RFE/RL’s photographer was on hand to capture the hoof-thumping action as the mountain venue of Kyrgyzstan’s Nomad Games opened on September 3.
Kyrgyzstan’s Hills Come Alive With The Sound Of Nomads
RFE/RL’s photographer was on hand to capture the hoof-thumping action as the mountain venue of Kyrgyzstan’s Nomad Games opened on September 3.
![Riders stand atop their horses as they speed past the crowds.](https://gdb.rferl.org/0ee7c33b-4134-4618-a85f-843912f2a2c1_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
5
Riders stand atop their horses as they speed past the crowds.
![Spectators gather to watch the action. According to AFP, around 1,000 foreign visitors attended these games. Along with the apparent increase in tourists from the 2016 event, there was a noticeable increase in peddling, with men attempting to sell horseback rides and selfies with eagles. RFE/RL was approached by one young local trying to sell a map that had come free as part of the press goodie bag.](https://gdb.rferl.org/6ff8ed55-b19c-457f-a3a8-d2aa3d20020e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
6
Spectators gather to watch the action. According to AFP, around 1,000 foreign visitors attended these games. Along with the apparent increase in tourists from the 2016 event, there was a noticeable increase in peddling, with men attempting to sell horseback rides and selfies with eagles. RFE/RL was approached by one young local trying to sell a map that had come free as part of the press goodie bag.
![Another traditional Turkic challenge played out as jousters engaged in high-speed passes. Amid the dust-clouded chaos of the ceremony, it was sometimes hard to tell if tumbles were choreographed or painfully accidental.](https://gdb.rferl.org/0638f11c-b10a-49f4-bd64-653e9ccfd79d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
7
Another traditional Turkic challenge played out as jousters engaged in high-speed passes. Amid the dust-clouded chaos of the ceremony, it was sometimes hard to tell if tumbles were choreographed or painfully accidental.
![As the opening ceremony drew to a loudly applauded close, VIPs choppered out of the gorge and locals tried out other entertainment, including this man-made lakelet.](https://gdb.rferl.org/d605e308-d423-4c9d-aca5-c23305437c87_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
8
As the opening ceremony drew to a loudly applauded close, VIPs choppered out of the gorge and locals tried out other entertainment, including this man-made lakelet.