The State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of Turkmenistan has approved a new procedure for recognizing new sports and sports areas in the country. The corresponding order No. 297-Ö was signed by the Chairman of the Committee A. Saparov on July 7, 2025 and registered by the Ministry of Justice on August 15.

The document sets clear criteria and procedures for the inclusion of new sports disciplines in the State Register of Sports of Turkmenistan. According to the new procedure, official championships, tournaments and cup competitions in the country will be held exclusively in sports included in this register.

The new regulation defines strict criteria for recognizing sports disciplines. The declared sports must be fundamentally different from those already recognized in terms of competition rules, equipment and inventory used, and methods of assessing sports achievements.

Particular attention is paid to preventing the inclusion in the register of activities that are part of theatrical, musical, circus or cinematic arts. The document also categorically excludes the recognition of sports that may promote cruelty, violence or any form of discrimination.

Three categories of organizations have received the right to apply for recognition of new sports. Physical education and sports entities can initiate recognition of regular sports, physical education organizations and national federations - national sports, and military and law enforcement agencies - military-applied and service-applied disciplines.

The application must be accompanied by detailed information on the development of this sport in Turkmenistan and other countries, a program of the discipline with a description of the equipment, as well as a draft of the competition rules or their official translation from the international sports federation.

Clear time frames have been established for reviewing applications. A specially created expert group reviews the submitted documents within 10 working days and makes a decision on recognition or refusal. If the decision is positive, the new sport is included in the State Register within 2 working days, and applicants receive official notification within 3 working days.