The solemn ceremony of opening the XXIX Olympic Games will be held on August 8. The strongest, most titled sportsmen will carry the national flags of more than 200 countries taking part in the competitions. Then the many-coloured flags will be hoisted upwards to the sky of Beijing – they will be streaming on the flagpoles announcing to the whole world that the most peaceful combats – the sports competitions are taking place in China. A judoka Guvanch Nurmuhamedov will have the honour to carry the green flag of independent neutral Turkmenistan.

For the first time G. Nurmuhamedov competed in the Judo Championship of Turkmenistan in 1994. The young Master of Sport ranked the first and joined the national team, which represented Turkmenistan at the International Tournament in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Turkmen judoka competed with the sportsman from Azerbaijan but lost and ranked the second. It was the first medal our sportsman had veer won in the international tournaments. Then there were many tournaments and victories. There were defeats as well. Of the two sportsmen, who will perform in the forthcoming Olympic Games in the same weight category, Guvanch has competed three times. This is an Iranian judoka, twofold world champion Arash Mirismaili. The second sportsmen, who will perform in the same weight category, is Masato Uchishiba from Japan. Thus, the standard-bearer of the Olympic national team and his comrades as well are to take a serious exam. Good luck, Olympic contenders!