On the ahead of the 5th World Nomad Games the Association of National Sports together with the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan announced of the republican literary contest "Kulager".

The main goal of the contest is to popularize national sports, as well as to support writers and encourage them to create new works about national sports.

Today in Almaty in the building of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan was announced the literary contest "Kulager". The meeting was attended by Mereke Kulkenov, Chairman of the Board of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan, Islambek Salzhanov, President of the Association of National Sports. The event was also attended by intellectuals and public figures Asanali Ashimov, Dulat Isabekov, Smagul Elubai, Beksultan Nurzhekeev, Kanaz Moldakhmet, members of the Union of Writers and others. The guest of the meeting was the first Kazakhstani rider of international level Bauyrzhan Myrzabaev.

In his speech, Chairman of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan Mereke Kulkenov noted that it is necessary to increase the part of fiction that meets national interests, tells about Kazakh culture and traditions.

"One of the most authoritative types of art is fiction. Therefore, holding the literary contest "Kulager" is of great importance for the creative intelligentsia and writer's environment. We will also make every effort to awaken the interest of the younger generation to reading", - said Mereke Kulkenov.

In turn, President of the National Sports Association Islambek Salzhanov emphasized the importance of holding the republican literary contest.

"The Head of State Kasym-Jomart Tokayev pays great attention to the development of national sport. On the threshold of the 5th World Nomad Games in order to popularize the national sport we announce the republican contest "Kulager". The name of the contest was not chosen by chance. Ilyas Zhansugurov's work "Kulager" is an eternal poetry, which will never become outdated. I hope that new works, which will appear also thanks to this competition, will enrich modern Kazakhstani literature", - said Islambek Salzhanov.

In addition, Islambek Salzhanov congratulated the staff of the newspaper "Kazakadebyeti" on the 90th anniversary of the publication.

Applications for the contest will be accepted from January 22 to June 22, 2024. The works participating in the contest should be dedicated to such national sports as "Tenge Іlu", "Baige", "Zhamby atu", "Audaryspak", "Kokpar", "Togyzkumalak", "Kusbegilik", "Sadak atu", "Asyk atu", "Zhoryk". Works are accepted in Kazakh and Russian languages. The age of participants is not limited.

The competition will be held in the following 7 categories:

  1. Best poetry
  2. Best Prose
  3. Best work for children
  4. Best comic book
  5. Best Drama
  6. Best Documentary Prose
  7. Best work of fiction/mythology.

New and  previously unpublished works written between January and June of this year are eligible.

In each nomination one winner will be announced, who will receive an author's statuette "Kulager" and a monetary reward of 2 000 000 (two million) tenge from the Association of National Sports.

The results of the contest will be summarized by the jury members. The awarding ceremony will be held in August this year.

To apply for participation in the contest, it is necessary to fill out an application form and upload your work at http://qulager.ultsport.kz/. For more information, please contact the organizing committee by e-mail at qulagerultsport@gmail.com or by the following contact numbers: +7 700 098 2025 (Zhuldyz Orazymbet), +7 701 516 5584 (Khadisha Erseitova).