Efforts of Turkmenistan to promote sports and healthy lifestyle

Initiatives as Sport for Peace and Development as well as Physical Education and Sport are achieving its purposes with high efficiency by giving valuable contributions to wellbeing. Priorities of the world community are clear evidence of that. 2017 the Year of health and inspiration – it was declared by the people of Turkmenistan. Entirely consistent with focuses of United Nations’ lead agencies, the country exerts every effort to raise awareness of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace and actively promote the principles of healthy lifestyle.

It is carried out for several years now since first launch of the month of masse sports activities and socio-cultural events devoted to the International Day of Sport. The last April 2016 was held under the slogan “Health and Happiness”. The action, which has become an annual tradition and timed to World Health Day is aimed to actively promote the principles of healthy lifestyle in society,
to popularize and develop physical culture and sports, strengthen international cooperation in this field. The action is held entirely in the country.

“Health. Inspiration. Friendship.” - it is the motto of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games which will take place 17-27 September 2017 in Ashgabat, the first time in Central Asian country. The ancient fortress of Nisa, which was declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007, was the place of start on 5th May 2016 of the 500-days horse ride before the beginning of the Games.
A group of 17 riders on Akhal-Teke horses are running through all five Velayats (regions) of the country spending 100 days in each of them. The Horse marathon has been designed to be a great reflection of rich culture, historical and cultural heritage, traditions and customs and the current high achievements and successes of the people. The final phase of the horse marathon will take place in the territory of Mary Velayat (Ancient Merv has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999). The ceremony of the lighting of the torch of V Asian Games will be held in the country’s largest gas field at Galkynysh. Thereafter, the equestrian team will take the torch to Ashgabat where the flame of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games will be ignited.

In addition to 45 Asian countries, for the first time in the history of the AIMAG, athletes of the Oceania (17 countries) will participate in the Games, bringing the participating countries to 62. They will compete in 21 kinds of sports owing to newly included “Turkmen traditional wrestling Goresh” and “Equestrian Jumping” to the competition schedule of the Games in addition to the 19 sports originally involved in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

Observance of rules of the International Convention against Doping in Sport is also primary goal of the Games. In order to ensure fulfillment of obligations under the Convention, Turkmenistan in a close collaboration with the WADA held the training seminar for national anti-doping inspectors. Turkmen specialists who had attended this training seminar received the certificates of doping control officers.

At the same time the Executive Board of the Central Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization held its regular meeting in Ashgabat , where was reviewed the progress in implementing the anti-doping policies in the region, joint programs and education projects in this area.

At the same time the Association of National Olympic Committees recognized the head of the state for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of sport in Turkmenistan and presented him the ANOC Merit Award.

Consequently, the conformity of the priorities of Turkmenistan with the Universal Principles of the International Charter for Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport testifies its support and contribution for initiatives as well as willingness to enhance co-operation in these fields.