The word “sport” is familiar to everyone. It is used extensively, finding application not only in the media, but also in everyday life. Sports as a universal language can become a powerful tool for promoting peace, tolerance and mutual understanding, uniting people across borders, cultures and religions. These values, such as teamwork, justice, discipline, respect for the opponent and the rules of the game, are understood all over the world and can be used to promote solidarity, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
The general culture of the country and nation includes the culture of sports. Especially now because the popularity of a healthy and active lifestyle has become popular. A good trend of mass enthusiasm for sports encourages people to closely monitor their health, give up bad habits and shapes the thinking of a successful person.
The development of the sphere of physical education and sports is one of the priority vectors of the state policy of our country. As a result of comprehensive measures taken, a healthy lifestyle has become a national idea, a powerful consolidating factor that unites people and contributes to the country’s progress.
Turkmenistan, being a member of various international organizations in the field of sports, makes a worthy contribution to the further development of sports throughout the world. Being an enthusiastic advocator of a healthy lifestyle, the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, pays close attention to the development of mass physical culture and fitness movement and sports of the highest achievements, as a result of which, the development of physical culture and sports, the harmonious combination of the spiritual and physical potential of a person has become one of the main priorities of our country. A good example of that is World Health Day, included as a public holiday of the country.
Organised in the same year of the announcement in Turkmenistan of “Health and Inspiration” by the decision of the Asian Olympic Council in Ashgabat, one of the most important holidays in the world of sports of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which was attended by 21 National Olympic Committees. It is noteworthy that Turkmenistan was the first in the Central Asian region to receive the right to host these prestigious games.
Also, the “Amul – Khazar 2018” eco-rally-raid, the route of international races that started on 11th September 2018, in Turkmenabat, which ran along the historic Great Silk Road in the Karakum desert. The rally ended on 15th September 2018 in the Avaza tourist zone on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea. At the start of the race, 83 crews took part – more than 150 riders from 21 countries.
Turkmenistan has a number of bilateral agreements with various countries of the world on cooperation in the field of sports. Many national level competitions are held annually in various disciplines. Various international conferences and exhibitions are also held with the participation of famous persons in the field of world sports.
In addition to the above, it is worth emphasizing the importance of the Resolution adopted on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the 82nd meeting of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly held on 12th April 2018, on the establishment of a World Bicycle Day on every 3rd June. The document, co-sponsored by 56 states, serves as a clear confirmation of the universal recognition of the contribution of Turkmenistan to the strengthening of peace, friendship and effective cooperation.
In addition, numerous sports facilities built taking into account world standards have been built and are already functioning. Among them: the Olympic water sports complex, the National Olympic Sports Palace, the Sports complex for winter sports, the multifunctional stadium “Ashgabat” for 20 thousand spectators, as well as new modern stadiums for 10 thousand seats, racecourses and dozens of other sports facilities built in all regions. Today, a modern infrastructure is being formed in the country, contributing to the strengthening of the health of the nation, the education of a physically strong and spiritually rich young generation. Everywhere, medical facilities equipped with the latest equipment and providing the population, including the rural ones, with a full range of modern services, and various sports facilities – stadiums, racecourses and other sports facilities, in which all the necessary conditions for effective physical education and sport. As part of the implementation of the “National Program of the President of Turkmenistan on transforming the social and living conditions of the population of villages, towns, cities for the period until 2020”, it is planned to build more than two hundred sport schools for 75 thousand places, more than one hundred sports facilities, as well as reconstruction of 70 existing sports facilities. Projects of all educational and pre-school institutions under construction in the country necessarily include sport halls equipped with modern simulators, basketball and volleyball courts, swimming pools, tennis courts, etc.
Of course, the authority of Turkmen athletes in competitions of world and continental level is also growing. Our athletes regularly participate in international competitions and continue to delight with their high results. This once again testifies to the high sporting authority of our fellow citizens and the success of the “healthy” policy of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
As already noted, sports in Turkmenistan are promoted at a high state level and maintains a healthy lifestyle of the whole society under the noble mottos of sports and health, enthusiasm and friendship. Today, sports for us – powerful social, unifying force, it is intertwined with culture, economy, and diplomacy, which strengthens our country’s place in the ranks of sports powers, while giving a powerful impetus to the development of sports in all over the world.
Hydyrov Abdal, Professor Ph.D.
Head of MBA Department of the
International University for the Humanities and Development