Sports have played an important role in the life of the Turkmen people since ancient times. National wrestling, equestrian competitions, archery were considered an integral part of training young warriors. Today, high performance sports are experiencing a new heyday in Turkmenistan thanks to the attention of the country's leadership.
In recent years, the country has built dozens of modern sports facilities that meet international standards. National teams demonstrate high results at major international competitions. The popularity of mass sports is growing.
A special milestone in the recent history of Turkmen sports was the holding of the XIV World Kurash Wrestling Championship in Ashgabat in November this year. This major event in the world of wrestling martial arts demonstrated the high organizational and sports potential of Turkmenistan.
In this material we will consider in detail the main aspects of the development of physical culture and sports in Turkmenistan, as well as analyze the results and significance of the World Kurash Championship for the image of the country in the world arena.
Building 21st century sports infrastructure in Turkmenistan
In recent years, Turkmenistan has been carrying out large-scale construction of modern sports facilities - stadiums, swimming pools, ice arenas, etc. This construction boom is due to the priority attention of the country's leadership to the development of mass sports and training of professional athletes. This construction boom is due to the priority attention of the country's leadership to the development of mass sports and training of professional athletes.
Thus, only within the framework of the national program of socio-economic development for 2019-2025 it is planned to erect more than 200 sports schools and more than 100 different sports facilities across the country.
The construction of the huge Olympic City in Ashgabat looks particularly impressive. This unique complex with an area of 157 hectares includes more than 30 different sports facilities. Among them are a modern stadium, swimming pools, ice arenas, and martial arts halls.
The construction of such complexes will allow Turkmenistan to claim the right to host major world championships. Already in 2017, the Olympic City hosted the Asian Indoor Games. And in 2023, it hosted the World Kurash Wrestling Championship with great success.
Thus, the active construction of modern sports complexes allows Turkmenistan to confidently declare itself as a new regional center for the development of high performance sports.
Modern sports complex on the Caspian Sea shore
In the port city of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea coast, a modern multi-purpose sports complex started its work in 2021. This sports complex is equipped with state-of-the-art simulators and sports equipment.
The complex includes a universal gym, gyms, martial arts halls, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and outdoor sports grounds. More than 100 types of fitness equipment of the world's leading brands are installed on the territory of the complex. There is modern equipment for athletics, game sports, swimming, as well as for relaxation and recuperation.
It is noted that the complex is designed both for professional athletes, who will be able to train at the highest level, and for amateurs and guests of the tourist zone of Avaza, who will be able to keep fit and improve their health. It is designed to promote the development of mass sports movement in the region.
Capital of Sports: How a Unique Olympic Township Grew in Ashgabat
The most important event in the development of Turkmenistan's sports infrastructure was the construction of the modern Olympic City in Ashgabat. This grandiose complex occupies an area of 157 hectares and includes more than 30 different sports facilities.
The heart of the city is the 20,000-seat Olympic Stadium. The complex also includes swimming pools, ice arenas for hockey and figure skating, and martial arts halls. There are hotels, restaurants, medical centers and other infrastructure facilities.
The uniqueness of the Olympic Campus lies in the fact that all its facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. This applies to both sports facilities and life support systems. Thanks to the latest technical equipment, the complex is capable of hosting the largest international competitions.
The Ashgabat Olympic Campus has already proved to be an excellent arena for the Asian Indoor Games, the World Wrestling Championship and other major international sporting events. And in the future, it may be used as a venue for other level Games, up to the Olympic Games.
Sports No. 1 in Turkmenistan: which sports are most popular
Despite the active development of various sports in Turkmenistan, soccer and wrestling are still the leading sports. These disciplines are most popular among both professional athletes and amateurs.
The Football Federation of Turkmenistan plays a huge role in promoting soccer. With its assistance, numerous competitions for children's and youth teams are organized. Thanks to this, a new generation of Turkmen soccer players is growing up.
As for wrestling, the priority is given to the national sports - Kurash and Gresh. It is in them that Turkmen athletes demonstrate the highest results in the international arena. It is enough to pay attention to the recent 14th World Kurash Championship in Ashgabat. Turkmen wrestlers won a total of 15 medals (5 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze).
In addition to soccer and wrestling, winter sports such as hockey and figure skating are actively developing. To popularize them, a 10,000-seat ice palace was built in Ashgabat in 2011. Interest in water sports is also growing. For this purpose, a modern Olympic water sports complex is functioning in the capital.
Forge of champions: how professional athletes are trained in Turkmenistan
The National Institute of Sport and Tourism (NIS&T) plays an important role in training professional athletes in Turkmenistan. It is the only specialized university in the country that trains personnel for physical culture and sports.
The main tasks of the IIS&T are training of coaches and organizers of mass sports, as well as education of the Olympic reserve.
Over the years, the Institute's graduates have achieved impressive success in the international arena. Among them are multiple world and Asian champions in weightlifting, wrestling and boxing.
The achievements of IIS&T students at the World Kurash Wrestling Championship held in Ashgabat in 2023 are especially noteworthy. Turkmen athletes wonThe team won the largest number of medals of different values - 15! Five of which were gold, six silver and four bronze.
Thus, the National Institute of Sport and Tourism makes an invaluable contribution to strengthening the sporting potential of Turkmenistan and glorifying the country in the world arena.
Asian Games-2017: Turkmenistan's brilliant debut as an organizer of a major sports forum
An important milestone in the recent history of Turkmen sports was the successful holding of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2017. For the first time Turkmenistan was the organizer of such a large-scale regional sports event.
About 5,500 athletes from 62 countries of Asia and Oceania came to Ashgabat. They competed in 21 sports. The central arena of the Games was the Olympic Town erected for the event.
Thanks to excellent organization and modern infrastructure, the Asian Games-2017 were held at the highest level. Numerous foreign guests were impressed by what they saw. Turkmenistan's prestige in the world sports arena has grown significantly.
The success in holding such a large-scale event allowed the country to apply for the organization of new major forums. And already in 2023 Ashgabat brilliantly hosted the World Kurash Wrestling Championship.
Sports Pearl of the Karakum: How the new town of Arkadag is creating an infrastructure for physical fitness activities
Commissioned in 2023, the city of Arkadag is not only remarkable for its state-of-the-art digital equipment. A great deal of attention is also paid to the development of sports infrastructure.
Arkadag's key sports facilities are the Multifunctional Sports Complex and the Aquatics Center. They include multipurpose halls for game types, swimming pools, and training complexes.
It is worth noting that these complexes are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. This applies both to engineering systems and medical equipment for examination and rehabilitation of athletes.
Along with professional sports, much attention is paid to the organization of mass leisure activities for citizens. Fitness clubs operate, and various competitions for amateurs are held.
Thus, Arkadag demonstrates an integrated approach to the development of physical education and can become a model for other new cities of Turkmenistan.
Triumph on the mat: how Turkmenistan brilliantly held the World Kurash Wrestling Championship
A bright milestone in the annals of Turkmen sports in the recent period was the successful holding of the XIV World Kurash Wrestling Championship in Ashgabat in November 2023. This major event in the world of combat wrestling gathered hundreds of participants from five continents.
The undoubted success of the tournament was the bright performance of the hosts of the competition. Having won the largest number of medals in the overall standings, the Turkmen wrestlers brought 5 gold medals, 6 silver and 4 bronze medals to the sports piggy bank of the country.
This success was made possible by years of focused training at national and regional wrestling schools.
As noted by numerous guests of the championship, its holding at a high organizational level was facilitated by excellent conditions of the Ashgabat Olympic Campus. Turkmenistan has once again demonstrated its readiness to host major world sports forums.
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