The key facts
- The second Presidential Olympiad opened on October 27 with the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
- More than 3,500 young athletes are competing in 26 Olympic and Paralympic sports, with 1,500 coaches working with them.
- According to the presidential press service, over the past year athletes won 5,518 medals, of which 1,675 were gold — three times more than in previous years.
Opening of the Second Presidential Olympiad
On October 27, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the opening ceremony of the Presidential Olympiad, which is being held for the second time. The head of state congratulated young athletes, coaches and sports figures on the start of the competitions, Kun.uz reports citing the presidential press service.
The scale of the competitions and the president's address
This year, more than 3,500 young athletes from various regions of the country are taking part in the competitions. They are competing in 26 Olympic and Paralympic sports, accompanied by 1,500 coaches. Addressing the participants, the president noted that each of them had come to the field 'with their own dream, their own goal and, most importantly, great faith in victory,' and expressed confidence that among the young men and women competing today, champions and record-holders will grow who will amaze the world tomorrow. Mirziyoyev also emphasized that in recent years a comprehensive system has been created — from mass sports to professional sports, from selecting talented children to preparing for international competitions — and that this work is based on the aspiration to raise children to be healthy, strong-willed and independently thinking individuals.
Achievements against the backdrop of the opening
The president's speech cited summary figures of the country's sporting successes. According to the data presented, over the past year athletes won 5,518 medals at major international competitions, of which 1,675 were gold — three times more than in previous years; a third of the medals went to female athletes. Among recent successes, the victory of the men's chess team at the World Chess Olympiad recently held in Samarkand — the country's second such title — was mentioned, as well as the performance at the XX Summer Asian Games in Japan, where the Uzbekistan team, with 21 gold, 25 silver and 24 bronze medals (70 in total), took fifth place in the overall medal standings. The president stated that such results strengthen confidence in achieving any goals.
