Today, on the instructions of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the sports complex of martial arts of the Ashgabat Olympic village the ceremony of celebration of victories of prize-winners of international competitions took place. Sportsmen who have gained good results, were presented with memorable gifts and the book by the President of Turkmenistan «Ýaşlar - Watanyň daýanjy» on behalf of the head of the state and National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero-Arkadag.

In the celebration timed to World Health Day, the authorities of the Mejlis, members of the Government, heads of military and law enforcement bodies, ministries and departments of the country , the vice-president of the World Turkmen Humanitarian Association, heads and employees of the diplomatic corps of foreign states accredited to Turkmenistan and international organisations as well as representatives of public associations, rectors of higher educational schools, sportsmen, student's youth and mass-media took part.

In the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State development of mass physical training and health movement and sports of high achievements in our country as organization of actions for popularisation of principles of the healthy life style is in the centre of attention of the purpose-oriented strategy initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people , Hero-Arkadag and realised under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, which acts as one of the priority areas of the state policy of Turkmenistan.

Huge investments are made in creation of the ultra-modern sports infrastructure, including those designed for the Olympic sports, preparation of sportsmen, coaches and other profile experts.

The country provides ample opportunities for development of sports movement- all regions of the country possess modern sports and equestrian sports complexes, multipurpose stadiums, sport schools and other objects completed with necessary equipment and facilities. Besides it, the capital and velayat centres haver medical centres, specialised clinics and sanatoria equipped with the technologies from the leading world companies. Great successes have been achieved in formation of modern sports infrastructure corresponding to international standards on their basis.

One of the bright examples for them is the innovative city of Arkadag. Here the multipurpose sports complex, water sports complex, stadium for 10 thousand spectators were constructed as well as the central administrative board of physical training and sports of the first "smart" city in Turkmenistan was established.

Creation of the football team of the city of Arkadag where there are all possibilities for development of various sports, including such popular as football, in 2023 became an important event in the sports life of the country.

In the first year, the football club "Arkadag" successfully performed in matches of the championship of Turkmenistan and became owner of the Cup of the country in football.

In our fatherland, a special significance is also given to popularisation of the national sports, which are an integral component of the richest heritage of Turkmen people. The skill of local sportsmen, who successfully act at large international competitions, including championships of Asia and the world, grows by achieving good results.

So, in November, 2023, the Turkmen capital became a venue of the 14th World kurash championship with participation of more than 180 sportsmen from 45 countries of four continents - Asia, Africa, Europe as well as South and North America. Competitions were completed with triumph for the national team of Turkmenistan which won in 15 weight categories 15 medals, five of which - gold, six - silver and four - bronze.

Organization of the world championship organised together with the International Kurash Association became another evidence of transformation of Ashgabat into a recognised international sports centre.

Sports were and remain to be the major component of interstate cooperation and sportsmen - messengers of friendship and peace whose skill and will power confirm high ideals of Olympics. For this reason, preparation of professional athletes, coaches and other profile experts was defined among key areas of the national program of support and development of physical training and sports in Turkmenistan for 2021-2025, other government programs.

Thanks to the active support of the President of Turkmenistan program measures are taken jointly with specialised agencies of the United Nations in Turkmenistan.

National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov introduced a remarkable and noble tradition – conduction of mass bicycle races. The given initiative received a broad support and approval of compatriots who with pleasure participate in regular sports actions organized in the country promoting strengthening of health and cultivation of reasonable attitude to the environment in people.

And today by the developed noble tradition, World Health Day is celebrated. To this international date fixed in the national calendar, mass bicycle race was timed and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov took part in it.

As known, at the proposal of Turkmenistan, annually World Bicycle Day founded by the corresponding Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations on June 3 is widely celebrated. This fact became the next evidence of international recognition and appreciation of efforts of our country in the field of sports and physical training and health movement, recognition of ecological outlook in society as sustainable development bases at national and global levels.

Unanimous election of Turkmenistan in 2023 to membership of Intergovernmental Committee on Physical Education and Sports (CIGEPS) for 2023-2027 became an acknowledgement of success of sports diplomacy of the country.

Interaction with the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), World Health Organization, International Olympic Committee, Asian Olympic Council extends.

Perfection of the sphere of physical training and sports, recognition of principles of healthy life style in society find reflexion in the national legislation. Adoption of Laws of Turkmenistan «On physical culture and sports» (revised), «On horse breeding and equestrian sport», «On volunteering», «On combating doping in sports» can serve a good example for it. In 2015, our country joined the Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol adopted in Nairobi on September 26, 1981. And in September, 2017 at the 36th session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations at the initiative of Turkmenistan the joint statement « On Encouraging the Valuable Contribution of Olympic Teams of Refugees to the Strengthening of Peace and Human Rights » was adopted.

Turkmenistan has a wide experience and possibilities for organisation and conduction of large sports actions of regional and world levels. Victories of sportsmen of our country in the international competitions are the best acknowledgement of efficiency of work carried out in the given area and promote increase of authority of the Turkmen state.

Successful participation of sports team of Turkmenistan in the XXXII Summer Olympic Games in Japan in 2021 and winning of the first Olympic medal in the history of Turkmen sports became a significant event that testifies to great attention of the state to development of sports. This high achievement inspired Türkmen athletes onto further perfection of their sports skill and winning of new victories in prestigious international competitions.

It is necessary to note that according to the Resolution of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of April 28, 2022, the Organizing committee for preparation of national teams of Turkmenistan for the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games and XVII Summer Paralympic Games, which will take place in Paris (the French Republic) in 2024, was created and its structure was approved. At present, for our athletes training sessions are organized in sports objects of the Olympic village and Turkmen State Institute of Physical Training and Sports. Preparation for other large tournaments also proceeds.

By a noble tradition, we honour sportsmen-prize-winners who have properly represented our native land on world sports arena, at the state level as a token of acknowledgement of their huge contribution to development of national sports, steady increase of image of Turkmenistan as the country of health and high spirit.

… At the central entrance to the sports complex of martial arts, the exhibition of achievements of local sportsmen was organized and its exposition included awards of different degrees, won in prestigious international competitions as well as works fine, decorative and applied arts.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, a welcoming message of whom the gathered heard with special attention, expressed his sincere congratulations to sportsmen of national teams of Turkmenistan - winners of the international competitions. 

A special emphasis was made that the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State opens before athletes all possibilities for achievements in sports.

«Properly continuing the courageous and victorious path of our ancestors, participating in the international competitions, winning medals, you augment sports skill of Turkmen sportsmen. I am firmly convinced that, achieving fine results in various tournaments, highly raising the banner of our fatherland, you will augment the authority of Turkmenistan!», - the President of the country underlined in his message.

In honour of heroes of sports, the national anthem of Turkmenistan sounds.

Under the solemn conditions, to the storm of applause of numerous participants of the ceremony, distinguished sportsmen who have received prize-winning places at the international competitions in January-April, 2024, were given costly presents on behalf of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The representatives of Turkmenistan, who worthily represented our country in the Para Powerlifting World Cup held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) from February 25 to March 8, were invited first to the stage. The para powerlifting is a Paralympic a sport for persons with disability of locomotor apparatus. During performance of exercise, the athlete shows the strength of the upper part of the body.

Then, to the storm of applause memorable gifts were handed to winners of the international competitions in sambo and combat sambo for the «Cup of the President of Belarus» which was held in Minsk from February 7 to February 10 as well as for the «Cup of Founders of Sambo» in Moscow (Russian Federation) (on March 21-24).

Numerous medals were secured in the international taekwondo tournament (ITF), organised in the city of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) from February 29 to March 3.

The "gold" medal was won in the qualifying tournament of the Asian Tennis Championship among players under 14 that took place in the city of Muscat (Sultanate of Oman) from January 5 to January 19.

Karate practitioners from Turkmenistan constantly take part in the international tournaments in various kinds of this popular single combat. So, our sportsmen distinguished having occupied prize-winning places in the Kyokushin AIKO Asian Open Championship, which was held in the Turkish city of Antalya (Republic of Türkiye) from January 4 to 7 as well as the World Open Fudokan Championship in Ivanovo city (Russian Federation) (on March 2-12).

Performance of the athletes who won the "gold" medals in the international boxing tournament, organised in Aktau city (Republic of Kazakhstan) from January 31 to February 3 evokes a pride in our compatriots.

Participants of the celebration expressed their warm gratitude to the head of the state and Hero-Arkadag for such high appreciation of their work. As speakers underlined, it was a great honour for them to represent our fatherland and success of Turkmen  national teams is a result of huge attention of the President of the country to development of sports movement and sports of higher achievements, persistent trainings of athletes in the modern sports complexes equipped with the latest technologies, including those in the Olympic village, which has no analogues in the region.

Having been photographed for memory, the main participants of the ceremony have organised a solemn procession around wrestling arenas in honour of this event.

On its completion, the concert of workers of art as well as demonstrative performance of our sportsmen took place.

The present solemn action inspired our compatriots into new victories, sportsmen should with honour stand all tests and hold high and proud the green banner of our fatherland.

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The same day at the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports the awarding ceremony on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan and Hero-Arkadag for the sportsmen who took part in the international competitions and gained second and third prize-winning places, took place.

Worthy performance of our athletes - fine result of the program transformations developed in the country on modernisation of material and scientific-methodological basis of mass physical culture and sports. It is one of the priorities of the state policy aimed at formation of physically strong and spiritually rich generation, creation of the best conditions for fruitful trainings of sportsmen, encouragement of their initiative to raise the level of national sports to the new heights, speakers of the event marked.

High achievements of our athletes evoke confidence that the national flag of independent neutral Turkmenistan will flutter victoriously henceforth under the majestic hymn of our native land at various international competitions, augmenting the glory of Turkmen sports and pride of every Turkmen national for our fatherland.