OREANDA-NEWS. April 7, 2009. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov accepted the congratulations of the high-ranking officials – the Speaker of the Mejlis, Vice Premiers, heads of the military and law enforcement agencies on receiving the high award of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) – the Order of Honour.

Those speaking at the meeting noted that this high award was another evidence of international recognition of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s contribution to developing the sports movement that acquired unprecedented scale and significance in Turkmenistan that was illustrated by dozens of sport complexes and stadiums constructed and under construction throughout the country. The Turkmen leader’s personal example and his credo “a sound mind in a sound body” created powerful incentives for thousands of young people of Turkmenistan for whom physical culture and sport became an integral part of their everyday life helping to build the character and gain new accomplishments in studies, labour and professional development.

It was deeply symbolical that the leader of Turkmenistan received the Order of Honour of the Olympic Council of Asia on the eve of World Health Day that was widely and solemnly celebrated throughout the country and highlighted the major trends in the national policy including sports development prioritized by the President of Turkmenistan.

Thanking for the heartfelt congratulations and wishes Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on Turkmenistan’s adherence to the national development strategy that assigned primary importance to the interests, health and welfare of the people.

The President emphasized that in Turkmenistan special attention would be further paid to development of physical culture and sports as an essential factor to promote people’s health and strengthen the principles of the healthy lifestyle in the society. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that stadiums, motordroms, sports facilities and complexes offering the comfortable conditions for doing different sports would be further built in the capital and the regions of the country.

In conclusion the President congratulated those present on World Health Day and wished happiness, welfare and inexhaustible vigour.