15.03.2019

Today, Tashkent has played host to a festive opening ceremony of Humo Arena multifunctional ice complex.

The occasion was attended by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The head of our state congratulated the audience on this significant event.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev suggested that in the process of extensive reforms and dynamic transformation in progress in Uzbekistan, special importance is attached to fostering physically healthy and comprehensively advanced young generation, to actively promoting physical culture and sports in the country.

“Everywhere, even in the most remote areas of our native land, a modern and accessible sports infrastructure is being created. In the last two years alone, the number of people practising physical culture and sports has doubled. Uzbekistan’s athletes have earned over one thousand medals, including more than 400 gold ones, at diverse international competitions,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev pointed out.

Today, Uzbek schools of boxing, judo, freestyle wrestling, rhythmic gymnastics, chess and other sports are renowned throughout the world. Our nation has been hosting a growing number of prestigious international contests, including the world and continental championships. The head of our state took the initiative to host the 2030 Summer Asian Games.

“We strive to ensure that Uzbekistan is adequately represented in winter sports, including the most spectacular ones like figure skating, hockey, alpine skiing, freestyle, snowboarding and many others. Among our achievements are gold medals at the Winter Olympics and the World Freestyle Championships, more than 70 medals of figure skaters at the Asian Games and other international competitions. We consider it our duty to continue these glorious sports traditions,” the President noted.

The national flag of our country was raised following the national anthem of Uzbekistan.

The opening ceremony continued with a colorful show program prepared by athletes and artists. Above the ice arena with the use of 3D mapping technology, the image of the bird Humo emerged along with projections embodying the essence and spirit of the sports events to be held in the arena. Sports youth and children pleased the eye with their performances. A friendly match took place between the young hockey players of Uzbekistan and world-class legends. 

Large-scale efforts designed to promote winter sports have been launched in Uzbekistan, which has begun to bear results. Last year, four hockey clubs were set up in the country. In February this year, the first national hockey championship of Uzbekistan started. Recently, our athletes took part for the first time in the World Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

The launch of the modern ice complex Humo Arena opens a new page in the history of Uzbek sports.

This building is unique in its advanced architectural-engineering and construction solutions as well as the level of technical equipment. The arena of the complex is designed for 12,500 seats and is built on the “transformer” principle, which allows the arena and seats to be refurbished within a shortest span of time.

This allows for holding competitions in figure skating, short track, curling and other winter sports, as well as in boxing, futsal, basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, along with concerts, shows, exhibitions, conferences and cultural events.

During the design and construction of the arena, modern requirements in the field of urban planning and environmental safety were taken into account, and energy-efficient technologies were applied.

The conceptual design was developed by the South Korean company Heerim Architects & Planners, while the Austrian Oberhofer Stahlbau contemplated the roof construction. In general, the systems and technologies from such countries as Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, Finland, and Russia were used in the construction and equipment of the building. 

Humo Arena will facilitate training top-class athletes and the organization of major international competitions in Uzbekistan, but crucially, the broad engagement of our young people in winter sports, too. As a multifunctional sports and entertainment facility, the complex is designed to serve the physical and cultural development of people. Similar venues are projected to be built in the future in other regions of the country.

The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation René Fasel, along with celebrated athletes and artists.