Turkmenistan President Welcomes Asian NOC Leaders -- On the Scene

(ATR) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov says Ashgabat will announce itself as a major international sporting city when it hosts the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

The Turkmenistan president'sdeclaration to Asian NOC sport leaders came at the opening of the 34th Olympic Council of Asia general assembly in the capital city.

"I think it is of great significance in developing sport in the Asia region," he said, while thanking OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and the confederation for awarding the Games to Ashgabat.

Looking ahead to the 5th AIMAG next year, which will feature athletes from 45 Asian and 17 Oceania NOCs competing together in 21 sports, he said: "Physical education and sports is one of the priorities of our successful state."

He spoke of the "national program to support and develop physical culture and sport in Turkmenistan for 2011-2020."

The president also provided details of the city’s new Olympic complex where the opening ceremony took place which has been constructed for the 5th AIMAG and future sports use. At an estimated cost of $5 billion and covering 157 hectares, the complex boasts 30 sports, social and cultural facilities.

Sheikh Ahmad affirmed his faith in the Turkmenistan president and AIMAG organizers delivering successful Games in the capital city come 2017."We believe the Games will not only benefit our athletes, but also help the city and country to develop themselves," he said.

"Since signing the host city contract in 2010, you can see in those five years where we are sitting in the Olympic Village surrounded by beautiful sports facilities, hotels and accommodation,"said the OCA president.

"There will be a future of hosting more international events," he said.

Sheikh Ahmad presented the country's president with the ANOC Merit Award for his role in bringing together the OCA and global Olympics body in the historic sporting collaboration.

The Turkmen president concluded: "We have great confidence we will hold the Games at a high level of competition and we greatly value the cooperation of the OCA in preparation for the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games."

Following the opening ceremony, delegates, OCA staff members and guests enjoyed an official dinner in the salubrious ballroom of the ultra-modern Yyldyz Hotel.

Ashgabat to Host UCI World Indoor Cycling Championships?

Russian Cycling Federation president Igor Makarov has proposed Ashgabat to host the 2017 UCI World Indoor Cycling Championships.The Turkmenistan capital already has a world-class velodrome in place, with a seating capacity of 6,000, recently completed in the city’s new Olympic complex.

Makarov, who founded the Russian cycling team Katusha in 2008 and is an influential figure in the sport, suggested the plan during Tuesday’s opening ceremony.

UCI president Brian Cookson was in attendance as the proposal was made.

Turkmenistan president Berdimuhamedov greeted the proposal with enthusiasm, noting it was a "great idea" that the central Asian city could land another major international sports event.

Reported in Ashgabat by Brian Pinelli

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