Dear Participants of the International Competition!
Honorable Guests!
I sincerely congratulate you on the opening of the International Chess Tournament among athletes aged 8, 10, and 12, being held on the hospitable Turkmen soil in the International Year of Peace and Trust!
I am confident that this tournament, which will become a significant event in the sports history of Turkmenistan, will greatly strengthen international cooperation in the field of sports, promote the ideals of peace and friendship, and help popularize and affirm the principles of the Olympic movement, while allowing young chess players to improve their skills and abilities.
We attach great importance to the development of physical education and health culture in our independent, neutral Turkmenistan, as well as to elite sports by training strong athletes, coaches, and specialists. Guided by the noble traditions of our ancestors, we regard sports as an essential area of international partnership and an effective tool in strengthening friendly relations between peoples.
Dear Tournament Participants!
In the era of the Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State, sports infrastructure – multifunctional stadiums, physical education and health complexes, sports schools, and more – is being actively developed across our country, including in the cities of Ashgabat and Arkadag.
By putting forward relevant initiatives from the rostrum of the United Nations, independent and neutral Turkmenistan, as a member of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia, is making a significant contribution to strengthening the international sports dialogue and promoting the Olympic movement. At the same time, all necessary conditions are being created in our country for hosting major international sporting events at a high level, including the Asian Games, continental championships and world championships.
The reforms we are implementing in the sphere of sports are widely recognized at the international level. This is clearly evidenced by the adoption, at Turkmenistan’s initiative, of the UN General Assembly Resolution United Nations Friendship Games at its 78th session, the designation of Ashgabat as the City of New Sports Opportunities of the Commonwealth at the CIS Heads of Government Council meeting, and the recognition of the Tennis Complex in the Olympic Village as the Training Center of the Asian Region by the Asian Tennis Federation.
Dear Participants of the International Competition!
Chess has been mentioned in ancient epics and Turkmen folk tales – it has been known since ancient times. Today, it has not lost its popularity. Chess has also gained broad recognition as a sport included in the program of the grand sporting event inscribed in golden letters in our history – the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. In the past, this game was known as Sadranç or Shahmat – originally invented as a form of entertainment, it later evolved significantly.
Children who start learning chess at an early age – 5 to 8 years – can become more successful, as they more easily memorize and master complex strategies and combinations.
One must always strive to refine one’s skills, as the path to mastery inevitably requires effort and diligence. In this journey, a knowledgeable mentor plays a key role – one who can help chart the most effective learning objectives. This is a fundamental condition for future success.
Our ancestors, who lived on the ancient Turkmen land at the heart of the Great Silk Road, placed great emphasis on the all-round development of the younger generation, particularly through the game of chess. Today, our chess players perform brilliantly at major international tournaments, winning prizes – and we are truly proud of their achievements.
Dear Participants of the International Competition!
Honorable Guests!
I am convinced that during the International Chess Tournament among juniors aged 8, 10, and 12, held at the Specialized Chess and Checkers School in the capital on the occasion of Ashgabat being declared the City of New Sports Opportunities of the Commonwealth, our foreign guests will experience the warmth and hospitality of the Turkmen people, leaving them with fond memories of our sunny country.
Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on the opening of the International Chess Tournament among athletes aged 8, 10, and 12! I wish you strong health, great success in sports, and in life!
May this wonderful sports celebration glorify friendship, health, and the high spirit around the world!
President of Turkmenistan
Serdar Berdimuhamedov
