Every year on June 23, according to the established tradition all over the world, including in Turkmenistan, the International Olympic Day is celebrated. The idea of creating a special celebration for the Olympic Movement around the world first came up in 1947. The restoration of the Olympic Games was initiated by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The goal of celebrating International Olympic Day is to popularize sports around the world and to involve everyone in the sports movement, regardless of age, gender, athletic ability and skill level.

The Olympic Movement serves to create a better world by educating young people in a spirit of solidarity and friendship through sports.

One of the expressions of the Olympic movement is the massive participation in competitions, namely, massive long-distance races. They became the main sporting event of the holiday.

On this day, according to tradition, numerous amateurs of athletics and pupils of the school of the Olympic reserve take part in the mass race, which starts in the area of the new stadium "Ashgabat" of our capital. There, according to the results of the competition, those who distinguished themselves are awarded certificates of winners and valuable gifts. Celebrations on the occasion of the holiday continue at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy, where veterans and leading athletes of the republic gather.

The fact that it takes place on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics makes this holiday especially solemn. For obvious reasons, many events this year are held online. That is why on this day, in this format, the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, will address with congratulations to all the Olympians of the world.

However, a holiday is a holiday. Millions were waiting for him, especially the athletes themselves. And there are explanations for that.

It will not be a mistake to believe that, perhaps, there is no one of them who would not dream of participating in these competitions, and even more - to go to the Olympics and win an Olympic medal there. Champions and prize-winners of the Olympics are the pride of the country. The name of the athlete fits into the history of the Olympic Games forever.

It is gratifying that there are many such personalities in the sports history of Turkmenistan. And, of course, in the first row among them is a native of Turkmenbashi Vladimir Morozov, who won gold three times at the Olympics in rowing and canoeing competitions. The champions of the Olympic Games in different years became Yuri Kovshov, a native of Serkhetabad (equestrian sport), Iosif Berdiev from Ashgabat (artistic gymnastics) and a native of Mary, Elen Shakirova (basketball). The winners of the Olympics were Ashgabat citizens Marat Niyazov (shooting), Elina Guseva (handball), Daniil Burkenya (athletics), Boris Kramarenko (wrestling), Gennady Nikolaev (swimming) and Elena Nemashkalo (handball).

Each of these names is a legend of Turkmen sports. The good news is that today they have grown up a worthy replacement. Among them there are many athletes who are already champions of Asia and world championships in various sports.

There is very little time left before the Tokyo Olympics. The current Olympians would like to wish the same medal successes as their predecessors achieved.

Correspondent “GA”