The peak of the Kyrgyz cycle

By the third edition the infrastructure was in place: the hippodrome, the ethno-village in Kyrchyn, a judging corps, interpreters, a volunteer programme. For the first time the Games ran as an event rather than an experiment.

Thirty-seven sports — a record that still stands among the Kyrgyz editions. The programme included intellectual games, traditional archery of several schools, wrestling in several styles and equestrian events.

It was here that handing the Games to another country was first discussed seriously: the platform had outgrown the format of a single permanent host.

The Games outgrew one country. This is no longer our festival — it is a shared platform.