Page 29 - DIVA_1_2017

resi. ent o ur menistan
ndOCA,
arathon,
asketball court,
tadium.

between the Organizing Committee of be held under the motto: "Health. In- Asian Games and looks forward re-
the Asian Games 2017, the OCA and spiration. Friendship' So, in April 2015 ceiving athletes and sports' enthusiasts.
the NOCs of Oceania signed in Ashga- Turkmenistan organised the Interna- In preparation for the Asian Games, a
bat in November 2014, the international tional Sports Media Forum. Then, in mascot was approved -- Alabai, a Turk-
competition will be attended by delega- September there was the meeting of the men dog breed and a friendly puppy -
tions from 45 National Olympic Com- 34th General Assembly of the Olympic depicted in stylised national dress and
mittees of Asia, as well as the 17 NOCs Council of Asia. During this, the Presi- in a tracksuit.
in Oceania. The 21 types of sports in- dent of the Olympic Council of Asia The official brand of the Games, ap-
clude those incorporated in the Asian and the Association of National Olym- proved by the Turkmen president, is
Games programme at the initiative of pic Committee Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fa- a symbolic story about a caravan, for
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhame- had Al-Sabah announced the decision centuries wending its way through the
dov such as Turkmen National Wres- of the Association of National Olym- territory of Turkmenistan. This tour is
tling known as "goresh' and popular pic committees to award the Turkmen depicted in a modern national style,
types of equestrian sports such as show leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov absorbing the features of Turkmen
jumping, will compete with more than with a special award for his outstand- culture and art, and at the same time
5,500 athletes from 62 countries. ing contribution to the development of it presents the present in the country
Competition will take place at the larg- the sports movement and cooperation with the renewed Ashgabat.
est Olympic Village sites, which have in this field. Decorative techniques used for the
no comparable venues in Central Asia. From 19 to 24 September 2016, the brand's design, based on the motifs of
Currently, the almost-completed con- Turkmen capital hosted the Interna- national patterns and ornaments, as
struction works include about 30 build- tional Sports Media Forum, dedicated well as jewellery, which eloquently re-
ings. They are prepared for rigorous to the complex preparations for the V veal the beauty of the nature and iden-
competition and also athletes' leisure. Asian Games. Present were representa- tity of Turkmenistan's cultural heritage
In addition technological equipment tives of the media from 30 countries in a succinct way. The official brand of
has been installed providing informa- who got acquainted with the construc- the Games also serves as an invitation
tion and communications' support as tion of the Olympic Village. to make a journey along the Great Silk
well as a games management system An event dedicated to the 500 days be- Road as a colourful expression for the
operated by the Spanish company fore the start of the Asian Games on 5 world of Turkmen traditions showing
ATOS, the official IT-partner of the May 2016 garnered strong attention its people, its culture, art and modern
International Olympic Committee. Or- during which the President of Turkmen- architecture, demonstrating the crucial
ganised in in the Olympic Village are a istan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, role of sport and its peacekeeping role
number of tournaments, including the together with Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad in Turkmenistan.
Asian Sambo Championship, Turkmen Al-Sabah, President of Olympic Coun- The Games will provide an impetus for
national belt goresh fight, jiu-jitsu, bas- cil of Asia, launched an equestrian path future major sporting events at the in-
ketball competitions, tennis, as well as in honour of the 2017 Asian Games. ternational level in Ashgabat. The suc-
track and field athletics. This is proof of At this event, 17 riders on Akhal-Teke cess of the Games will strengthen the
the Olympic Village's readiness to wel- horses have traversed all regions of the reputation of Turkmenistan, a country
come participants. country and will finish in the capital on that can be trusted to hold major in-
the opening day of the V Asian Indoor ternational sporting events, and will
'Health, Inspiration, Friendship' Games and Martial Arts. provide a strong case for the future
Much attention was paid to mass cov- At present, Turkmenistan is nearing the hosting of major sporting events in
erage of the V Asian Games, which will the finish line in preparation for the Ashgabat.

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT - DIVA 27