Today, our independent neutral fatherland marked World Heath Day in the atmosphere of high spiritual uplift. Participation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the mass bicycle ride on the occasion of the holiday clearly attested to the acknowledgement of consecutive promotion of sports diplomacy by Turkmenistan as one of the important conditions of peace and sustainable development.
The all-round care of prosperous life of people is a priority vector of the state policy of the country. At present, this creative strategy, the foundation of which was laid by National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero-Arkadag, is consistently realised by Arkadagly Hero Serdar. In this connection, the special attention is given to public health care, development of mass physical training and health improvement and popularisation of practice of various sports.
According to the Government program «Saglyk», developed under the leadership of Hero-Arkadag, our country carries out in the given sphere a large-scale work focused on increase of life expectancy of people, encouragement of physical training and sports, strengthening of principles of healthy way of life in society. With these goals, Turkmenistan has constructed and constructs projects of medical, sanatorium and sports infrastructure answering to the international standards.
As a result of the transformations, which are carried out in the sphere of sports under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, modern stadiums, sport centres and other profile objects are regularly put in operation in the country. The capital multipurpose Olympic village can serve the best example for it. It hosted successfully the 2017 V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. A number of other large international competitions were also held there. It is of great importance both for perfection of skill of our sportsmen, and for augmentation of authority of our land on the world scene.
A complex of modern sports objects in Arkadag city, which has been erected in the picturesque foothills of the Kopet Dagh and has no analogue in the region, also attest to fact that the state creates ample opportunities for physical and spiritual perfection of the population, especially the younger generation.
Sports events, including bicycle marathons held regularly in our country on the occasion of World Health Day not only promotes consolidation of principles of healthy way of life in society, but also shows successful realisation of international initiatives of Turkmenistan on development of cycling sports as well as growth of the international authority of our fatherland. And participation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in such mass events increases their importance.
Today, the sports diplomacy, which plays an important role in modern international relations, is one of the strategic areas of the foreign policy of our state. Along with development of sports at world level, the activity in the field is aimed at strengthening the peaceful, friendly, brotherly dialogue between the countries and the people. Turkmenistan, which puts forward consecutive initiatives on conduction of large international competitions and mass sports events, is recognised as the state, which effectively uses the diplomatic potential of sports in maintenance of stability in the region and all over the world.
Guided by national and universal interests, our independent neutral fatherland calls for consolidation of the international efforts. Establishment of World Bicycle day in 2018 by the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization at the initiative of Turkmenistan is one of the significant achievements of national sports diplomacy at world level. It is also necessary to point out that in 2022 at the proposal of our country, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Resolution «Integration of mass bicycle movement into the system of public transport for achievement of sustainable development».
These initiatives visually show that sports serve as an effective tool not only for strengthening physical health, but also for maintenance of universal peace, sustainable development and ecological safety. An active participation of foreign representatives in sports actions held in our country - visible acknowledgement of embodiment of the principle «peace through sports» that promotes enrichment of interstate cultural-humanitarian cooperation by the new maintenance.
… in the morning at the monument "Bicycle" located on the crossing of the avenue of Chandibil and Bekreve street where the bicycle marathon started, participants of the festive event gathered. Among them - chairwoman of the Mejlis, deputy-chairmen of the Cabinet, heads of ministries, branch departments, khyakimlik of Ashgabat city, public organisations, mass media, as well as rectors of higher educational institutions. In the cycling marathon, organised on the occasion of the significant date, heads and representatives of diplomatic representative offices of foreign states accredited in our country and international organisations also took part.
Among the gathered – sportsmen of the national bicycle team of Turkmenistan, students, schoolchildren of the School for training young Olympians and comprehensive schools, schoolchildren of the Palace «Döwletliler köşgi», representatives of the public.
All warmly welcome President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
Workers of art and culture perform the vocal-choreographic composition with inspiration.
Having given a started to the mass bicycle ride, the head of the state headed a column of its participants.
Following the example of the President of Turkmenistan all started to ride along avenues of the white marble-coated capital - Chandibil and Bitarap Turkmenistan.
Along the line of the bicycle race, colourful performances of actors and creative groups who glorified noble causes of the head of the state were organized and all this greatly inspired participants of the sports action.
As known, bicycle races are one of the widespread forms of socially significant actions, held in many countries to support social and ecological projects. The number of the citizens, who take part in the annual similar actions, constantly grows in Turkmenistan.
Cycling allows combining physical activity with rest in the open air and is accessible to people of all ages. Regular practice of this sport promote the strengthening of cardiovascular system, increase of general endurance of the organism.
Besides it, cycling promotes in certain degree achievement of goals of sustainable development. In the given context, the initiatives of Turkmenistan on advancement of «green" agenda are organically combined with general efforts, in particular, on struggle against climate change. In that regard, bicycle races are represented as unique example of ecological diplomacy and uniting force of sports.
Sports with its growing role in public life make an essential impact on formation of outlook of the younger generation. Bicycle rides positively influence health and harmonious development of children, and promote their social adaptation.
In Turkmenistan, a huge significance is attached to issues of strengthening health of the rising generation. Our young citizens who needing the state support are surrounded with the special attention and care. Thus, it is necessary to note the large-scale activity of the Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov created at the initiative of Hero Arkadag.
Having defined consolidation of principles of healthy way of life in society as one of the strategic areas of the state policy, Hero-Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar regularly find time for practice of various sports, setting an example to compatriots. All it inspires our sportsmen into victories at international competitions. Their achievements confirm efficiency of the measures adopted in the country in the field, and strengthen the authority of our native land on the world sports arena.
President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkmenistan, head of the state Serdar Berdimuhamedov pays priority attention to popularisation of the Olympic movement in our fatherland. Today, Turkmenistan actively uses the peace-making potential of sports not only at the regional, but also at the global scale.
Within international sports cooperation, our state develops constructive relations with the International Olympic Committee, United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee on Physical Education and Sports, the Olympic Council of Asia. Unanimous election of Turkmenistan as a member of the above-named Intergovernmental committee of UNESCO for 2023-2027 became another acknowledgment of success of national sports diplomacy. And declaration of Ashgabat as the City of new sports possibilities of the Commonwealth is one more recognition of the huge contribution of our fatherland in development of regional interaction in sports.
Celebration of World Health Day widely speaks of the fact that our country has entered into the new stage of integration into the international sports space. The given strategy is aimed at strengthening the "trust dialogue» and consolidation of mutual understanding between cultures by means of sports.
The sports diplomacy realised by Turkmenistan can be characterised as a bright embodiment of well-known words of the founder of the modern Olympic movement Pierre de Coubertin from him «Ode to sports». In this hymn, goals of peace, creation, development, pleasure and principles of healthy way of life as well as spirit of aspiration of the youth to victory are expressed by a phrase:
«O sports! You - peace!»
The motto of the Olympic Games « Faster, Higher, Stronger- together!» confirms that sports are of great importance in strengthening solidarity and friendship between people.
As known, cycling - one of the Olympic sports. In turn, the bicycle is the most non-polluting type of transport. Therefore, choosing it as means of transport, riding and sports practice, the individual not only strengthens health, but also brings his contribution to environmental preservation.
The Turkmen people throughout centuries have generated original traditions of solicitous attitude to nature and life in harmony with it. These principles receive worthy continuation in the Era of Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state.
Today, noble initiatives of Hero-Arkadag on maintenance of ecological well-being in the country are consistently realised under the leadership of Arkadagly Hero Serdar. Careful preservation of nature – decoration of our fatherland, further improvement of the state of environment and population’s living conditions are defined among state policy priorities.
With a view of maintenance of ecological well-being at the national and global levels, in Turkmenistan the long-term complex national forestry program is successfully realised. In the present period, mass planting of saplings in various corners of the country, including in the capital and its vicinities has become a noble tradition. During the national tree planting actions held during spring and autumn seasons with wide participation of the public, millions saplings are annually planted.
Turkmenistan also increases international cooperation in the field of ecology. Having joined tens of conventions of the United Nations Organization on environment, our country shows a responsible approach to the solution of issues facing the world community in the field of sustainable development.
In the course of the bicycle marathon, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as always displayed excellent physical and sports training and confirmed advantages of active and healthy way of life in practice.
The mass bicycle marathon held on the occasion of World Health Day finished in the city centre, near the Palace «Rukhyet».
Here, addressing participants of the action, the head of the state underlined the necessity of continuation of complex work to involve broad masses of population, and especially the youth, in regular practice of physical training and sports and to promote principles of healthy way of life in society.
Members of the Cabinet once again warmly congratulated President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag on World Health Day widely marked in our country.
Then, having wished participants of the bicycle race sound health and successes, the head of the state warmly said goodbye to all and left the place.
Thus, the mass bicycle marathon, which was held in the capital, clearly attested to coherence and unity of our people, adherence of our independent neutral fatherland to everlasting humanistic values, peace-loving policy and chosen creative way. This sports action confirmed again that the health of every citizen is the highest value of the state.
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Today on the occasion of World Health Day mass bicycle rides, along with Ashgabat, were organised in Arkadag city and in all velayats of the country. Round-table meetings, scientific-practical conferences, competitions and demonstrative shows in different sports, educational, physical and health improving and cultural actions, which brought together the youth of higher educational institutions, workers of establishments and enterprises and sportsmen together, were also timed to the festive date.
