WORLD NOMAD GAMES 2024, the great event dedicated to Traditional Sports, organized by the Government of Kazakhstan and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), under the patronage of UNESCO, brought two thousand athletes from 90 countries to Astana, to compete in 21 sports. They are held every two years and have been included by UNESCO in the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. Last September 10, in Qazaq Kuresi, wrestling and national sport of Kazakhstan, Betty Vuk, an Italian athlete from the Traditional Wrestling Italian Federation (FIKULT), after defeating her opponents from South Korea, Turkey and Uzbekistan, beat the Kazakh champion in the final, climbing onto the podium with the gold medal. This is the first gold medal ever won by Italy in the five editions of these games. Born in 2000, athlete of the Dojo Equipe ASD Bologna, Betty Vuk won the 2022 absolute Judo championships, the 2023-2024 European University Games and the 2024 European Judo Cup in Dubrovnik. Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, she is completing her master’s degree in Criminological Sciences.
After competing in Qazaq Kuresi, Alysh Belt Wrestling, Ashirtmaly Aba Wrestling and Mas-Wrestling, the Team of the Traditional Wrestling Italian Federation (FIKULT) composed of Chiara Meucci, Betti Vuk, Gaia Daranuta, Sandro Lorito, Eugenio Sturniolo, Roberto Terranova and Walter Baccinelli, led by coach Mattia Galbiati and accompanied by the president, lawyer Vittorio Giorgi, was received by Ambassador Marco Alberti at the Italian Embassy in Astana to share the extraordinary experience and joy of victory. Founded in 2014, the FIKULT is affiliated with A.S.I (sports promotion body) and United World Wrestling (UWW).
“All Traditional Sports have historical roots and cultural identities that are centuries old, and for this reason they represent a space for sharing and brotherhood for all the peoples and countries of the world”, says FIKULT President Vittorio Giorgi. “This victory occurred on the day in which the Italian Diplomatic Network celebrated the Italian National Sports Day in the World. This is an initiative developed in synergy between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Sports and Youth, CONI and sports bodies, and which – starting this year – will be celebrated every year. Recently, the Office of Sports Diplomacy was established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This shows that the value and function of Sport today go far beyond its competitive dimension.”
