Iran (IMNA) - The sixth World Nomad Games that took place in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 till September 6, once again brought the cultural heritage of nomadic civilization into international spotlight. Delegates and athletes from more than 100 countries met for the competition that unites not only traditional sports but also music, folk crafts, traditional costumes and storytelling.
In contrast to regular international sporting events, the World Nomad Games have a foundation in traditions that have evolved in everyday activities. Horse competitions, wrestling, archery and other types of ethnosport are related to skills that used to be developed during nomadic lifestyle and survival, as well as social relations and community.
This aspect makes the World Nomad Games particularly valuable and important. Their fundamental significance consists in the ability to transform cultural heritage into practice of the next generations.
From cultural memory to living heritage
It is especially difficult to preserve culture when the traditional practice loses its place in the life of communities. For example, a sport, craft, form of storytelling, or a traditional skill can exist for hundreds of years and be forgotten within one generation as soon as there are no opportunities or motives to practice this activity.
One of the examples of good safeguarding practices for the intangible cultural heritage according to UNESCO is the Nomad Games. Young people are not able to know about the traditions only as some historical facts. They can watch athletes who participate in them, celebrate them, and share the knowledge with other members of communities.
It is especially important as the traditional culture is not static. The World Intellectual Property Organization describes the traditional cultural expressions as dynamic expressions of culture which are constantly maintained, used, and developed by communities.
It is clear from the Games that the conservation of heritage does not always imply preservation as a fossil. A tradition can change in response to modern realities while maintaining its cultural significance.
Why cities matter in protecting nomadic heritage
Despite the fact that the traditions which are celebrated during the Games come mostly from nomadic and rural civilizations, today the role of the city becomes crucial in the preservation of such cultural identity.
Indeed, urbanization transforms the way younger generations face traditional culture. With migration of population from rural to urbanized regions, many traditional practices become distant from their natural habitat. Thus, traditional sports, craftsmanship, music, and folklore can become marginalized in the urban environment.
In turn, large-scale cultural events can serve as the mediator between tradition and modernity. Through the implementation of various activities in the urban public space, cities can offer residents to meet their cultural heritage through festivals, cultural centers, performances, museums, education and sports.
The World Nomad Games is a great international example of how to organize such cultural event. It consists of ethnosport, ethnoculture and scientific and humanitarian activities which provide broader opportunities for the celebration of nomadic civilization and its heritage. The growth of the Games from a mostly regional project to an international forum has made possible the dialogue of cultures with diverse experience in dealing with nature. Countries can demonstrate their traditions while at the same time discovering the traditions of other cultures.
Thus, the lesson for cities that want to preserve their cultural identity becomes obvious – it does not have to be connected exclusively with architectural heritage. Cultural identity can exist through the movements, music, craftsmanship, games, cuisine, clothing, and stories.
Keeping tradition relevant to younger generations
Probably the most serious test for cultural preservation projects over time is how younger generations view their heritage relevance for themselves. It is impossible to keep a tradition alive solely by the memory of the older generation, it requires new performers, new audiences and new environment for its implementation.
And here comes the World Nomad Games as an example of a successful strategy of bringing heritage to young generations through sports games and competition. Excitement, achievements and international recognition serve as the vehicle for traditional practices, and the cultural program serves as a way to link the sport with crafts, music, stories and national costumes among others.
Such an approach allows bringing culture to youth without turning it into the exhibit of a museum.
We should keep in mind that international recognition should not be the reason to turn traditions into commercial performances separated from communities. That is why WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) stressed the need for appropriate protection of cultural expressions against commercialization and the involvement of communities in representation of their heritage.
Beyond the Games
The importance of the World Nomad Games will be judged by what happens once the stadium lights are extinguished.
A truly important cultural event will inspire children to participate in the sporting activities of their traditions, craftsmen to carry on in their trades, communities to record their knowledge and cities to create spaces that will preserve their cultural identity.
The World Nomad Games offer an example of how sport itself may serve as a tool of cultural policy – by using the competition to preserve traditions and culture while at the same time ensuring its ability to adapt and grow.
For many other rapidly modernizing cities around the world, the lesson may be especially important. Cultural identity does not have to suffer as a result of the increasing modernity of a city. Through effective cultural policy, cities can make sure that public places and public events become venues in which old traditions are adapted to reach new audiences and preserved through continued practice.
In that way, the future of cultural heritage will not necessarily be about preserving traditions from change but rather ensuring that there are the right conditions in which communities can continue to practice and develop them.
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