Naadam July 11

The event begins on Revolution Day, Mongolia's national holiday, which commemorates the country's independence from the China July 11, 1921. The Naadam festival is officially organized in the capital mongolian, Ulaanbaatar, and tickets are required for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as some other activities such as wrestling. The celebrations, also known as "the three games of man," revolve around three nomadic sports: archery, horse racing, and Mongolian wrestling.

The celebration began in the 12th century as a way for the Mongols to show off their military prowess. Naadam tournaments have been held on religious holidays since the 17th century. They have been held annually on Revolution Day, the commemoration of the People's Revolution, since 1921. The grand Naadam festival is held in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, and begins with a cultural exhibition with ethnic dances before the games begin. Participants of all ages, young and old, are invited to take part in the games.

Wrestling is often the first sport to be introduced. The main wrestling event is a single-elimination tournament with 512 or 1,024 competitors. The wrestler must enter the arena bare-chested since tradition has it that once a woman infiltrated the games and defeated the men. Therefore, all wrestlers must prove their masculinity before wrestling begins. Archery is the second sport. Mongolian archers have been renowned for their skill and accuracy with bows since the reign of Genghis Khan. There are three types of archery in the games, each with its own bows, arrows, and distances.

Horse riding is the third sport. The Mongols' dominance over the steppe was based on their ability to ride horses. They invented stirrups, which allowed Mongolian horsemen to ride without reins, freeing their hands to fight. The Naadam festival was placed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's intangible cultural heritage lists in 2010, indicating the festival's historical significance. Its roots go back to military parades and sporting customs that accompanied various celebrations, such as weddings or religious gatherings. Later, it was used to prepare men for battle.