Exactly nine years ago, on September 17, 2017, the opening ceremony of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games—the largest sporting event in the history of independent Turkmenistan at the time—took place at the Olympic Stadium in the capital of Turkmenistan.

The Ashgabat 2017 Games were special in several respects. They were held in a Central Asian nation for the first time, and countries from Oceania participated in the competition for the first time—with a total of 19 states from the region registering to take part. Also, for the first time in the history of the Asian Games, a unified refugee team took part. A total of 65 national teams competed across 21 sports.

The opening ceremony featured a grand theatrical performance. The production took the audience through key eras in the history of the Turkmen people—from the Parthian Empire and the cities of the Great Silk Road to the modern-day cityscape of Ashgabat—while also showcasing the country’s achievements in the economy, science, and culture.

The parade of athletes was led by an Alabay—the symbol of the “Ashgabat 2017” Games—followed by the delegations from 64 Asian and Oceanian countries and the Refugee Team, marching in alphabetical order. As is customary, the host nation entered last.

The ceremony culminated in the lighting of the Games' flame: a horseman carrying a torch ascended a specially constructed tower in the center of the stadium, from where the flame was transferred to the cauldron above the arena's dome. The festivities concluded with a celebratory fireworks display over the Turkmen capital.

The Turkmenistan team led the overall medal standings from the very beginning of the Games and held onto first place until the end of the tournament. In total, Turkmen athletes won 245 medals: 89 gold, 70 silver, and 86 bronze.

More than 500 journalists and commentators from 82 countries covered the Games.

A notable outcome of the Games was Turkmenistan’s proposal of a declaration on promoting the contribution of Olympic refugee teams to strengthening peace and human rights—a document that was adopted at a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

At the closing ceremony, also held at the Olympic Stadium, OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah described the Ashgabat 2017 Games as among the best in the history of competitions of this level; he thanked Turkmen athletes, volunteers, sponsors, and journalists, and also acknowledged the hospitality of the Turkmen people.

A symbolic moment of the ceremony was the extinguishing of the Games' flame, which had burned in the cauldron above the stadium throughout the ten days of competition. The flag of the Olympic Council of Asia was lowered to the accompaniment of the OCA march.

The final part of the ceremony featured a theatrical performance showcasing Turkmenistan’s cultural and economic heritage, as well as a grand concert with Turkmen and international artists—including Russian singer Nyusha, Lebanese vocalist Elissa, Turkish performer Mustafa Sandal, and British musician John Newman. The festivities concluded with a seven-minute fireworks display over Ashgabat.