NEWS
THE WORLD BICYCLE DAY IS WIDELY OBSERVED IN TURKMENISTAN
Turkmenistan observes the World Bicycle Day, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly by initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, with big celebration events.
Support of proposals of Turkmen leader by the UN was a bright evidence of high assessment and recognition of success of our country in development of sports, popularization of the Olympic values and physical and health improving movement, ecological culture as world outlook targets of society.
The Head of the State started very good and efficient tradition to public cycling races in the country, which unite thousands of Turkmen citizens and not only them. In addition, foreign diplomats and businessmen participate in these activities in Ashgabat.
The Embassies of Turkmenistan to other countries also organize cycling days, to which residents of many cities in the planet are attracted. Therefore, the World Bicycle Day is an international holiday, which opens wide opportunities of sport as a messenger of peace and friendship.
… Early in the morning, thousands of residents of the capital have gathered at the intersection of Chandybil Avenue and Bekreve Street, where the Bicycle Monument has been raised.
Members of the Government and Mejlis, military and law enforcement agencies, ministries and departments of the country, various institutions and mass media, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan, directors and students of universities of the capital were among the participants.
The President of Turkmenistan has come to place of start of public cycling race. The Head of the State has opened the Bicycle Monument in celebration atmosphere. Coloured balloons were set off to the sky.
The President addressed the participants with greeting speech. Having congratulated all participants of the event on the World Bicycle Day and opening of the monument in our capital on occasion of this day, Turkmen leader noted big efforts, which are put in our independent state for bringing of physical training and sports to the world level, strengthening of health of the nation through assertion of principles of healthy life style in society, upbringing of physically fit and spiritually rich youth.
Therefore, the President continued, development of sports of the highest achievement and international cooperation in this sphere are the main directions of the government policy.
Neutral Turkmenistan actively proposes important initiatives in competent international organizations, sees significant resource of expansion of strategic partnership with the United Nations in the sports, the Head of the State highlighted, having reminded that special Resolution on declaration of June 3 as the World Bicycle Day has been adopted at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly on April 12, 2018.
Taking this Resolution, the United Nations confirmed the recognition and full support of propaganda of importance of bicycle by international community as well as organization of cycling marathons as important method of physical and spiritual development. The Head of the State made special mention that this is the evidence of high assessment and support of the policy of our country, which is aimed at strengthening of peace, friendship and fruitful cooperation.
We pay special importance to organization of cycling races as a form of popularization of eco-friendly transport and cycling, the President of Turkmenistan continued, having reminded that the largest cycling awareness lesson, which was registered as the world record, took place in Ashgabat on occasion of the World Cycling Day in 2018.
The longest single line bicycle parade, which was also listed in Guinness Record Book, took place in Ashgabat Olympic village last year, the Head of the state said.
These days, in the year of “Turkmenistan – Home of Neutrality”, we have gathered for the opening ceremony of the Bicycle Monument, which will decorate our capital, for perpetuation of the World Bicycle Day in our country.
The President expressed confidence that having left joyful feelings and unforgettable impressions, this historical event would be an example of our activity for improvement of the strive of the population to go in for sports and physical training.
Being the member of International Olympic Committee and Asian Olympic Council, our country makes deserving contribution to development of the Olympic movement, the Head of the State noted. We will have the World Track Cycling Championship in cycling track of Ashgabat Olympic village in 2021.
This is visual evidence of fruitful cooperation of our country with international sport organizations including with International Cycling Union, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted.
The Head of the State has also said that having joined international documents in ecological sphere, Turkmenistan works efficiently on environment protection and wide implementation of the principles of healthy life style.
Having congratulated everybody on current wonderful celebration – the World Bicycle Day, which consolidates society on the way to achieve high targets, Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished: “Let this joyful day will remain in our memory forever!”
The President addressed wishes to be healthy and physically fit as well as peaceful and prosperous life, achievement of success to all participants of the event.
Monumental composition reflected rich history and current achievements of Turkmenistan, which is in the heart of new Silk Road. In this regard, the monument to the bicycle was built in the shape of the Globe and symbolizes irreplaceable trace of Turkmen nation in the history of humankind.
Olive branches embodying neutrality of our state, fast ahalteke horses and figures of cyclists are pictured in sculptural composition. This artistic composition embodies commitment of Turkmen people to human values and international sport movement.
The President of Turkmenistan gave assignments to relative officials on proper maintenance of the monument and development of surrounding territory, having requested to hold these subjects under permanent control.
After, the President of Turkmenistan has given start to cycling race and led the column. Following the head of the state, the members of the Government and all participants of the celebration have set off. Popular singers and art collectives have performed along entire track supporting enthusiastic emotional moods of the event with music and dance.
Movement of cycling column among the roads of the capital with magnificent white-marble buildings giving parade and bright look to the main city of the country with its architecture was very spectacular. 12-kilometer race has finished at the State Tribune.
In addition to cyclists, pedicabs, which carried famous cultural personnel, masters of Turkmen art and literature, took part in the race. In general, 7,400 people took part in public cycling race in the capital. Diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan in foreign countries, which organized similar races all over the world , as well as national cycling federations, numerous supporters in different countries have joined celebration of the World Cycling Day.
In Ashgabat, sport activities were continued in the Olympic village where President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov have come with his grandson Kerim, who also joined cycling marathon on the main leg. Physical training and sport lessons took pace in the complexes of the Olympic village.
All facilities have been utilized, necessary appliances for football, volleyball, basketball, tennis and other sports have been provided. Fitness training, chess tournaments have also taken place. Everyone was able to choose own direction according to personal preferences.
In the Olympic village, the Head of the State have had a meeting with representatives of diplomatic corps accredited in Ashgabat, during which it was highlighted that strictly following undertaken obligations, our country approach international partnership with full responsibility, giving priority to cooperation with the United Nations Organization and its agencies.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to the participants for their important input to development of this constructive cooperation for the interests of the country, region and world community as well as for active participation in all important events.
It is worth to mention that grandson Kerim has also taken part in the meeting with representatives of international organizations accredited in Ashgabat. During the meeting, the Head of the UNICEF Representative Office had a talk to him, having expressed interest in his study and favourite subjects.
The grandson of the President of Turkmenistan noted that at present time, big importance is given to deep study of foreign languages in all secondary schools of the country. At the same time, Russian and English languages are mandatory in school programme. Kerim also informed that some specialized schools have a deep study of Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean and French languages.
The UNICEF representative highlighted that Turkmenistan pays special attention to making of necessary conditions for harmonic development of generations, especially to early children development as well as to deep study of sciences and foreign languages by youth and high appreciated English pronunciation of Kerim.
Representatives of competent international organizations did various sport exercises in the gyms of the complex. They have also visited the bowling of the Olympic village.
The Head of the State has also had a meeting with members of Turkmenistan Billiard Federation, which have significant success in international competitions last time.
Our billiard players have demonstrated good result at the Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games in Ashgabat in 2017. Back then, our team, composed of 15 people, have competed for the first time at such competitions, having won two gold, one silver and four bronze medals.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited training rooms with seven billiard tables for different varieties of the game – English snooker, American pool, French carambola and Russian pyramid. The latter is the most popular in Turkmenistan. These were the competitions where our team have won second team place among 21 countries at 2017 Asian Games.
The Head of the State has demonstrated high skills, virtuosic strike technique, having played a game with his grandson Kerim who also demonstrated good level, skills to use various billiard techniques.
The participants have been watching this captivating game between the Head of the state and his grandson with great interest. Kerim was combining sharp, sniper blows with the rod with soft and spinning ones achieving necessary trajectory of balls in complicated situation at the field.
Having finished the game, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov have spoken with Russian Ambassador, having shared the opinions on important place of the sports in agenda of bilateral cooperation, its role in development of friendship and humanitarian dialog.
Professional billiard players have demonstrated master class for high-rank guests of the Olympic village, having shown correct posture, position of body of player over billiard table, how to set the rod and hand, technical features for different blows.
After, they have played full game. This game makes players showing their intellectual and physical abilities, improves space coordination, logic and thinking, the Head of the State noted in the conversation with foreign ambassadors.
The President of Turkmenistan attracted Chairman of Turkmenistan Billiard Federation, Honoured Coach of Turkmenistan Batry Ashyrov to join the conversation. He expressed gratitude to the Head of the State for support and attention.
Successful performance of national billiard team at the V Asian Games supported the promotion of this sport and increment of number of youth expressing interest in billiard. This game is also very popular on amateur level, among the population of various age. Turkmen citizens play billiard with pleasure in all cultural, entertainment and health improving centres built in all regions of the country.
National Billiard Centre was officially founded in 2012 and Billiard federation of the country has been established on its base in 2015. As of today, the organization includes 500 members – representatives from all regions of the country. National team includes 70 sportsmen.
Local tournaments, Cups and championships are held on regular basis; Turkmen billiard players go to international competitions gaining necessary practice. Sportsmen of national team participates in Asian and World championships, other big competitions where they win prizes. Thus, representative of our country took the third place at the Free Pyramid World Cup 2018.
Entry of Turkmenistan to the world billiard arena, undoubtedly, will support popularization of this beautiful sport, which is also called as a chess on the move.
Exclusive billiard cue have been presented to Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as a sign of recognition for comprehensive support of sport development in the country.
The meeting was finished with common picture of all participants. Certain pictures of the President of Turkmenistan with billiard players were taken for memory and history of the Federation.
Having congratulated everybody on the World Bicycle Day, the Head of the State wished health, success and prosperity to all participants and left the place of event.