On December 24, a meeting dedicated to the inclusion of Kurash sport in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List was held in the conference hall of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The event was attended by International and local experts, leading representatives from the fields of culture, sports, and heritage, as well as regional UNESCO representatives.
Kurash is not only a physical activity but also embodies world values such as peace, integrity, and respect.
A working group consisting of representatives from the International Kurash Association, the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the International Kurash Institute, the Uzbekistan Kurash Federation, and the National Commission of Uzbekistan for UNESCO has prepared the nomination documents for this initiative.
As part of this process, a database on Kurash as an intangible cultural heritage object was developed.
During the meeting, the Minister of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan and First Vice-President of the International Kurash Association, Adkham Ikramov with the President of the International Kurash Association, Haider Farman, emphasized that the inclusion of Kurash in UNESCO’s list would strengthen the cultural brand of the country and increase International attention to this sport.
“Kurash has risen from being a national value to becoming a common human value,” said Sherzodkhon Kudratkhodja, Vice-President of the International Kurash Association and Chairman of the Board of the Uzbekistan National Media Association.
“This sport, with a thousand-year history, requires all of us to take equal responsibility for its development and popularization,” added the IKA Vice-President.
Saida Azimova, Head of the Department of the National Commission for UNESCO, and Seungbum Lim, Head of the World Heritage Division of the International UNESCO Organization, spoke about UNESCO’s mission to protect and promote intangible cultural heritage. They outlined the necessary steps to ensure the inclusion of Kurash in this list and highlighted its significance for recognizing the cultural role of sports in the future.
Mohammad Reza Nassiri, General Secretary of the International Kurash Association, presented details about efforts to develop this sport, including International competitions, training programs, and promotional activities. He noted that the inclusion of Kurash in UNESCO’s list would open new opportunities for athletes and sports enthusiasts.
During the meeting, Professor Kim Eur Joong from the International Kurash Institute delivered a presentation on the work carried out to achieve the inclusion of Kurash in the list.
Discussions were held on the remaining steps needed, and it was agreed that this process would play a crucial role in acknowledging the cultural significance of sports. Plans for collaborative actions were finalized.
