Naadam 2011

This is last year program. - 
Go to Naadam 2012 program

Naadam 2011
Naadam festival, (11-13 July 2011), is the happiest time in Mongolia. It is also the peak of the tourist season. In Mongolian Naadam is known as "eriin gurvan naadam" (эрийн гурван наадам), meaning - the 3 games of men. The 3 games are horse racing, archery and Mongolian wrestling. Some call it the Nomadic Olympic Games. These games have existed for centuries, and incorporate warrior skills.

The festival is performed throughout the country. The central ceremonies and competitions are held in Ulaanbaatar.
This year (2011) In UB there will be 512 wrestlers competing in 10 rounds, 420 out of them hold a state title. 3,500 horses in six age categories will be dashing across the Khui Doloon Khudag fields.

UB Locations
The festival events will take place in several locations;
Sukhbaatar Square - parades, concert and ceremonies (City centre)
Khui Doloon Khudag - horse racing, (west of Ulaanbaatar on the main road leading to Lun see map)
Central Stadium - opening, closing ceremonies, and wrestling.
Archery stadium - archery
Anklebone tent - anklebone shooting
Central Cultural Palace - concert in celebration of the National Naadam Festival

Cost
Tourists can buy daily tickets for USD25 from the Metropolitan Tourism Department, or through hotels and tour operators.

Countryside Naadam Events  
(Check with your local tour guide before going, dates might change)

Naadam events will take place  in all Aimags (provinces). Each Aimag decides on the festival dates, they are spread out over three dates in July, 11-13, 22-23, and 29-30.  (source:  www.vip76.mn).
Popular tourist destinations arrange Naadam festivals oriented towards tourists; Khatgal south of Khovsgol lake 11-12 July,
Olgii 17-19 July,
Darkhad valey 25 July,
Terelj park 12 and 21 August 2011.

Aimag  Naadam festivals for 1-2 days
during 06-13 July 2011, (check locally exact date)

6-7 sukhbaatar

8-9  Bulgan, Govi-Altai, Orkhon, 

10-11 Arkhangai, tuv, khentii

11-12 Ulaanbaatar 

Bayan-Olgii uncertain. 

Zavkhan already celebrated

Aimag  Naadam festivals during 22-23 July 2011  

Aimag - (Capital) - Distance from UB
Khovsgol, (Moron) 780km
Dundgovi, (Mandalgovi) 280km
Selenge, (Sukhbaatar) 320 (train)
Darkhan-Uul, (Darkhan) 220 (train)
Omnogovi, (Dalanzadgad) 580km (not 29-30)

 

Aimag  Naadam festivals during 29-30 July 2011 

Aimag - (Capital) - Distance from UB 
Govisumber, (Choir) 240km (train)
Dornod, (choibalsan) 660km
Dornogovi, (Sainshand) 450km (train)
Khovd, (Khovd) 1490km

Ovorkhangai, (Arvaikheer) 430km
Bayankhongor, (Bayankhongor) 640km
Uvs, (Ulaangom) 1400km

National Anniversaries
The Naadam celebrations in 2011 commemorates the various anniversaries of the Mongolian state through history.

Celebrating the 2220th anniversary of the Hun Empire

The establishment of the Hun state (Xiongnu, Хүн улс) by Toumen in the 3rd century BCE marks the beginning of statehood on the territory of Mongolia.  His son Modu Shanyu conquered and unified various tribes. At the peak of its power, the Hun confederacy stretched from Lake Baikal in the north (Russia today) to the Great Wall of China in the south.

Genghis Khan

Celebrating the 805th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire 
The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. At the peak of its power, the Mongol empire stretched from the ocean all the way to Europe.





Celebrating the 100th anniversary of National Freedom
During the collapse of the Qing (Chinese) Dynasty  in 1911, Mongolia declared independence.  Bogd Gegeen was enthroned as Bogd Khaan (Great Khan, or Emperor) of Mongolia on 29 December 1911.


Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the People's Revolution

Sukhbaatar and Choibalsan,
revolution leaders.

Under strong Soviet influence, the Mongolian People's Republic was declared in 1921. The revolution against the Chinese began on the 18th of March when 400 volunteer troops led by Sukhbaatar attacked the 2000 Chinese garrison in Kyakhta at the northern frontier of Mongolia. The Mongolian People's Party troops and Russian Red Army troops entered Urga (Ulaanbaatar of today) in July 1921.

Celebrating 21 years of democracy
After the breakdown of communist regimes in Eastern Europe in late 1989, Mongolia began its own democratic revolution in early 1990, which led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992, and a transition to a market economy.

Detailed 2011 Naadam program in Ulan Bator

July 11                                                                                                         
8 a.m. – 10.40.a.m.       Over 5 years old horse racing in Hui Doloon Hudag
10 a.m.                         Semi-final of ankle bone shooting in tent of archery
11 a.m.                         Ceremony of nine white banners in central stadium 
11.10 a.m.                    President of Mongolia, opens the  Naadam
11.20 a.m.                    Opening ceremony of Naadam Festival 

11.30 a.m.                    Opening of ankle bone shooting in tent of ankle bone
12.10 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.  First round of wrestling
1 p.m -1.30 p.m.           United showing shooting of archery in field of archery
1.30 p.m. – 4 p.m.         First round of children wrestling
2  p.m. – 4.40 p.m.        Over 5 years old horse racing  in Hui Doloon Hudag
2 p.m.                            Semi-final of ankle bone shooting in tent of ankle bone
2 p.m.- 5 p.m.                National archery in field of archery
4.20 p.m. – 6 p.m.          Second round of children wrestling
4.40 -8.20 p.m.              Second round of wrestling
7 p.m- 11 p.m.               “Ulaanbaatar night” concert 

July 12

7 a.m. – 10 a.m.               4 years old horse racing in Hui Doloon Hudag
9 a.m.                              Ankle bone shooting final in the tent of ankle bone
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.                Semi-final of archery in field of archery
9 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.         3rd round of wrestling
9 a.m. - 10.30. a.m.        3rd round of children’s wrestling
10.50 a.m. - 12.10 a.m.  4th round of children wrestling
11 a.m. -1 p.m.               One year old horse racing in hui doloon hudag
11.40 a.m. -1.30 p.m.      4th round of wrestling 
2 p.m.                              Ceremony of awarding to  ankle bone shooting winners 2.10 p.m. - 2.30 p.m.       United showing shooting of archery in central stadium 
2 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.            5th round of wrestling
3.30 p.m. – 4p.m.             5th round of children wrestling
3.30 p.m.                         Ceremony of awarding to horse racing winners in five
3.30 p.m. – 4p.m.            5th round of wrestling
3.50 p.m.                         President of Mongolia, will give child jockeys a present
3.50 p.m. – 5 p.m.           6th round of wrestling
5 p.m.- 5.10 p.m.            President of Mongolia, will award archery winners
4 p.m. – 4.40 p.m.           6th round of children wrestling
5.20 p.m. – 6.10 p.m.      7th round of wrestling
6 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.           7th round of children wrestling
6.10 p.m. – 6.20 p.m.      President of Mongolia, will award wrestlers  5/6 rounds

6.20 p.m. – 6.50 p.m.      8th round of wrestling
7.10 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.      9th round of wrestling 
7.30 p.m.- 7.40 p.m.       President of Mongolia, will award wrestlers  7/8 rounds 7.50 p.m. – 8.20 p.m.     10th round of wrestling
8.40 p.m. – 8.55 p.m.      President of Mongolia, will award champion wrestlers
8.55 p.m. – 9 p.m.           President of Mongolia, will close the Naadam festival
9 p.m.                              Closing ceremony and ceremony of nine white banners

Additional activities

July 5th-9th 2011 Mongolian Cultural Days – 1p.m.-5p.m. in Sukhbaatar square
(5.7 ger day, 6.7 dairy products, 7.7 ancient script, 8.7 folk music 9.7 costume)
July 10th army parade (2,000 soldiers) at Sukhbaatar square.
July 13th costume festival  in Sukhbaatar square 12:00-8:00pm

(Previous years programs 2010 program and 2009 program)