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Special Olympics Uzbekistan hosted the first Central Asian gymnastics competition from 14-18 June 2008 in Tashkent. More than 100 young Special Olympics gymnasts between the ages of 8 and 21 from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, with guest teams from Russia and Great Britain, competed. Thirty-six Special Olympics female athletes competed in rhythmic gymnastics; 40 female and 38 male athletes competed in artistic gymnastics. Judges from the national gymnastics federation officiated.
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Opening Ceremonies, Special Olympics Central Asia Gymnastics Competition. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Uzbekistan |
Medal winners in artistic gymnastics. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Uzbekistan |
A spectacular Opening Ceremonies was held during the evening of 14 June at an outdoor theatre in Tashkent. At least 1,000 spectators, mainly young children with and without disabilities and their families, were truly delighted and excited as the country's top performers, who performed free of charge, put on a show that blended modern and traditional Uzbek music and dance. The show, in which most performers were children and young people, including those with disabilities, was directed by Rustam Shamsutdinov, a leading director of opening ceremonies at top sports and cultural events that are held in the country.
Guests in the audience included Mrs. Svetlana Inamova, Senator, Chairperson of the board of “Soglom avlod uchun” Fund, Chairperson of the board of Special Olympics Uzbekistan; Abdulla M. Achilov, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education and Executive Director, Development Fund of Children's Sport; U.S. Ambassador Richard Norland and his wife Mary Hartnett; Dmitriy Lim, Head of Karavan Holdings and Special Olympics Uzbekistan general sponsor; and Mary Davis, the newly appointed Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, who was on her first official visit.
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Proud gymnasts from Turkmenistan. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Uzbekistan |
Volunteers applaud young gymnasts. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Uzbekistan |
During her visit, Davis had separate meetings with Rustam Kurbanov, Minister for Culture and Sports and President of the National Olympic Committee; Deputy Minister Achilov; and general sponsor Lim, thanking each of them for their support of and commitment to Special Olympics Uzbekistan that has resulted in a national Program that is able to provide services to more than 12,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout the country.
Twenty university students studying language and international economics made up the core group of extremely helpful and welcoming volunteers. “Volunteering is important because it helps everyone,” said Bekrod Nasirov, an economics student, whose words summed up those of his fellow student volunteers. “Human relations on all levels deepen, giving us benefits that cannot be bought because they are invaluable,” he said.
Competition sponsors included the Ministry for Culture and Sports, Ministry of Education, Development Fund of Children's Sport, the Tashkent Mayor and Karavan Holding.
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Special Olympics Uzbekistan athlete Irina Kazak, 20, is a cheeky, high-spirited gymnast from Namangan. She lives with her mother and sister. While she helps her mother with the housework, she likes to dance. Photographer: Martha Jo Braycich, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia |
Special Olympics Uzbekistan athlete Umida Sadikova, 9, is a delicate little girl from Tashkent, who has been training in gymnastics for only two months. Her grandmother, Nartiol Djalilova, brought her to the gymnastics competition. Photographer: Martha Jo Braycich, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia |
Reports about the competition were televised throughout the country.
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