Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. On July 8, acting Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar J.Batbayasgalan, advisor for the organizing committee of the National Naadam Festival, Hero of Labor, music composer N.Jantsannorov, and Head of the Public Order and Safety Department at the National Police Agency J.Amgalan and other officials did a press conference regarding the organization of the National Naadam Festival to be organized on the occasion of the 2229th anniversary of Foundation of the first Mongolian State, the 814th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire, and the 99th anniversary of the Mongolian People’s Revolution. 

Acting Governor of the Capital City J.Batbayasgalan said, “In the framework of the preventive measures being taken against the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision was made to organize the National Naadam Festival avoiding mass gathering by following the requirements of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health. The national tournaments for wrestling, archery, and knuckle-bone shooting will be organized at the designated festival site in Erdene soum of Tuv aimag. As for horse racing, it will be organized at Khui Doloon Khudag and broadcast through public media and online on July 11 and 12, strictly following the guidelines and recommended procedures issued by the State Emergency Commission, the Ministry of Health and other professional organizations. 

Due to the current pandemic, there will be no products and services offered at the sites. Contrary to the public’s perception of this year’s Naadam festival having no viewers, I believe that the most amount of people will be watching the festival this year. We are working to ensure sufficient preparedness to broadcast the Mongolian Naadam internationally.”

Head of the Public Order and Safety Department at the National Police Agency J.Amgalan said, “The sites to organize the national tournaments for wrestling, archery, and knuckle-bone shooting are now ready at the XIII Century Complex. Tournament participants will be the only people allowed entry to the complex. During the horse races, traffic movement going out of Ulaanbaatar city will be temporarily restricted. However, traffic coming into the city will not be restricted.”

Advisor for the organizing committee of the National Naadam Festival, Hero of Labor, music composer N.Jantsannorov said, “Less than 1 percent of the total population of Mongolia - about 13 thousand people are able to watch the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival at the stadium each year. Despite significant importance being put on the live broadcast by TV channels, it is common for many technical difficulties to arise. As a result, we are usually left with a low quality video. As for this year, there will be no technical difficulties as preparations are being ensured from early on. Thus, 99.99 percent of the total population of Mongolia shall receive the broadcast of the opening ceremony and concert at a quality that is 3 times better than previous years. Our main focus is to create video content about the National Naadam Festival that can be promoted to the world by recording them in good quality.”

In aims of implementing preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, ceremonies to pay respect to the statues of General D.Sukhbaatar and Chinggis Khaan, the military parade for the State Flag Day, the annual Deeltei Mongol Festival, the youth tournaments in wrestling, archery, and knuckle-bone shooting, and other corresponding events will not be organized, highlighted acting Governor of the Capital City J.Batbayasgalan.