The key facts
- Prize money will grow 2.5-fold: 25 million soums for first place, 12 million for second, 6 million for third
- Winners will be granted annual scholarships starting next year; the payment amounts have not yet been disclosed
- The program will be expanded from 26 to 35 sports; participants are students aged 14–17
Opening of the second Presidential Olympiad
On October 27, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the opening ceremony of the second Presidential Olympiad, held at the Olympic Village in Tashkent. This was reported by the press secretary of the head of state and the presidential press service. This year, more than 3,500 young athletes from the country's regions are competing in 26 Olympic and Paralympic sports; they are accompanied by about 1,500 coaches. After the speeches, the president declared the Olympiad open — the anthem was played, a concert program was held, and the flame of the competition was lit.
New support measures for winners
The key changes will affect the awarding of prizes and the future prospects of participants. From 2027, prize money for winners and medalists will be increased 2.5-fold: 25 million soums for first place, 12 million for second and 6 million for third. Starting next year, winners will begin receiving scholarships for a period of one year; according to Gazeta, the amount of the monthly payments has not yet been specified. Every year, 50 winners will be sent to international training camps abroad.
Admission benefits and program expansion
School graduates who win the Olympiad and set a new Uzbekistan record will be able to enroll in university sports programs without entrance exams and on a state grant basis. In the future, the number of disciplines is planned to be increased from 26 to 35, and the competitions will be held among students aged 14 to 17. Sports schools whose trainees show the best results in their disciplines will be provided with equipment and gear. In addition, the Museum of Olympic Glory, located on Sharaf Rashidov Avenue, will be moved to the Olympic Village — according to the authorities' plan, this will allow young athletes to learn about the history of the Olympic movement and the achievements of Uzbek champions.
Results of performances on the international stage
In his speech, the president also summed up the results of the decade: according to the figures he cited, over the past ten years Uzbek athletes have won 5,518 medals at major international competitions, including 1,675 gold ones — three times more than in the previous decade; about a third of the awards belong to female athletes. At the XX Summer Asian Games in Japan, the national team won 70 medals (21 gold, 25 silver and 24 bronze), taking fifth place in the overall team standings, while at the Asian Para Games it won 145 medals (45 gold, 49 silver and 51 bronze) and third place in the medal standings. The president also noted the national team's victory at the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand — the second in the team's history. Over the past four years, about 20 international tournaments of world and Asian level have been held in the country, and in September–October 2027, Uzbekistan, together with Azerbaijan, will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup for players under 20 for the first time.
