Olympic Contests on Steppe Landscapes
In the heart of Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, the open championship for the national games of Asyq Aty and Bes Asyq is underway at the Aspan sports complex. The tournament, which is part of the V World Nomad Games program, has drawn 39 registered participants, with 22 boys competing in Asyq Aty and 17 girls in Bes Asyq.
Referees from the Pavlodar region have been invited to oversee the competition, ensuring fair play and adherence to the rules. The use of a special carpet, colored corners, and colored asaq (game bones) is part of the national tradition of Asyq Aty, adding a touch of cultural richness to the event.
The competition is fierce, with 4 masters of sports and 5 candidates for master of sports participating. Players come out from blue and red corners in the game of Asyq Aty, each vying for victory. The competitions in Asyq Aty are held considering age categories: 7-10, 11-13, 14-16, 17-20, and over 21 years old.
Asyq Aty, a traditional Central Asian game played with sheep ankle bones, has gained popularity as a sport. It is regarded as part of Kazakhstan’s intangible cultural heritage, often promoted as a folk tradition. Kazakhstan has taken steps to preserve and revive traditional games like Asyq Aty through educational programs and cultural events.
Some efforts have been made to organize cultural festivals including traditional games to introduce them on international stages, but there is limited information on formal international tournaments dedicated exclusively to Asyq Aty at a high competitive level. However, in 2023, Asyq Aty was officially recognized as a priority alongside Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.
The winners of the tournament will be included in the capital's team and will represent Astana at the youth championship of Kazakhstan in Aktau in August. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has shown his support for the game, even playing Asyq Aty with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. The head coach of Astana is Eskender Rakhmetov, while Dusembai KOZHAMZHAR serves as the main coach of the youth national team of Kazakhstan in Asyq Aty.
As the tournament progresses, spectators and players alike are treated to a captivating display of skill, tradition, and sportsmanship, further cementing the place of Asyq Aty in Kazakhstan's cultural and athletic landscape.
Football enthusiasts might be surprised to find an entire tournament dedicated to Asyq Aty, a traditional Central Asian game, at the Aspan sports complex in Astana. Despite the lack of formal international tournaments at a high competitive level for Asyq Aty, it has gained popularity as a sport and even earned recognition as a priority, alongside Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, in 2023.
