The first step of the Turkmen delegation in France was taken at the airport. During the hours and minutes spent between earth and sky, the moments that came to life felt like a dream. Today, Turkmen athletes have gathered in the capital of France to participate in a grand sporting celebration. We all imagined what it would be like to meet Paris face to face. To our "Salam, Paris!" the volunteers responded, "Welcome, Turkmenistan."
First Moments
It is impossible not to look at the green banner of Turkmenistan among the flags waving in the Olympic Village. You don't have to be sentimental to feel this. Far from home, in a place where you can see your green flag, emotions find you on their own. Or rather, they don’t even bother to search for you – they pierce straight into your soul. And then, tears begin to well up in your eyes. That’s when you wonder, "Do we even need eyes to reveal our innermost feelings?" But now is the time to express them. Ahead of us lie the competitions – the true tests of the Summer Olympic Games.
Opening Ceremony
Every Olympics has an official mascot. This tradition continued at the Paris Games. The main symbols of the Paris Olympics became the Seine River and the Eiffel Tower. Most people think of the Eiffel Tower when they talk about Paris. When you speak of the Olympics in Paris, this feeling is no different. From the moment the first news emerged that competitions would take place on the Seine, it even surpassed the Louvre in popularity. Therefore, when discussing the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, it is impossible not to mention the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River.
But with even greater pride, we witness the Turkmen delegation making its lap of honor at the planet’s greatest sporting festival, waving the green flag of our country. It is impossible to describe the excitement of the athletes and coaches, dressed in sportswear that embodies the national characteristics of the Turkmen people.
First Competitions
On July 26, 2024, the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games, held every four years, took place. However, the first competitions of the Paris Olympics began on July 24, when the Turkmen delegation was still on its way to France. On that day, football players took to the field. On July 25, the preliminary competitions among Olympians in handball and archery began. After that, the battle for medals in other sports commenced, and the first medalists were announced.
The Youngest Referee
As we proudly celebrate the participation of the Turkmen delegation in the opening ceremony of the latest Summer Olympic Games, which bring together elite athletes from around 200 countries, it is also worth noting that the youngest referee from Turkmenistan is taking part in the Paris Olympics. Charygeldy Mamedov, Secretary General of the Turkmenistan Weightlifting Federation and a member of the Technical Committee of the International Weightlifting Federation, is participating in major competitions as an international-class referee. Having gained experience at World Championships and the Asian Games, he was invited to officiate at the Tokyo Olympics. During the selection of referees representing the Asian region, the choice of Charygeldy Mamedov from Turkmenistan was a natural one. The fact that he is the youngest weightlifting referee at the Paris Olympics gives us reason to proudly emphasize that our compatriot is among the most experienced judges.
We Conclude Our Conversation, but the Olympic Games Continue
For me, as a member of the Olympic team, it is a great responsibility to take part in this grand sporting event in Paris. Although it may seem from the outside that everything comes easily to athletes, in reality, a heavy burden of responsibility falls on their shoulders. It requires many years of hard work. And now, the time has come to reap the rewards.
So, as we conclude our conversation, the Olympic Games in Paris continue. This means that athletes and coaches are ready to justify the trust placed in them. We wish success and prosperity to Turkmen athletes and specialists and wrap up our discussion of the first impressions from the capital of the latest Summer Olympic Games.
Hojaberdy APBAEV.
Ashgabat–Paris.