President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Morinari Watanabe visited Turkmenistan on a two-day visit as part of the undertaken trips to the countries of Central Asia. During his stay in the Turkmen capital, the head of FIG was accompanied by the president of the Asian Gymnastics Union (AGU) Abdulrahman Bin Saad Al-Shatri and AGU Vice President Timur Abduvaliev.
65-year-old Morinari Watanabe has been heading the International Gymnastics Federation, which is the oldest sports organization. It was founded 143 years ago - July 23 1881 and now unites more than 160 national federations of five continental unions representing Europe, Pan America, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
The FIG governs the following disciplines: sports gymnastics (men's and women's), rhythmic gymnastics, sports aerobics, sports acrobatics, trampolining, parkour. Gymnastics has been included in the Olympic program since the first Olympic Games 1896.
The purpose of the visit of high-ranking guests was to strengthen cooperation in the development of gymnastic sports in Turkmenistan.
As part of their stay in Ashgabat, leaders of international gymnastics organizations met with the Deputy Chairman Cabinet of Ministers B. Orazdurdyeva. During the meeting, which also attended by the Chairman of the State Committee on Physical Education and sports A. Saparov and the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Turkmenistan A. Akmammedov, the parties discussed the prospects development of gymnastics in the country.
As emphasized, Turkmenistan attaches great importance development of sports and mass physical education movement, as well as organizing comprehensive events to popularize it in society principles of a healthy lifestyle. It was noted that in recent years, Turkmen sport has reached a new qualitative level as a result of large-scale reforms initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people by Hero-Arkadag and now successfully implemented under leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov during the Epoch of the Revival of the new era of powerful state.
Thanking the Turkmen side for their desire to further intensifying interaction in the field of sports, President of the International Gymnastics Federation highly appreciated the activities carried out in the country large-scale work to popularize mass physical education health movement and sports of the highest achievements and expressed readiness to contribute in every possible way to the development of gymnastic sports in Turkmenistan.
During the visit, leaders of the world gymnastics community visited training base of the national team in the Olympic village, where talked with coaches and leading athletes. Expressing admiration excellent conditions for training in Turkmenistan, Morinari Watanabe assured that the International Gymnastics Federation will provide comprehensive support for the development of this sport in Turkmenistan.
As part of the cultural program of the visit, the leaders of FIG and AGU visited National Museum of Turkmen Carpet and State Museum State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan, where we got acquainted with treasuries and monuments of ancient art of our people, made a huge contribution to the cultural heritage of all humanity.
