Ashgabat Promises World Class Sporting Events At AIMAG 2017

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Bernama) -- Turkmenistan, which will host the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG 2017) in less than 100 days, promised to deliver an unforgettable days of world class sporting competition for athletes from 62 Asia Pacific countries, said its Ambassador to Malaysia Yazkuli Mammedov.

The envoy said that the Games from Sept 17-27 would be a historic moment for the central Asian country as it became the first country in the region to host the multi-sports event in the white-marbled city of Ashgabat, the "pearl of Asia."

"The host city was chosen in Kuwait on Dec 19, 2010 and on July 6, 2013 the flag of the Olympic Council of Asia was officially handed over to the mayor of Ashgabat city. This has caused a wide resonance in the world and has become a landmark event in the life of our country," he said in an article made available to Bernama .

Mammedov said not only would it highlight the importance of sports in Turkmenistan to the world, but AIMAG 2017 would also showcase both traditional and modern artefacts and buildings, with a brand that takes everybody on a journey along the silk route.

"As part of the Silk Road, the region around Ashgabat has been welcoming travellers from Asia for over 2000 years and the Ashgabat 2017 brand will reflect this rich and historic culture," he said.

More than 5,000 athletes, 2,500 coaches, and 10,000 foreign guests are expected to convene in the capital city as athletes compete for 2,000 medals from 21 sporting events, he said adding that the embassy encouraged fans to visit Ashgabat for the Games.

The events are: Chess, Futsal, Tennis, Muay, Sambo, Kurash, Ju-Jitsu, Bowling, Cycling Track, Short Course Swimming 25 m., Basketball 3/3, Weightlifting, Indoor Athletics, Taekwondo, Dance Sports, Kickboxing, Belt wrestling, Wrestling, Billiard Sports, Equestrian (Jumping), and Traditional Wrestling.

The envoy said that Italian--based company, Balich Worldwide Shows, will be producing AIMAG 2017 opening and closing ceremonies, to be held at the newly built 45,000-seater Ashgabat Olympic Stadium, which has become the city's icon due to the towering statue of the akhal-teke horse, a traditional Turkmen symbol.

Mammedov said that the Olympic Village, the largest complex in the region, includes over 30 multi-purpose venues, Paralympic Complex and Medical Rehabilitation Centre as well as social-living, transportation and other infrastructures.

"On Nov 5, 2010 the foundation for the Olympic Village was laid in the Turkmen capital. It boast a cultural centre for athletes' recreation and will also have a community dining room, restaurant, cinema, cafe, museum, library, hairdresser, music studio, shops, post office and other consumer services," he noted.

The Athletes Village, which was designed to accommodate 12,000 people, will house the visiting sportsmen and women, coaches, doctors, technical staff of delegations as well as media representatives during Ashgabat 2017, he added.

The envoy said that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had on Thursday visited the Athletes Village and the state-of-the-art International Broadcasting Centre that would be used by hundreds of domestic and international journalists during their coverage of the event, and has approved the active use of these facilities after AIMAG 2017 ends.

Themed "Health. Inspiration. Friendship", Ashgabat 2017 is the biggest sporting event to be hosted by Turkmenistan since gaining independence 25 years ago.

The Games, formerly known as the Asian Indoor Games, was first hosted by Bangkok, Thailand in 2005.

-- BERNAMA
By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz