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Gobi desert - 1993

Gobi desert - 1993

Jacek Pałkiewicz
2006-06-17 16:28:50

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is alive with a festive atmosphere. Portrait of Lenin and Bator, the national hero who liberated the country from the Chinese in 1921, are displayed everywhere, along with portraits of party and government leaders. Red flags and streamers decorate the flower-bedecked square.

At 9 in the morning the minister of defence receives an official report from the festival organizers. There follow official speeches about the revolution, its past achievements and future accomplishments and then, to the sound of music, a parade takes place. The army lead the procession, followed by a throng of workers and the Nomads with their camels. The column ends with the nadom's athletes.

At 2 in the afternoon the nadom proper begins: it is the Olympic Games of the Mongolian people and it has been held in unchanged from for centuries. There are three disciplines on the program: wrestling, horse riding and archery. The first of these is held in accordance with ancient rituals. In the wrestling there were no different categories for the height or weight of the competitors: whoever touched the ground first with his head, hand, elbow or knee was deemed to have lost. There are always 1024 entrants for this discipline from all parts of the nation.

In the archery more than 100 people were competing, divided into teams of twelve bowmen. The target, large leather barrels mounted in pyramids, were set 80 meters away. Each athlete let fly with 20 arrows. The bows themselves were made in accordance with long customs. They consisted of layers of bone, wood and horn, covered in snake skin, with a leather bow-string. Mongols are buried with this weapon, even today.

The most spectacular event was the horse racing. The horses taking part were from two to five years old; the jockeys were children ranging from 5 to 12 years of age. The race was a long-distance one : it varies every year from 15 to 35 kilometers. At the start the young riders have their backs facing the course. By tradition they must turn their horses before galloping away.

This year victory went to a twelve-year-old Amgalau girl, who received a cup from the hands of the head of state and the following words of congratulation : "You have maintained the best traditions of the nadom. Grow up a good Mongolian citizen, increasing your courage, strength and health". That day would stay in the girl's memory for the rest of her life, just as it would remain impressed upon any foreigner visiting this country where past and present are striving to live together in harmony.