Kyrgyzstan ( CNN ) -- Headless goats . Soaring eagles . Men trying to drag each other off of horses . These were just some of the highlights of last week 's first-ever World Nomad Games , held near the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul in Cholpon-Ata City , Kyrgyzstan . About 400 athletes came from 19 countries -- mostly Central Asia , as well as Turkey , Mongolia and even Germany and the United States . The games were sponsored by the Kyrgyzstan government . A temporary camp with 150 yurts was set up in Kyrchyn Jailoo to host guests . In addition to traditional competitions such as wrestling and kok boru ( in which two teams of horsemen try to push a headless goat carcass into a goal ) , performances and folk games kept crowds active . An official at the opening ceremony rang in the games by declaring : `` All humans were originally nomads . '' As nomadic peoples have become minorities in modern societies , the six-day games were organized to showcase vanishing traditions and culture . `` [ Nomadic sports ] are in no way inferior in staginess and popularity [ to ] the modern Olympics , '' says the games ' official website . `` Games give powerful impetus to rebirth ... original national sports , spiritual self-awareness and historical memory of nomad nations of the world . '' Photographer Jonny Duncan has been backpacking since 1997 . He blogs on his own Backpackingman website .
The first World Nomad Games were held in Kyrgyzstan six-day . The last week games showcased vanishing traditions and culture . A temporary camp with two yurts was set up to host guests . Germany dominated the games .