The Presidential Olympics has started

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke at the event.

– Today, in this grandiose Olympic town, which has become a symbol of New Uzbekistan, together with you we are launching the competitions of the Presidential Olympics. “I congratulate everyone on this sports festival, which is being held for the first time in our country and unites the youth of the entire republic around the values of the Olympic movement,” said the head of our state.

From the first days of reforms, as in all other areas, much attention has been paid to the development of physical culture and sports.

Over the past eight years, annual funding for sports has increased from 250 billion soums to 3 trillion soums, the average the salaries of sports coaches increased 7 times, more than 250 large ones were built, about 100 sports facilities were reconstructed.

About 2 thousand sports grounds were built in mahallas, especially in remote villages, 14 Olympic and Paralympic centers are fully provided with modern infrastructure.

These measures create a strong springboard for so that our country achieves high results at prestigious international competitions and takes its place among countries with developed sports.

Particularly at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, our valiant athletes demonstrated true grit and determination, achieving 13th place. Continuing this triumphant path, this year our young athletes took 13th place at the World Universiade, and at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain and the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, they deservedly took 2nd place.

The most important thing is the fact that our boys and girls have achieved more than 50 record results at the World, Asian and Olympic Games, clearly demonstrates the place and prestige of our country in the international Olympic movement.

The national football team of Uzbekistan for the first time received a ticket to the World Championship, which became a historical event for which our people had been waiting for 34 years.

All compatriots were pleased with the fact that two of our chess players simultaneously reached the semi-finals of the World Chess Cup, and Javokhir Sindarov qualified for the Candidates Tournament for the World Chess Crown.

– Undoubtedly, the sports history of New Uzbekistan is created by hundreds of our strong-willed, brave and persistent young men and women with high intellectual potential. Glory to such heroic athletes! Let the flag of our Motherland always fly proudly above their heads! - said our President.

It was emphasized that today in the world of sports, as in all other areas, there is fierce competition. This requires further improvement of the system of preparation for prestigious sports competitions, including the Olympic Games.

To start this work from the lowest level - mahallas, this year 15 million citizens were covered in five-stage mass sports competitions. Thanks to the attention paid to adaptive sports, over the past three years the number of para-athletes has increased almost sevenfold, more than 70 thousand people with disabilities have been involved in mainstream sports.

Due to digitalization and increased transparency of the sphere, boys and girls from all 10 thousand schools and 9 thousand districts have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential.

Now a completely new system is being launched to select the most talented young people and send them to big-time sports - the Presidential Olympics.

At the district and regional stages of competitions More than 100 thousand boys and girls from sports sections of secondary schools, private sports clubs and 310 sports schools took part.

More than 3 thousand boys and girls who achieved the highest results came to the Presidential Olympics. They began competitions in 10 sports.

The winners will be awarded special prizes and cash rewards. And most importantly, they will be sent directly to national teams.

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

In a word, the Presidential Olympics, which will henceforth be held annually, will identify new talents and serve as an effective selection process site.

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

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

– Such major competitions will become a real holiday, an excellent school of excellence for our people, especially young people, and will further strengthen the international authority of our country as a country of friendship and cooperation. The Presidential Olympics system will undoubtedly serve to select outstanding athletes to participate in such competitions, in particular, to increase the number of licenses from each region for the 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles, said our President.

Our Head of State paused in his speech to announce the good news. The message about the victory of our grandmaster Javohir Sindarov in the final of the World Chess Cup was met with thunderous applause.

The President of our country touched upon the educational importance of sport. It was noted that in the current difficult time, when the influence of various destructive ideas and information influences is increasing, the issue of educating a comprehensively healthy young generation is of paramount importance.

– In this I rely on such respected athletes, veterans and mentors as you, who cannot imagine sport without education, and education without sport, - said the President.

At the end of his speech, the President wished the participants of the Olympics good luck and victories.

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

The Olympic flame was lit, a big sports festival started.

The event continued with a theatrical cultural program.

After the ceremony, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had a telephone conversation with chess player Javohir Sindarov.

The head of our state, on his own behalf and on behalf of all compatriots, warmly congratulated the grandmaster on his brilliant victory at the World Chess Cup held in India, noting that this historical achievement was a joyful event for all of us people. I wished the young athlete success at the Candidates Tournament, which will take place next year in Cyprus.