President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Head of the International Cyclist Union David Lappartien who came to Ashgabat to participate in the events dedicated to the World Bicycle Day, the State news agency of Turkmenistan reports.

Having expressed the gratitude for the opportunity of personal meeting, the guest congratulated the Head of the State and Turkmen nation of remarkable event, the world record that was set in the Olympic village of Ashgabat – the longest cycling parade in one line, which became the achievement of the Guinness Record Book, which was marked with relative certificate as well as the UCI Certificate of Appreciation awarded to the Head of the State.

David Lappatient noted that these ensigns indicates the fact of international recognition of the initiatives of Turkmenistan and its leader in development of sport and in consolidation of peace and progress in general.

Having expressed the delight with the expansion of celebration events on occasion of the World Bicycle Day in Ashgabat, the Head of the UCI stated that Turkmenistan demonstrates deserving example in wide assertion of the healthy life style to the world community.

Having expressed the gratitude for congratulations and good words, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan pays great attention to the development of sport and health improving sphere as to one of the spheres of social activity, which is aimed at strengthening of people’s health, organization of healthy leisure and extension of longevity and activity of human. These goals make the base of the idea of the World Bicycle Day, which was celebrated on that day, the Head of the State said, having expressed the gratitude to David Lappartient for the UCI Certificate, which is considered as the sign of support of all beginnings of Turkmenistan for development of cycling.

Continuing the conversation, the sides exchanged the opinions about the perspectives of cooperation in cycling, which has gained big popularity in our country. The Head of the UCI noted that Turkmenistan has all capabilities for big international competitions in various sports, which is supported by favourable climate conditions and modern infrastructure, for example an excellent indoor cycling track in the Olympic village of Ashgabat.

In this context, the Head of the State and his guest discussed the aspects of joint work with the ICU in organization of 2021 World Track Cycling Championship in our country. David Lappartient highlighted that experience of Turkmenistan in exceptional organization of large-scale sport events serves as reliable guarantee that coming world competitions under the UCI aegis would be held on the highest level.

Opportunities of other prestige cycling competitions, training assemblies, establishment of relations for trading of Turkmen sportsmen of international category have been reviewed at the meeting. Special attention has been paid to joint work for training of Turkmen cyclists for the world track cycling championship.

Turkmen leader highlighted that our country stands for clean sport without doping.

In his turn, the Head of the UCI expressed the confidence that our country, as an initiator of an excellent tradition to celebrate the Bicycle day all over the world, Turkmenistan is able to become the centre of cycling sport and amateur world movement. Activity of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in this field is an excellent evidence to this, David Lappartient said, having expressed the gratitude to Turkmen leader for huge input to the popularization of cycling and healthy life style.

In the end of the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan and the head of the International Cyclist Union exchanged the wishes of further success, having expressed the confidence in successful promotion of the cooperation.