Nur-Sultan To Host 2021 World Combat Games

The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) announced Kazakhstan’s capital city, Nur-Sultan, has been awarded the 2021 World Combat Games.

The announcement came at the SportAccord Gold Coast Summit, where the GAISF said Nur-Sultan was chosen to host the Games due to its modern facilities and Kazakhstan’s passion for combat and martial arts sports.

GAISF President, Raffaele Chiulli, said he is excited to launch the World Combat Games and further develop the future of all combat sports.

“Creating a platform for our members to showcase their disciplines through multi-sport games is one of GAISF’s main priorities.

“We are excited to be working with the team from Nur-Sultan and the launch of the World Combat Games,” Mr Chiulli said.

Martial Arts Association of Kazakhstan President and former Kazakhstan Prime Minister, Karim Massimov, said they will also launch the World Combat Games Festival one year before the Games, to incorporate all 14 regions of Kazakhstan and make it a country-wide celebration.

“We are delighted to have been awarded the 2021 World Combat Games,” Mr Massimov said.

“Combat sports and martial arts are extremely popular throughout Kazakhstan and it is sure to be a wonderful celebration of sport.

“My thanks to GAISF for their ongoing support and we now look forward to an amazing Games in 2021,” he said.

The 2021 World Combat Games are expected to be held throughout three main venues in Nur-Sultan, the Martial Arts Palace, which is in its final stages of development, the Alau Ice Palace and the national velodrome.

Despite plans for the World Combat Games to be held in Chinese Taipei in 2019 falling through, the plans have been revised for the structure of the Games that will see it held every four years.

The Games will take place from May 3 to May 9, bringing together combat and martial arts sports athletes.