KTM脺 Continues Its Support for Traditional Equestrian Games by Training 32 Referees in Alaman Ulak
The Kyrgyzstan-Turkiye Manas University (KTMÜ) brought together 32 participants from different regions of Kyrgyzstan for the "Alaman Ulak Game Referee Course." Organized in cooperation with the Continuing Education Center and the Alaman Ulak Federation, the 80-hour training took place on 21–23 September 2026, with the aim of developing referees' knowledge and practical skills related to the Alaman Ulak game.
Traditional equestrian games hold a strong place in Kyrgyzstan's cultural life and are among the areas in which riding skills, collective memory, and knowledge passed between generations are kept alive. Kök Börü, one of the internationally recognized examples of this heritage, was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017. The training for Alaman Ulak referees at KTMÜ likewise contributed to sustaining traditional equestrian games through professional education.
In the program, which included Alaman Ulak Federation Chief Referee Melis Bektashov, participants received training on the game and on refereeing practices. After the closing lesson, the referees and federation representatives met with the university administration in the KTMÜ Senate Meeting Hall.
Rector Ceylan: "Kök Börü is a Heritage Passed Down by Our Ancestors"
Speaking at the meeting, KTMU Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan drew attention to the importance of traditional sports in passing cultural heritage on to future generations. Noting that he has long been involved in traditional sports and games, Ceylan said he served as a federation president in Turkiye and played a role in the founding of the Kök Börü Federation.
Stating that he closely follows the work carried out to keep traditional sports alive at KTMU, Ceylan said the university considers it important to make its facilities in this field available to athletes and referees. Noting that the only university field in the world where Kök Börü is played is located on the Manas University campus, Rector Ceylan highlighted the sport's place in cultural memory and the bond it creates between generations with the words, "Kök Börü is a heritage passed down by our ancestors." Stating that the university contributes to preserving this heritage and passing it on to future generations through its field facilities, referee training, and work on traditional sports, Ceylan thanked the athletes, referees, and federation representatives who keep Kök Börü alive with dedication and commitment.
Expressing his pleasure at hosting the Alaman Ulak referees at the university during the training, Ceylan pointed to the value of developing the knowledge and experience of those who serve in this field for the continuity of traditional sports.
Conditions for using the Kök Börü field will be improved
Ceylan noted that work continues to develop the Kök Börü area on the KTMU campus and said arrangements will be made so that athletes can carry out their activities under more favorable conditions. At the meeting, where it was noted that the university's support for traditional sports continues through field facilities, training activities, and scientific work, the relationship between these efforts and the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage was also discussed.
Refereeing experience will be carried to different regions
Representatives of the Alaman Ulak Federation stated that the 2025–2026 Ulak season has been completed and that preparations for the new season are ongoing. Describing the first referee seminar held since the federation's founding as an important step, the representatives said the training would contribute to improving referees' knowledge and competence.
It was stated that participants from different regions of Kyrgyzstan will take the knowledge and experience gained in the course back to the places where they work. In this way, the program aims to support the sharing of knowledge and experience among refereeing practices in different parts of the country.
The meeting also noted that Alaman Ulak and Kök Börü referees who previously trained at KTMÜ have served at international events such as the World Nomad Games.
Traditional sports are supported through education and research
The referees and federation representatives also discussed KTMU's work on researching and promoting traditional games. They emphasized the contribution of seminars and symposiums held in this area, support for scientific projects, and educational programs to keeping traditional sports alive.
The program brought together the university's academic expertise and the experience of referees working in the field, laying the groundwork for cooperation in traditional sports. Alaman Ulak Federation representatives thanked Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan and KTMU for their contributions to referee training and the development of traditional sports.
