London Naadam 2009

The 2008 Naadam has now taken place, see:

Original 2008 Naadam Page [1]

Photos and Videos from the 2008 Naadam [2]

Watch an ITV Local report on the 2008 Naadam here! [3]

Mongolian Association Photos [4]

 

DRAFT 2009 Naadam Details

11 July 2009 - Highbury Fields, Islington, London [5]

The Launch of the 2009 Mongolia Charity Rally and the London Mongolian Naadam will take place on Highbury Fields, Islington, London on Saturday 11th July 2009.

In true Mongolian style all of the vehicles on the Rally surrounded the Naadam events in the centre. Mongolians from across London and the UK attended the event, bringing Mongolian Gers, and taking part in the wrestling, archery, food, traditional music and much more.

 

Timetable for the day

 

12:00 OPENING CEREMONY

• Welcome speech from John Grogan MP, Head of the Mongolian Parliamentary Group and His Excellency Mr Bulgaa Altangerel, the recently appointed Mongolian Ambassador
• Live music from world reknowned Mongolian group Khukh Mongol [6] [read all about them [6]] including Mongolian traditional long song with morin huur and Ho'omii (throat song). Read more about Mongolian Music on Wikipedia [7]
• Mongolian Ger [8] building
• Traditional dancing
• Mongolian Calligraphy, Sukhbaatar will be available to write traditional Mongolian script on paper and on vehicles.
• Contortionist
• Compère for the day Keiron Kirkland will also be performing his live magic. See more on his website [9].
• Mongolian TV will broadcast the Naadam and Rally launch.

NAADAM

• Wrestling competition [10] total of 5 rounds (32 wrestlers - 16 pairs)
• Children's competition - racing
• 2nd round of Wrestling competition (16 wrestlers - 8 pairs) [11]
• Semi final of Wrestling competition (8 wrestlers - 4 pairs)
• Quarter final of Wrestling competition (4 wrestlers - 2 pairs)
• The final of Wrestling competition (2 wrestlers for the championship)

Read more about Naadam on wikipedia [12]

• Exhibition of Mongolian arts
• Arts and books
• Mongolian food [13] supplied by the Mongolian "Blue Sky" Cafe in London
• Mongolian Airag [14]
• British Hog Roast [15]
• Photos with Mongolian performers

14:30 Press call for rally teams and vehicles [press details [16]]

15:00 - Mongolia Charity Rally Teams [17] depart:

• Farewell to the Mongolia Charity Rally Teams [17] and presenting hadag and milk with silver bowl.
• Prayer for the Rally Teams from a Buddist Lama.
• Convoy directly out of London, past St Pauls Cathedral, along the Thames to Westminster and south out of London

17:30 CLOSING CEREMONY

• Presentation of prizes to the Naadam champions

Please note: all details are subject to change

Location

Highbury Fields is 2 minutes walk from Highbury and Islington Station (Victoria Line underground and mainline). The site can be reached in less than 15 minutes from Oxford Circus and 5 minutes from Kings Cross. Note: Victoria Line underground services are operating normally on Saturday 5 July 2008. For further travel information please visit the Transport for London travel website: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ [18] (Nearest Station: Highbury and Islington (Victoria line/ Silverlink Metro/ WAGN). Buses: 19, 30, 43, 271, 277 to Highbury Corner. )

See this in Google Maps [19]

Help Us - Marshals Needed

Can you spare an hour or two during the day to help with Marshalling at the event? One of our sponsors is offering a free lunch for anyone who helps with marshalling during the day. We'll need people to help set up in the morning before the Naadam and clear up at the end. We'll also need marshalls to help direct the rally cars off the road. If you would like to help, please contact us [20].

Thanks

Go Help would like to thank the following for their cooperation in organising this event: Embassy of the Republic of Mongolia [21], the Mongolian Association of the United Kingdom [22], St John Ambulance and Islington Council (with Laura Sanna of the Parks Office) [23] for kindly allowing us the use of Highbury Fields.

 

With thanks to Central Asia Metals Ltd for sponsoring the Wrestling Tournament

[24]