President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Morinari Watanabe paid an official visit to Ashgabat today and was impressed by the sports infrastructure of Turkmenistan's capital, Turkmenportal reports.
After inspecting the gymnastics halls in the Olympic City, Watanabe noted the huge potential of young Turkmen athletes and expressed readiness to support their development.
- You have very good opportunities and also a lot of talented children. They have a great future”, - the FIG head said. He stressed the importance of proper training to realize this potential and said that a plan for the development of Turkmen gymnastics with an eye on the Olympic Games in 2028 and 2032 is already being discussed.
Watanabe arrived in Ashgabat accompanied by the head of the Asian Gymnastics Union (AGU) Abdulrahman Ben Saad Al-Shatri and Vice President of AGU Timur Abduvaliyev. The purpose of the visit was to familiarize with the sports infrastructure of the Turkmen capital and assess the prospects for the development of gymnastics in the country.
The FIG President expressed surprise at the excellent conditions for training in Turkmenistan and noted that he had already shared his impressions with his colleagues in Japan and China. He assured that the International Gymnastics Federation will fully support the development of this sport in Turkmenistan.
- As president of the International Gymnastics Federation, I consider myself the father of gymnastics and these children are my sons and daughters. I will support them and do my best”, - Watanabe emphasized.
The FIG head also expressed hope for the participation of Turkmen gymnasts in the future Olympic Games, calling it a common dream for the athletes and the federation.
