那达慕，蒙古语的意思是娱乐、游戏，是蒙古族一年一度的传统盛会，也是蒙古族人民喜爱的一种传统体育活动形式。内蒙古自治区锡林郭勒盟的那达慕最具代表性。

Naadam, meaning “entertainment” or “game” in Mongolian, is an annual festival of the Mongolian ethnic group and a traditional sporting activity much loved by the Mongolian people. The most typical Naadam exists in Xilin Gol League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

　   那达慕大会多半选择在牧草茂盛、牛羊肥壮的七八月份举行。一般两至三天，也有长达七天或九天的。大会期间，四面八方的牧民们都会穿着节日的盛装，骑着马或乘坐汽车等前来比赛或观看。会场上，帐篷林立，彩旗飘扬，往日寂静的草原，一下子就热闹起来。夜幕降临，草原上飘荡着悠扬激昂的马头琴声，篝火旁男女青年轻歌曼舞，人们沉浸在节日的欢乐之中。

Naadam usually occurs around July and August when the grass is exuberant and the cattle and sheep are fat and strong. The festival often lasts for two to three days; however, sometimes it can last as long as seven or nine days. During the festival, herdsmen from far and near, dressed in their holiday array, will travel either on a horse or by bus to participate in or watch the match. The meeting place is full of tents and colorful flags, filling the quiet prairie with noise and excitement. When the night is falling and the melodious and passionate sound of Batokin wandering on the prairie, young men and women sing and dance softly and merrily by the campfire and all the people are immersed in a festive joy.

　   骑马、射箭、摔跤在蒙古族中被称为“男儿三艺”。从古至今，“男儿三艺”一直是那达慕大会不可缺少的竞技项目。

Horse riding, archery and wrestling, referred to as “the three manly games” by the Mongolians, have been the indispensible sports for competition on the Naadam festival since ancient times.

　   “摔跤”是蒙古族特别喜爱的一种体育活动。蒙古族的摔跤在规则、方法、服装、场地等方面都有自己的特点。蒙古族摔跤一上来就互相抓握，膝盖以上任何部位着地就输了。

Wrestling is one of the favorite sports of the Mongolian people. The Mongolian wrestling is distinctive from other types of wrestling in terms of its rules, manners, outfits and playing fields. The players grab each other as soon as the game begins and the match ends when any part of the participant’s body above his knees touches the ground.

　   蒙古族是马背上的民族。赛马是那达慕大会上最激动人心的活动。赛马项目分快马、走马、颠马三种。快马比赛中，赛马人数多少不等，少则二三十人，多则上百人。赛马开始时，骑手们一字排开。号角一响，骑手们便飞身上马、扬鞭而去。一时间，观众欢腾，声震原野。 Mongolians all enjoy horseback riding, thus horse racing is the most exciting event in the Naadam festival. There are three kinds of horse races, namely the galloping-horse race, the trotting-horse race and the jolting-horse race. For the galloping-horse racing, the players are not fixed in number, ranging from 20 or 30 to as many as 100. Before the race begins, all the riders line up in a row. Once the horn rings, the riders will leap on the horses and speed away from the starting line, leaving the spectators excited and the grassland jubilant.
　   射箭是那达慕大会最早的项目之一。蒙古族射箭比赛分静射和骑射两种。 Archery is one of the earliest events on the Naadam Festival. The Mongolian archery is divided into ground archery and horseback archery. 
　   近年来，那达慕又增加了球类比赛、文艺演出等内容。 In recent years, the Naadam festival has also adopted several different types of ball games and artistic performances.
　   那达慕将蒙古族的草原游牧文化完整地保留下来，成为了解蒙古族习俗、生活形态和历史演变的盛会。那达慕上的各项活动是力与美的显现、体能和智慧的较量、速度和耐力的比拼，反映了蒙古族人民的价值观和审美观。 Naadam, through which the nomadic culture of the Mongolians is kept intact, is a grand festival where one learns about the folkways, the lifestyle and the historical evolution of the Mongolian ethnic group. All the sports and events on Naadam are a show of strength and beauty, a competition of physical strength and intelligence, and a match of speed and endurance, giving full expression to the Mongolian people’s values and their sense of beauty.
　   2006年，那达慕被列入中国国家级非物质文化遗产名录。 In 2006, Naadam was declared one of China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritages.