President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the Oqsaroy August 24 met with our medalist athletes of the recent 30th Summer Olympics, as well as their coaches.

“We have gathered today to congratulate and reward our athletes who have duly venerated the honor of our native land at the 30th Summer Olympic Games that took place in London,” the head of our state said.

“Sporting competitions are in great abundance in the world. Yet the Olympics are the highest in status and are rather distinct. Hence, to be part of the Olympics is a great honor for any athlete. I take a tremendous delight in expressing infinite gratitude to our young men and women who partook in London Olympics and upheld the honor of our Uzbekistan. My appreciation goes also to their mentors and instructors as well as the members of our entire team.

“We would speak the truth by suggesting that millions of sport fans and our whole nation did not simply watch our athletes on television screens who displayed courageous performance at the Olympics, but also earnestly wished them luck and divine support.”

According to the President, it is by no means easy to take part in prominent a contest like that and come out triumphant. Given the fact that the current population of the world is seven billion people and that merely 10.5 thousand of them – sportspeople – have been entitled to these competitions, it is no hard to imagine how tough and competitive an environment has surrounded these games.

It is particularly noteworthy that four of our athletes have become medalists, and another fourteen of them have emerged in top eight at London Olympics. Artur Taymazov, who has won the Olympic gold for the third time in freestyle wrestling, as well as bronze medalists – the judoka Rishod Sobirov, the renowned boxer Abbos Atoev and the freestyle wrestler Soslan Tigiev – have proved victorious in relentless and tense struggle and demonstrated remarkable mastery and audacity. This affords our entire nation boundless joy and pride.

Our celebrated strongman, the twice world champion Artur Taymazov deserves special praise for being awarded the noble title of the Olympic champion for the third time. This accomplished athlete had displayed immense courage by winning silver earlier at Sydney Olympics and securing medals at four Games in total. It is rather a rare case in the world sports history.

“Four years ago in this hall, in the wake of Beijing Olympics, I wished Artur earn his third gold medal in the next Olympics as a wish of the millions of fans and as that of our entire people,” Islam Karimov recalled.

According to him, we all feel very much delighted today to see Artur live up to our nation’s highest expectations and confidence, and return to our land with a historic victory. This sort of a great triumph and achievements are at the same time model for our younger generation who set out to join the ranks of famed sportspeople.

The head of state noted that now we all, primarily the sportspeople and the decision-makers in the sphere, face the challenge of thorough preparations for the 31st Olympic Games due in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro in 2016. In the meanwhile, we should scrupulously scrutinize the results of London Olympics and learn the lessons. In particular, we need to study the experience of those nations who have made highest achievements at the Olympics. And this work ought to be set about as early as today.

“I congratulate again all the young men and women who have participated in the Olympic Games, the coaches who trained these athletes, members of the entire national team, and wish them happiness and the best of luck, new victories and accomplishments,” Islam Karimov said in conclusion.

In accordance with the August 14, 2012, Decree of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to award a group of athletes who made remarkable achievements at the 30th Summer Olympics in London, the bronze medalists Rishod Sobiriov and Soslan Tigiev are awarded the honorable titles “O’zbekiston Iftikhori”, Abbos Atoev is awarded the venerable title “The Honored Athlete of Uzbekistan” for high results reached at the Olympics, the great contribution to boosting the honor and prestige of Uzbekistan in the international arena.

The London Olympics champion Artur Taymazov is awarded the order “El-Yurt Hurmati” for the tremendous input into bolstering the sporting fame of the country, for high achievements at the Olympic Games.

President Islam Karimov handed these high awards of our nation to the athletes.

The head of state presented Artur Taymazov a gold-plated statuette of the wrestler himself with a high raised flag of Uzbekistan.

Artur Taymazov, Rishod Sobirov, Abbos Atoev, Soslan Tigiev and the coach Ahrol Ruziev expressed sincere gratitude to President Islam Karimov for the constant care and attention to the development of sports and the consistent support for athletes. They said that in return for such care, our sportspeople will keep defending the honor of Motherland at major and high-standing international competitions.

Source: www.press-service.uz