Today, October 22, 2014, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev congratulated the athletes of Kyrgyzstan on their successful performance at international competitions in various sports and awarded them cash prizes.
For their achievements, by the decision of the Head of State, 39 prize-winning athletes and their coaches were awarded one-time cash prizes totaling 3 million 640 thousand soms from the Presidential Fund for Social Protection and Support and 4 million 562 thousand soms from the state budget based on the results of the XVII Asian Games.
Cash prizes were also awarded to international category judges Bakhadyr Kochkarov and Meyrambek Akhmedov, who represented Kyrgyzstan at major sporting events, including World Championships.
The Head of State congratulated and expressed gratitude to the athletes, coaches, and sports judges, noting their contribution to the development of sports in Kyrgyzstan. “You are the pride of domestic sports. The young generation of the country is growing up with your examples. They are proud of you and want to be like you. This is very important for the future of our country,” said Almazbek Atambayev, addressing the athletes.
President Almazbek Atambayev emphasized that thanks to the victories of domestic athletes, the flag of Kyrgyzstan is raised high at international competitions.
President Almazbek Atambayev regretted that there is an increasing trend of using athletes as "shock troops" to solve various tasks by representatives of different political groups and criminal elements. “In most cases, people without special education and coaching experience are involved in the creation of various clubs and sports sections. In this regard, during training sessions, they do not pay attention to the upbringing of moral and ethical principles, focusing only on the development of physical skills. At the same time, they promote values related to material enrichment, which stimulates the growth of criminal activity among their trainees, who see themselves as 'combat units.' There is an 'ideological fracture' in the minds of young people,” added Almazbek Atambayev, emphasizing that there should be no place for crime in domestic sports.
During his speech, the Head of State addressed the measures being taken to support domestic sports. “We must honestly admit that in Kyrgyzstan, sports have been and are funded on a residual basis. This has led to a crisis in national sports. But now we are slowly starting to engage in sports, increasing scholarships for athletes. An agreement has been reached with the leadership of the Russian company Gazprom. In the next 3-4 years, sports and health complexes of two formats will be built in every district center and city. In regional centers, with a useful area of more than 1,000 sq.m., and in district centers and other cities, with an area of more than 700 sq.m. The state will take care of this. I will repeat: this is the future of the country. Only a healthy nation, I emphasize, healthy both physically and spiritually, is capable of creative work for the prosperity and greatness of the country,” noted President Almazbek Atambayev.
Speaking about the significant role of physical culture and sports in strengthening the health of the country's population, President Almazbek Atambayev noted that the state intends to pay attention to the development of mass team sports.
During the meeting, the Head of State also recalled the I World Nomad Games held this year. “You all remember how spectacular the I World Nomad Games were and what a boost of energy these Games gave to the entire country,” said the Head of State.
Addressing the invited athletes, President Almazbek Atambayev urged them to make every effort to win as many licenses as possible to participate in the upcoming Olympic Games, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and to demonstrate the highest skill and will to win at these competitions.
President Almazbek Atambayev also expressed confidence that the state, together with athletes, must make significant efforts to restore the former glory of Kyrgyz sports.
At the end of the meeting, the Head of State wished the athletes perseverance and success in achieving their goals, as well as good health and happiness.
