The ceremony of raising the flags of Turkmenistan and the Olympic Council of Asia in the Olympic Village

The ceremony of raising the flags of Turkmenistan and the Olympic Council of Asia took place in the Olympic Village in Ashgabat. The event marked another step that moves the day, when the solemn ceremony of opening the V Asian Indoor and Martial Games will take place at the Olympic Village with the participation of dozens thousands of sportsmen, sports fans and spectators, closer.

We expect the arrival of high-ranking honorary guests, heads of states, prominent political figures, and heads of international organization by September 17, when the 2017-Ashgabat Games will start. The delegations of the participants of the V Asian Games have arrived in the Turkmen capital these days.

The Government officials, representatives of the Executive Committee on the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the State Committee for Sports, the sports federations of Turkmenistan, mass media as well as the members of the national team of Turkmenistan, foreign partners and guest to our country took part in the festivities on occasion of the ceremony of raising the State Flag of Turkmenistan and the flag of the Olympic Council of Asia in the Olympic Village.

The symbolism of the ceremony was highlighted with the combination of figures: the flag raising ceremony took place at 17:17 with the participation of 777 athletes.

The festivity started with the welcoming address of the head of the Executive Committee on the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, who underlined the particular importance of the Games under the motto “Health. Inspiration. Friendship”. The Games are remarkable for the fact that the athletes from 17 countries of Oceania will take part in this sports event along with the sportsmen, representing 45 countries in Asia.

Over 6,000 athletes will compete in 21 sports in the framework of the 2017 Asian Games. More than 30,000 foreign guests and hundreds representatives of mass media are expected to arrive in our country. All participants of the upcoming competitions will feel the hospitality and cordiality of the Turkmen people, whose traditions are based on the kind, wise and eternal truths, value orientations.

The State Flag of Turkmenistan was raised under the accompaniment of the solemn melody of the State Anthem.

Then, the flag of the Olympic Council of Asia was raised.

The rising up green Flag of Turkmenistan and the white flag of the Olympic Council of Asia announced on the readiness of the Olympic Village and all organizers, personnel and technical staff of the 2017-Ashgabat Games for the start of the 10-day marathon of mass sports and festive events, scheduled for the end of this week.

The flags of the countries, participating in the 2017 Asian Games were raised.

The festivity was accompanies by musical and dancing performances – artistic dedications to the V Asian Games and the beautiful Turkmen capital, hosting the prestigious competitions.

The President of Turkmenistan personally patronized the preparatory works: from the construction of necessary sports, social and cultural, medical and remedial as well as communication and broadcasting infrastructure to the organization of catering and provision of general security. Particular attention was paid to the creation of the atmosphere of hospitality in keeping with the best national traditions.

A number of presents for all participants and guests have been prepared, musical compositions and poems, works of the decorated and applied arts, various souvenirs were created on occasion of the 2017 Asian Games.

The sculptural compositions dedicated to the Asian Games occupy a special place among these commemorative articles.

One of them is the mock-up of the Olympic stadium in the Olympic Village in Ashgabat that recreates the architectural image of the main arena of the Games that will host the solemn opening and closing ceremonies.

Another composition represents Alabai Vepaly, dressed in a national gown (Don) and cap (telpek) with the Flags of Turkmenistan and the Olympic Council of Asia. He stands in front of the symbolic gates with an inscription in the Turkmen and English languages “Hoş geldiňiz V Aziýa oýunlaryna!” and “Welcome to 5th AIMAG!” (Welcome to the 5th Asian Games!). The inscription - the motto of the 2017-Ashgabat Games “Sagdynlyk. Ruhubelentlik. Dostluk” (Health. Inspiration. Friendship) is encrusted with gold on the malachite pedestal of this figure.

Original composition is dedicated to the equestrian sports. A rider on a ‘flying’ horse overcomes the obstacle - a magnificent sculpture conveys the expressive dynamics of movement, power and energy of the horse, the aspiration of the rider and their merging in a single impulse towards the goal.

The composition depicting two Alabai dogs, wrestling on the belts continues the sports gallery.
Vepaly is also represented as a kickboxer in the ring - in combat gloves and a protective helmet. Vepaly is also good in tennis - ready to hit the ball with a racket.

Two Alabai dogs fight on a wrestling mat, Vepaly throws a ball into the basketball ring, two Alabai dogs in tahya and an elegant suit make a dance movement.

Several compositions are dedicated to martial arts.

Swimming is represented in this collection by the image of a sailboat next to which Vepaly swims along the waves, and Thai boxing is represented by Alabai preparing for the attack.

In the nomination ‘athletics’ we see a runner, who is about to tear the finish ribbon. In the background, the outlines of the most famous architectural masterpieces of Ashgabat, including those that were registered in the Guinness Book of Records, and the silhouette of a horse that adorns the podium of the Olympic stadium rises above them.

Vepaly is powerful in weightlifting competitions: with a smile he lifts a bar, and in the futsal - he is quick and clever, scoring a goal in the opponent's goal.

In the kurash wrestling, everyone’s favorite Vepaly is also determined to make a decisive victory; he is also unpredictable in jiu-jitsu. There is also a composition depicting Vepal during a ball throw in a bowling alley.

The symbol of cycling in this collection, dedicated to the V Asian Games, was the bicycle itself, but presented as a real work of art, and the track is replaced by an elegant bridge.

Of course, foreign guests will love this cute character - the mascot of the Asian Games.

Today, sport is called upon to be an important part of international cooperation. The competitions of such level as the Asian Games are a great holiday for the athletes themselves and for millions of people, who will follow the course of the competition in dozens countries of the world.

Turkmenistan confidently ranks among the countries that are able to host the largest sports events. The upcoming 2017 Asian Games will be a vivid confirmation of our country’s achievements, the integrated and universal nature of its forward movement to the heights of world development, the loyalty to the great values of the modern Olympic movement.