'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games promise to be a stellar affair as 65 delegations are set to participate across 21 sports.
With the Games being held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, this will be the first time ever that an Olympic Council of Asia event will be held in the Central Asian region.
It speaks volumes for the efforts being put in, with the organisers leaving no stone unturned to make sure Ashgabat 2017 creates positive headlines across the world.
On that note, let’s take a look at five reasons why Ashgabat 2017 will be a sporting competition to remember for years to come:
#1 Ashgabat– A record-breaking city to admire
A multitude of spectators will be in the capital of Turkmenistan come 17 September. Located at 219m above sea level, Ashgabat is known for its stunning architecture. The sight of white marble buildings spread across the city is bound to captivate the spectators alongside the thrilling sporting action.
Some of the amazing sights include the world’s largest enclosed Ferris wheel, located at Alem Entertainment Center. The Serdar Health Path offers a glimpse of Ashgabat’s spectacular landscape. The city is in the Guinness Book of Records for having the highest number of marble buildings in the world.
#2 Wepaly - The mascot of Ashgabat 2017 is set to turn heads
Mascots have become synonymous with the world’s biggest multi-sport events and Ashgabat 2017 may have just raised the standard of what a mascot should represent. Called Wepaly – meaning loyal friend in Turkmen - the mascot is a Turkmen Alabaidog.
Known for their courage and strength, Alabai dogs have helped Turkmen shepherds protect their cattle in the testing conditions of the desert for centuries. Wepaly will act as an inspiration to every single athlete at the Games, other than leaving a great legacy to the younger Turkmen generations.
#3 Spectators spoilt for choice with plenty of niche sports
A core feature of any world class sporting event is the wide variety of competitions. Ashgabat 2017 falls under this category and will host a fine blend of both mainstream and niche sports from around the globe.
A total of 21 sports will be contested across 15 state-of-the-art competition venues, a big increase compared to the 2013 edition in South Korea when only 12 sports were contested. This has resulted in a sharp rise in athlete numbers with over 6,000 expected to compete in Ashgabat, compared to 1,652 four years ago.
The Games present an exciting prospect for spectators who will have the luxury of choosing from sports including Traditional Wrestling, 3x3 Basketball, Dance Sport, Taekwondo and Futsal to name just a few.
#4 Huge number of participating nations
For any global sporting event to be considered world class, it’s imperative that a large number of nations participate and Ashgabat 2017 certainly ticks that box. With 65 delegations set to attend, the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games will enjoy a much bigger international flavour compared to the 43 nations that took part in 2013.
For the first time, Oceania delegations will compete alongside Asian countries to guarantee an ultra-competitive event.
#5 An opportunity of a lifetime for athletes to make an impression
Ashgabat 2017 isn’t just another sporting competition, it’s a historic event for which every participating athlete has put in four years, if not a lifetime, of toil and hard-work to ensure they can perform at the peak of their abilities. The 6,000 athletes have been gearing up with a single-minded focus on the goal of making their respective countries proud at the Games.
It is 1,460 days since the last event in South Korea, so the athletes have bided their time but once the action commences in the glorious marble city of Ashgabat, they will give it their best in the pursuit of glory. For sure, the athletes will be eager to get started and when the Opening Ceremony begins, there won’t be a sweeter moment that they have looked forward to in their sporting careers.
