On September 17, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the opening ceremony of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat.

Qualitative preparations for conducting this prestigious international sporting event at a high level were carried out in the capital of Turkmenistan. All conditions are created for sports delegations of participating countries, accommodation, preparation for competitions, training and cultural leisure of participants of the games in the Olympic village. 

The head of our state visited the Olympic stadium in Ashgabat. Heads of the states and governments of many countries, the leadership of the Olympic Council of Asia, honorary guests, thousands of sports fans gathered in this magnificent place, which accommodates 45 thousand spectators. 

The opening ceremony of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games began at the Olympic stadium. 

The Asian Games have been officially declared open by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. 

President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah congratulated everyone on the beginning of this sporting event. 

The anthem of the Asian Games sounded, the flag of the Olympic Council of Asia was raised. The fire of the competition is lit. 

Athletes from more than 60 countries are taking part in the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The sports delegations of the participating countries are joining the stadium. 

Delegation of Uzbekistan headed by the silver medalist of the World Weightlifting Championship Ulugbek Alimov, carrying the National flag of the Republic of Uzbekistan, enters the stadium. The fans greeted the athletes of our country with applause. 

Our delegation, 189 sportsmen – experienced athletes who have achieved high results in world and continental championships, various prestigious tournaments, as well as young talents are protecting the honor of the Motherland in competitions on 20 kinds of sports. 

Our country has a rich experience in training athletes who can competently perform at such major sporting events. In particular, the regular games "Umid nihollari" ("Sprouts of hope"), "Barkamol avlod" ("Harmoniously developed generation") and the Universiade, established by the First President of our country, play an important role in upbringing of the younger generation as physically healthy and spiritually developed personalities, training of professional sports masters who are able to worthily defend the honor of the Motherland in the international arena. 

The resolution of the head of our state on training athletes of Uzbekistan for the XXXII Summer Olympic and XVI Paralympic Games of 2020 in Tokyo (Japan) of March 9, 2017 served as an important guide to action for careful preparation of our athletes for the prestigious competitions in Ashgabat. 

We wish success to our athletes in the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. 

UzA