Award: Documentary Award

Time: July 12, 2005
Place: Deserts of Mongolia
Nationality: Mongol

The most important holiday in Mongolia is the annual Naadam Festival, which has been held in Mongolia even before the time of Genghis Khan. Naadam means 'game' or competition. Far south from the huge stadium spectacle being held in the capital city of Ulaan Baatar, a smaller, more intimate, Naadam Festival is held in the Gobi Desert. Here, the festival is held by and for the people of the Gobi, and not for the tourists flocking into UlaanBaatar. In addition to the usual horseracing, wrestling, and archery events in Dalanzadgad on the first festival day, there are competitions of horsemanship held on the second day at the entrance to the Yol Valley with.