Every July 11–13, Ulaanbaatar fills with athletes, families and travelers for Naadam — the "three games of men" that have been celebrated in Mongolia for over eight centuries.
The three sports — wrestling (bökh), archery, and horse racing — were originally the skills of a warrior. Today they're still tested at every Naadam, from the central stadium in UB down to small countryside festivals you can sometimes stumble into by accident.
Wrestling
The opening ceremony is something to see — hundreds of wrestlers, all dressed in tight blue and red shorts and short jackets, performing the eagle dance. The tournament continues for two days, single-elimination.
Horse racing
Children jockeys ride distances of 15–30 km across open steppe. It's wild, fast and very different from Western racing.
Archery
Both men and women compete, shooting at small leather targets from 75m away.