Paris, France, July 26, 2024: The National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan initiated a meeting in Paris with representatives of the NOCs of Central Asian countries. This meeting was the first official event on the Olympic schedule of Kazakhstan NOC President Gennadiy Golovkin.
Despite a tight schedule due to the IOC Session, the event was well attended. Participants included IOC Honorary Member and OCA Acting President Raja Randhir Singh; NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365 Director James Macleod; IOC Deputy Director Olivier Niamkey; and Edward Kensington, IOC Olympic Solidarity Programme Coordinator for Asia.
Raja Randhir said: “I would like to emphasize that we are like one family, working together for our common interests. The initiatives you are putting forward now are unifying and essential for achieving our goals.
“I remember the first Central Asian Games held in Uzbekistan in 1995. The IOC was involved in their organization, and it was a great success. I am very pleased that you are raising the issue of reviving these competitions. It is very important to hold regional games as they provide additional impetus for the development of the entire region.
“I am confident that the IOC will support all your initiatives aimed solely at the progress and development of sports in Central Asia.”
The meeting was also attended by the OCA Director General and President of World Aquatics, Husain Al-Musallam, and OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Tiwari.
Guests included IOC Member and the President of Bhutan Olympic Committee, HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.
The meeting was attended by the Presidents and Secretary Generals of the Central Asia NOCs including Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, in addition to Kazakhstan.
One key topic was the revival of the Central Asian Games, which have not been held since 2005. Kazakhstan proposed reducing the number of sports in the programme to 10-12 Olympic sports and setting the age category of participants at 14-18 years.
Both the IOC and OCA representatives provided recommendations on the competition regulations, expressing readiness to support the initiatives of the Central Asian countries, including through Olympic Solidarity.
Kazakhstan NOC President Golovkin concluded: "We thank the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia and our colleagues from Central Asia for taking the time and supporting our initiative despite the busy schedule ahead of the start of the Olympic Games.
“Our task is clear - to strengthen cooperation not only in the region but also with our colleagues from the IOC and OCA. I believe that, through joint efforts, we can achieve great goals, creating new opportunities for our athletes, our NOCs and for the development of the global Olympic Movement.”
The next meeting of Central Asian NOC leaders is planned for late September in Kyrgyzstan (Issyk-Kul).
