The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, participated in the opening ceremony of the second Presidential Olympiad on October 27 in Tashkent's Olympic City. This information was provided by the state head's press service.
This year, over 3,500 young athletes from various regions of the country will take part in the competitions. They will compete in 26 disciplines covering Olympic and Paralympic sports. About 1,500 coaches are accompanying the participants.
During the ceremony, the president announced the expansion of the competition program and the introduction of additional support measures for young athletes.
Increase in Prizes and New Support Measures
Starting in 2027, the monetary reward for winners and prize-winners of the Presidential Olympiad will increase by 2.5 times. The first place is set at 25 million soms, second place at 12 million soms, and third place at 6 million soms.
Furthermore, starting next year, competition winners will receive one-year scholarships; the amount of these monthly payments has not yet been determined. It is planned to send 50 winners of the Presidential Olympiad abroad annually to participate in international training camps.
Advantages for admission to higher education institutions are also provided. School graduates who win the Presidential Olympiad and set a new national record for Uzbekistan will be able to enter sports specialties without needing to take entrance exams and based on a state grant.
Future plans include increasing the number of disciplines in the Presidential Olympiad from the current 26 to 35, and the age of participants will range from 14 to 17 years old. Sports schools whose pupils demonstrate the best results will be provided with all necessary equipment and gear.
As part of the event, Shavkat Mirziyoyev also announced the relocation of the capital's Museum of Olympic Glory, located on Sharaf Rashidov Avenue, to the Olympic City. According to the authorities' idea, this will allow young athletes to learn about the history of the Olympic movement and the successes of Uzbek champions.
The President addressed the participants, urging them to achieve high results, maintain sporting discipline, and show respect to their opponents. He advised: 'Believe in yourself! Work on yourself! Be worthy of your Motherland! May these words become a life motto for each of you.' The head of state also emphasized the importance of maintaining friendly ties outside of sporting competitions: 'Be worthy rivals in the sports arena and remain friends outside of it.'
After his speech, Shavkat Mirziyoyev officially opened the 2026 Presidential Olympiad. The ceremony concluded with the performance of the national anthem, a concert program, and the lighting of the competition flame.
Review of International Achievements
In his address, the president presented a summary of Uzbek athletes' performances on the international stage. According to the data presented, over the last decade, representatives of Uzbekistan have won 5,518 medals at major world and Asian tournaments, including 1,675 gold medals. This figure is three times higher than the results of the previous decade. Moreover, about a third of all awards went to female athletes.
Specifically, at the XX Asian Games held in Japan, the Uzbekistan team won 70 medals: 21 gold, 25 silver, and 24 bronze, securing fifth place in the overall team standings. At the Para Asian Games, Uzbek athletes received 145 awards—45 gold, 49 silver, and 51 bronze, taking third place in the medal table.
The president also noted the victory of the Uzbekistan team at the World Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand, noting that this was the team's second victory in this competition. The head of state reported that approximately 20 international competitions of world and Asian level have been held in Uzbekistan over the past four years.
In September-October 2027, Uzbekistan, together with Azerbaijan, will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time.
