladimir Putin, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and the Prime Minister of India.
“It was a spectacular day. I get goosebumps just remembering it,” Solé said. Despite rules prohibiting recording during the march, he pulled out his mobile phone mid-ceremony to capture the event. The gathering fostered rare cross-cultural exchanges among athletes from politically fractured regions, uniting individuals from nations with strained diplomatic ties on the stadium floor.
Oware Competition and Representing Catalonia on the Global Stage
Spain’s delegation of over 40 participants included half a dozen competitors from Catalonia: one in horseback archery, one in arm wrestling, and four in Oware. The board game event featured 64 participants playing with a board and 48 seeds. Solé finished 32nd in the discipline, while his teammate placed 15th after facing opponents that included a Nigerian prince.
“The only downside was representing Spain, but we barely did that,” Solé stated, noting that he and his peers routinely spoke about Catalonia and their distinct regional identity with fellow competitors.
Kazakhstan Leads Medal Standings as Tournament Grows
While host nation Kyrgyzstan secured the highest total medal count, Kazakhstan finished first in the standings by gold medals. The tournament has expanded significantly since its inaugural 2014 event in Central Asia, which featured 19 countries, reaching 100 participating nations by its sixth iteration to boost international tourism.
Alongside intellectual board games, the festival showcases physical contests ranging from yurt-building races and bone-breaking events to kok-boru—a traditional polo match played using a headless, quartered goat carcass. During the event, the Catalan competitors also met a 2.10-meter, 190-kilogram Iranian tug-of-war competitor who expressed support for FC Barcelona.
Worth a look
