CDM Seminar Highlights Key Issues for Ashgabat 2017

The Olympic Council of Asia and Ashgabat 2017 produced a series of key findings and recommendations to close the two-day Chefs de Mission Seminar for the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games on Thursday.

Following a second morning of presentations from key areas within the organising committee, the seminar concluded in the early afternoon with a group photo of delegates from Asian and Oceania National Olympic Committees.

Speaking on behalf of the organising committee, Chief Operating Officer Mick Wright thanked the delegates for their "attention, contributions and questions" during the seminar. "We really appreciate the advice and the counsel we have received from the OCA and from the NOCs," he said.

His list of key findings included the Sports Entry deadlines and information, the individual technical handbooks for the 21 sports, procedure for the equestrian-jumping event, access to social media and the journey to Ashgabat, in particular the number of flights and connections and the possibility of charter flights to the new airport.

Summing up on behalf of the OCA, Honorary Life Vice President Mr Wei Jizhong described the seminar as "constructive and fruitful" and highlighted the inter-active thinking between the three main stakeholders: OCA, organising committee and NOCs.

He said the main priority was to bring as many athletes as possible to Ashgabat from the 62 NOCs – 45 from Asia and 17 from Oceania – by way of detailed technical handbooks regarding athlete entries, more convenient flights from around Asia and access to social media, as the likes of Facebook and Whatsapp are blocked in Turkmenistan.

Mr Wei also encouraged the organisers to accommodate the sport traditions of Asia and Oceania during the Games, which will run from September 17-27 with around 3,500 athletes.

"We have to work together to solve our problems with our many experiences," he concluded.

"The OCA will support the NOCs of Asia and Oceania countries and we will help the organising committee in the preparations. Let us work together to deliver a very successful 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games - Ashgabat 2017."

The second morning of the CDM Seminar included presentations on transportation, arrival and departure, logisitics, accommodation,catering, security, protocol, ceremonies, ticketing and broadcast and media services.

Some highlights:

*Organisers are expecting to serve 1.3 million meals during the Games, including 600,000 for spectators, 300,000 for the workforce and 200,000 for athletes and officials from the 62 NOCs. The Main Dining Hall in the Athletes’ Village has a capacity of 1,600.

*The athlete experience at the Opening Ceremony on September 17 will be a maximum of four hours, from the first NOCs leaving the village at 7pm to the last NOCs returning to the village at 11pm. The parade is due to start at 8.40pm and last 45 minutes. Athletes can leave the ceremony at any time, once they have marched in, as the village is walking distance from the 45,000-capacity main stadium.

*There will be 614,000 tickets available for the 160 sessions in 21 sports. The average price for one sports ticket is 7 Manat (2 USD). Children will be allowed in free.

*The Main Media Centre is located next to the Athletes’ Village within the Olympic Complex. Media accreditation will begin on June1 and close on July 16.

In other news:

*Electronic sports will be added as a demonstration sport with three events at Ashgabat 2017. NOCs will receive all the information by the

end of April.

*The OCA Executive Board meeting will take place on September 19 and the General Assembly on September 20. They have been delayed due to the IOC Session in Lima, Peru.

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