The Presidential Olympics commence

A festive melody heralded the beginning of the significant sporting celebration. Entering the stadium were athletes and teams who had successfully advanced through the regional qualifying rounds, as well as world, Asian, and Olympic champions.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, delivered a speech at the event.

“Today, here in this magnificent Olympic Village, which became a symbol of New Uzbekistan, we are launching the Presidential Olympics together. I congratulate all of you on this sports celebration, which is being held in our country for the first time and unites the youth of our nation around the values of the Olympic movement”, noted the Head of State.

From the very first days of reforms, great attention has been paid to the development of physical culture and sports, along with all other sectors.

Over the past eight years, the annual budget allocation for sports has increased from 250 billion UZS to 3 trillion UZS, the average salary of sports coaches has risen sevenfold, and more than 250 major sports facilities have been newly built, while around 100 have been reconstructed.

About 2,000 sports grounds have been established in mahallas, especially in remote villages, and 14 Olympic and Paralympic centers have been equipped with modern infrastructure.

These efforts are creating a solid foundation for the country to achieve high results in prestigious international competitions and secure its rightful place among leading sports nations.

Specifically, at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, Uzbekistan’s brave and heroic athletes demonstrated true courage, finishing 13th. Continuing this triumphant journey, Uzbekistan’s youth ranked 13th at this year’s World University Games and achieved an honorable 2nd place at the Youth Games in Bahrain and the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia.

Most importantly, Uzbekistan’s young men and women have set more than 50 records in the World, Asian, and Olympic games, clearly demonstrating the country’s status in the international Olympic movement.

The Uzbekistan national football team qualified for the World Cup for the first time, a historic event awaited by our people for 34 years.

All compatriots were delighted that two of Uzbekistan’s chess players reached the semifinals of the Chess World Cup simultaneously, and that Javokhir Sindarov advanced to the Candidates Tournament for the World Chess Championship.

“Undoubtedly, the sports history of New Uzbekistan is being written by hundreds of our sons and daughters who possess strong intellectual potential. Glory to such heroic athletes! May the flag of our Motherland always fly proudly above them!” said the President.

It was noted that, as in all other fields, the world of sports is experiencing intense competition today. This requires further improvement of the preparation system for prestigious international sports competitions, including the Olympic Games.

To start this work from the grassroots level – the mahallas – this year, 15 million citizens participated in five-stage mass sports competitions. Thanks to the attention given to adaptive sports, the number of para-athletes has increased nearly sevenfold over the past three years, with more than 70,000 people with disabilities participating in mass sports.

Through digitalization and increased transparency in the sector, boys and girls from all 10,000 schools and 9,000 districts have been allowed to showcase their potential.

Now, a completely new system is being launched to select the most talented young people and guide them into professional sports – the Presidential Olympics.

More than 100 thousand boys and girls from sports sections of general education schools, private sports clubs, and 310 sports schools participated in the district and regional stages of the competitions.

Over 3 thousand young men and women who achieved the highest results came to the Presidential Olympics. They began competing in 10 sports.

Winners will be awarded special prizes and cash rewards. Most importantly, they will be directly selected for the national teams.

To continue high-level training, they will be enrolled in training centers for Olympic and Paralympic sports, with each receiving a scholarship.

In short, the Presidential Olympics, which will now be held annually, will identify new talents and serve as an effective selection platform.

Starting next year, competitions in water sports, cycling, triathlon, fencing, and team sports will also be held, bringing the total number of sports at the Presidential Olympics to 20.

Next year, Uzbekistan will host the 46th World Chess Olympiad, in 2027 the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and in 2029 the Youth Asian Games.

“Such major competitions will become a true celebration and an excellent school of mastery for our people, especially for the youth, and will further strengthen our country’s international reputation as a land of friendship and cooperation. The Presidential Olympics system will undoubtedly serve to select outstanding athletes for participation in these events, including increasing the number of Olympic licenses from each region for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles”, said the President.

The Head of State paused his speech to announce pleasant news. The message about our grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov’s victory in the final of the Chess World Cup was met with enthusiastic applause.

The President highlighted the educational value of sports. He noted that in today’s challenging times, when the influence of various destructive ideas and information pressures is increasing, the task of nurturing a comprehensively healthy younger generation is becoming increasingly important.

“In this, I rely on respected athletes, veterans, and mentors like you, who do not separate sports from education, nor education from sports”, said the President.

Concluding his speech, the President wished the participants of the Olympics success and victory.

The flag of Uzbekistan was brought into the stadium and raised, and the country’s national anthem was played.

The Olympic flame was lit, marking the start of the grand sports celebration. 

The event continued with a theatrical cultural program.

After the ceremony, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a phone conversation with the chess player Javokhir Sindarov.

On his own behalf and on behalf of all compatriots, the Head of State warmly congratulated the grandmaster on his brilliant victory at the Chess World Cup held in India, noting that this historic achievement was a joyful event for the entire nation. He wished the young athlete success at the Candidates Tournament, which will take place next year in Cyprus.