28.08.2024

On August 28, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the winners and medalists of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games. The event was attended by leaders of the National Olympic Committee, sports federations, coaches, athletes' parents, and representatives of state and public organizations.

The 2024 Olympic Games were held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11, with participation from around 11,000 athletes representing over 200 countries. Uzbekistan fielded 90 athletes competing in 19 sports, marking an event rich in records and unprecedented achievements for the country.

President Mirziyoyev delivered a speech, congratulating the athletes on their historic victories:

"Showing great courage and resilience in the most intense competition, you won 8 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals. This is a vivid result demonstrating the high potential for our country's development. This historic victory has once again shown the great achievements that the youth of New Uzbekistan are capable of. Our country ranked 13th in the overall team standings, 4th on the Asian continent, and 1st among Turkic, Islamic countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States. These unprecedented results in Uzbekistan's history have brought great joy to all of us," said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Significant resources were allocated to support athletes and coaches, with changes made to the approach to athlete preparation. During a meeting in August 2021, the goal was set to place Uzbekistan among the top fifteen countries in the upcoming Olympics. This goal was proudly achieved, with Uzbekistan ranking 13th worldwide.

The Financial Times highlighted that Olympic medals and a country's achievements in sports reflect the overall level of development and human progress within the nation.

The significance of each achievement and high score at the Olympic Games cannot be overstated. These grand international competitions, held once every four years, vividly showcase the attention each country pays to sports and the physical and spiritual potential of its people.

The first gold medal was won by Diyora Keldiyorova, making her the first woman in Uzbekistan's history to win a gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games. Another brave young woman, Svetlana Osipova, won the first silver medal in taekwondo, opening a new chapter in the history of women's sports in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan secured two medals in taekwondo for the first time at the Olympics, with the national team achieving its best result in history, placing third in the overall standings. Talented athlete Ulugbek Rashitov became the youngest two-time Olympic champion in taekwondo in Olympic history.

Uzbekistan also achieved the highest number of judo medals in its Olympic history and won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling after a 12-year hiatus. The national boxing team set a new record for the number of gold medals and ranked first in the overall team standings. Of the seven gold medals won by men, five were claimed by Uzbek boxers.

In total, in the heart of Europe, Uzbekistan's national anthem was played eight times, and the country's flag was raised 13 times in honor of its athletes.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the pride these achievements brought to the nation and addressed the athletes:

"In these days, our entire nation is living in the atmosphere of the Independence Day celebration. Your brilliant victories have rightfully become a worthy gift to our most significant and cherished holiday. You have instilled national pride in the hearts of our people. Most importantly, such bright victories inspire and further unite our nation. They serve as a school of courage and glory for our youth. Honor and praise to you!"

The President expressed gratitude to the athletes, their coaches, mentors, and the sports delegation members. He wished strength and success to the resilient athletes participating in the ongoing Paralympic Games.

The meeting also focused on preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Emphasis was placed on strengthening the activities of sports federations for aquatic sports, athletics, cycling, shooting, archery, and gymnastics. The potential of team sports such as field hockey, basketball, handball, rugby, and water polo remains underutilized. There are still many untapped opportunities in Greco-Roman wrestling, equestrian sports, modern pentathlon, triathlon, fencing, and rowing.

It was emphasized that these sports federations must draw the necessary conclusions and undertake extensive preparations for the upcoming Olympics.

In the next four years, large-scale programs will be adopted to prepare athletes. Qualified specialists from abroad in sports medicine, pharmacology, dietetics, psychology, and engineering will be involved in each area. The Olympic Village will implement a special system for competitions and training sessions based on advanced foreign experience. Specialized sports institutions, such as the Bahodir Jalolov and Oksana Chusovitina schools, will be organized in each region for each sport.

Additionally, a special program will be introduced to identify new talents at the local level, especially in mahallas (neighborhoods), and prepare them for international competitions based on targeted selection.

Fifteen Olympic and Paralympic training centers, six Republican schools of higher sportsmanship, and 56 specialized sports schools with the necessary sports infrastructure will be assigned local and foreign coaches.

The President emphasized that the development of mass sports should become an integral part of the national Olympic movement. The government has been tasked with developing appropriate proposals in this area.

According to the Presidential Decree of August 23, 2024, a group of athletes and coaches who achieved high results at the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games in Paris was awarded honorary titles and awards. The event concluded with the presentation of these prestigious awards.

Athletes, coaches, and parents who spoke at the event expressed their gratitude to the President for the high level of respect and attention.