Traditional sports of Chukotka population

Rebirth of traditional sports is happening alongside with restoration and development of such traditional for Chukotka crafts, as sea hunting, reindeer-herding, fishery and hunting. Children Sport Schools open sections of traditional sports, national wrestling and husky-dog breeding.

Sport competitions visited not only by guests from other parts of Russia, but also from abroad are held in the Okrug annually. Since 1996 traditional sports are included in competition program for the Chukotka Governor Cup.

Regularly take place such sporting events as dog-ledge race "Nadezhda", Chukot-Eskimo canoes regatta "Beringia", deer-ledge race "Rilet", The Governor Cup in Northern all-round competitions and traditional wrestling.

Chukot-Eskimo canoes regattas and deer-ledge race are very popular among reindeer-breeders and sea-hunters. Program of these competitions held annually includes more than 10 kinds of traditional sports – stick-running, throwing of harpoon, traditional triple jump, snow-wrestling, knee-jumping, housewives competition, etc. Such competitions are held separately among men, women, boys and girls. Groups of hunters and deer-breeders arrive to such events from the farthest parts of the region, bringing wives and children with them, who are doing their best to help their husbands win and take active part in the competitions themselves.

Traditional sports give native people the opportunity to master their professional and occupational skills, use original exercises to improve their health, stimulate healthy lifestyle and engage children in traditional occupations.

Of great importance is the fact that revival of traditional sports also helps to revive traditional transport means, very useful for development of traditional occupations. For example, in the beginning of 1990s there were only about 30 dog-ledges in the Okrug; today there are more than 120 of them. Leather canoes that have nearly got out of use and disappeared completely are now utilized again, there are more than 40 of them in the Okrug today.

Some traditional sports of Chukotka people are included in programs of regional, national Russian and international competitions.

For some traditional competitions the Regional Sport Committee has worked out rules, category standards, requirements and methodic recommendations.

Local sportsmen have more than once participated in All-Russia and international competitions, there are Masters of Sports, Masters of Sports Candidates and record-holders among them. Most successful for Chukotka sportsmen were the World Arctic Winter Games of 1998 and 2000 in Canada.

The traditional sports included in the official regional championship program are:

1. dog-ledge race
2. deer-ledge race
3. Chukot-Eskimo canoes race
4. single-canoe race
5. Northern all-round competition (traditional triple jump, stick-running, throwing of chaat, jumping over ledge, distance ax throwing)
6. Northern-Arctic all-round competition (high kicks with one and two legs, low kick with one leg, "Airplane", neck pulling, distance knee jump, "Armpull")
7. traditional wrestling
8. Chukotka wrestling "Teikev"

Such competitions are held in the frames of sport and cultural events:

1. Chukot-Eskimo ball game
2. throwing of "chaat"
3. throwing of "zakidushka"
4. target and distance throwing of harpoon
5. running in snow-shoes
6. distance throwing of "chaat"
7. Eskimo stick pulling