This year, the National Sports Games will take place in Tajikistan from May 22 to June 29.

The National Sports Games, which are leading national sports in Tajikistan, are normally held every four years and the previous three editions of the National Sports Games were held in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

However, the organizers have decided to hold the 4th National Sports Games this year in honor of the 30th anniversary of the country’s Independence.

The main part of the Games will take place in Dushanbe and Khorog, Khujand and Kulob will host competitions in one sport.

Khorog, for example, will host women’s volleyball competitions from June 10-14, Kulob will host weightlifting competitions from June 12-13, and Khujand will host archery competitions from June 28-29.

This year, athletes will compete in fifteen sports.  Five new sports have been added to the National Sports Games program – karate, swimming, handball, rowing and canoeing, and archery.

The 4th National Sports Games of Tajikistan will open with athletics competitions that will take place in Dushanbe from May 22-24.    

A national sport is considered to be an intrinsic part of the culture of a nation. Some sports are de facto (not established by law) national sports, while others are de jure (established by law) national sports. 

In Tajikistan, the national sport is gushtigiri, a form of traditional wrestling.  It’s distinct for its colorful tradition.  Other popular sports in Tajikistan are horse racing and buzkashi (goat grabbing), a traditional Central Asian team sport played on horseback.

Tajikistan's mountains provide many opportunities for outdoor sports, such as hill climbing, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and mountain climbing.