SOCIETY 372 /2017

LIFE & STYLE
REISE
Opening ceremony of
„Ashgabat 2017“
Martial arts contenstants carrying the flag of Turkmenistan
“Ashgabat 2017” – a big success
Fotos:Luca Parisse for Balich Worldwide Shows
In September 2017, the 5 th edition of the AIMAG
– Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games took
place in the Turkmen capital city Ashgabat.
Ashgabat 2017” was the first
major multi-sport event in
the country, and the largest
in the Central Asian
region. From 17 th to 27 th of
September, athletes from 65 delegations
competed in 21 sports in 15 venues.
Represented sport disciplines were
the following: 3x3 basketball, billiard
sports, belt wrestling, bowling, chess,
dance sport, equestrian jumping, futsal,
track and field athletics, indoor tennis,
Ju Jitsu, kickboxing, Kurash, Muaythai,
Sambo, short course swimming, Taekwondo,
track cycling, national Turkmen
wrestling Goresh, weightlifting, sport
wrestling and e-sports.
“The Spirit of Turkmenistan” was the
title of the astonishing opening ceremony.
The show with its 7.631 performers
was an inspiring song to the young generations,
which thanks to education
and culture, will grow stronger, like the
athletes competing in the games. Furthermore,
200 musicians were involved
and 65 horses, 34 camels and one dog
participated in the programme. The set
design was innovative: the key moments
during the show featured an impressive
cylinder, placed in the center of the stadium
that functioned as a source of energy
for the show. It represented the “core” of
the Nation. The central ring – measuring
30 m diameter, was suspended in the air
30 m above the court – was a complex set
of catenary cables spanning the length
and width of the venue. It served also as
a screen for projections and as a support
for aerial performers.
The opening ceremony was held at the
newly built Ashgabat Olympic Stadium.
The 45.000 seater venue, located at the
center of the Olympic complex, is one of a
kind facility and will leave a long lasting
legacy for Turkmen sports. The stadium
has already become an icon in the city
landscape thanks to its unique look and
the towering statue of the “akhal-teke”
horse, a traditional Turkmen symbol.
In the context of these important
games, the wish of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov,
President of Turkmenistan,
was the following: “The love for
sport is the love for life. Sport is the source
of power, vitality and health. May our
sporting prowess and the accomplishments
of Turkmenistan be recognized
throughout the sporting world!”
•
Bike show act at the
opening ceremony
Parade at the opening ceremony
with the famous Akhalteke horses
SOCIETY 2_2017 | 133