The opening ceremony of the international ice hockey tournament was held today in Ashgabat. Club teams from ten countries in Europe and Asia take part in the competition.

The ceremony was held at the 10-thousand seat indoor ice arena of the Winter Sports Complex, where all matches of the tournament will be held. Numerous spectators were eagerly awaiting the start of the celebrations marking the start of the competition, the progress of which will now be followed by a large audience of fans, reports the State News Agency of Turkmenistan.

At the ceremony, the welcoming address of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov was solemnly read out. It noted that in independent neutral Turkmenistan, special attention is paid to the development of elite sports, the training of professional athletes, coaches and specialists, as well as the intensification of international cooperation in this area.

“Continuing the noble traditions of our ancestors, who revered sport as a symbol of peace and friendship, we consider it an important area of partnership with countries of the world, a global factor in strengthening friendly ties between peoples”, - the head of state emphasized. He expressed confidence that the upcoming competition will help strengthen international cooperation, peace and friendship, popularize the Olympic movement, and improve the skills of hockey players.

After the official part, a musical and theatrical performance took place with the participation of cultural figures and students of sports schools. The skaters performed demonstration numbers to the music of dutar and horn. The bright finale of the ceremony was the performance of the song Gahryman Arkadagym, Arkadagly Gahryman Serdarym, which was echoed by the entire audience.