Nomad Games colorful opening ceremony watched by leaders

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (CBS, KYMA) - Leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have arrived in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek for the World Nomad Games.

The games' opening ceremony took place on Monday, August 31, on the eve of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the summit, but Kyrgyz media said he stayed away from the opening ceremony of the games, citing the flooding and landslides in Tibet.

The World Nomad Games are a cultural and sporting festival centred on traditional nomadic sports, particularly those of the Turkic peoples of Central Asia.

Athletes from 104 countries have registered, organisers said, for the sixth edition of the World Nomad Games, which were founded in 2014.

Events include horseback archery, wrestling and boardgames traditional to nomadic Central Asian cultures. The ceremony featured musical performances and Olympic-style parades by national teams.