The opening ceremony of this year's National Naadam Festival drew mixed reactions from the public, with some praising its creativity and others expressing criticism, particularly regarding symbolic elements such as a living person being placed in a chariot and toono (wheel like crown piece of the wooden structure of the Mongolian ger) placed on its wheels.
In response, Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Ch.Undram issued an official statement on her social media.
“The opening ceremony of the National Naadam Festival is the result of months of hard work, creativity, and dedication by hundreds of artists. I sincerely thank them for their tireless efforts to showcase Mongolia’s cultural heritage to the world.
The script, choreography, and composition for the opening ceremony were developed and approved months in advance, with input from historians, cultural experts, and artists. I was appointed as the Minister Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth on June 17, 2025, just 23 days before the event. By that time, the entire program had already been completed and approved.
Therefore, I would like to respectfully clarify that I did not make any additional suggestions or changes to the Naadam program”.
The opening ceremony of this year's National Naadam Festival drew mixed reactions from the public, with some praising its creativity and others expressing criticism, particularly regarding symbolic elements such as a living person being placed in a chariot and toono (wheel like crown piece of the wooden structure of the Mongolian ger) placed on its wheels.
In response, Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Ch.Undram issued an official statement on her social media.
“The opening ceremony of the National Naadam Festival is the result of months of hard work, creativity, and dedication by hundreds of artists. I sincerely thank them for their tireless efforts to showcase Mongolia’s cultural heritage to the world.
The script, choreography, and composition for the opening ceremony were developed and approved months in advance, with input from historians, cultural experts, and artists. I was appointed as the Minister Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth on June 17, 2025, just 23 days before the event. By that time, the entire program had already been completed and approved.
Therefore, I would like to respectfully clarify that I did not make any additional suggestions or changes to the Naadam program”.