UNESCO participates in International Sports Congress in Turkmenistan

UNESCO Representative, Ms. Esther Kuisch Laroche, participated in the international sports congress entitled “Asian Games – 2017: International Sport Cooperation for Peace and Progress” at the national tourist zone “Avaza” in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, AVA Diplomatic reports.

The Congress brought together sport federations and Olympic committees of the countries participating in the 5th Asian Indoors and Martial Arts Games, heads of the Olympic Council of Asia and several famous athletes as guests of honor. The congress was timed to coincide with World Health Day.

H.E. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov delivered the opening speech. Addressing the participants, he stressed that the congress marked an important step in the preparations for the Asia Games, which will be held in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, from 17 to 27 September 2017, under the motto: “Health. Inspiration Friendship.”

The distinctive feature of the 5th Asia Games will be the fact that sportsmen from 17 states of Oceania will participate in the Games for the first time, along with sportsmen from 45 Asian countries. Turkmenistan expects some 6,000 athletes to compete in 21 sports and over 30,000 foreign guests and hundreds of media representatives are expected to attend the Games.

The President of Turkmenistan expressed confidence that the Games would open a new page in the history of the international sports movement, helping to expand and strengthen friendly relations amongst the countries in the region.

The Head of State said that Turkmenistan linked sports and physical education directly to the achievement of the SDGs and to the health, education and well-being of its people. He mentioned the adoption of the 2011-2020 National Plan for Sports and Physical Education of Turkmenistan and said that its implementation was a high priority for Turkmenistan.

In this regard, he proposed to host the 7th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sports under the umbrella of UNESCO.

After the closing of the Congress, all guests participated in the official inauguration of the new sports complex in Avaza by President Berdimuhamedov and received a tour of the facilities.

The day ended with a large outdoor dinner show, featuring Turkmen and international artists and large fireworks, which gave the participants a preview of what to expect at the opening ceremony of the 5th Asia Games in September.