Turkmenistan in world record ranking: now on cycling

June 04, 2018 | 09:38 |2376

Source:

Aleksandr BAYRIYEV

There are many records in our days. Among them, there are those that cause a smile. Others demonstrate the absence of boundaries in the physical capabilities of a person, the freedom of creative imagination, the greatness of scientific thought. Last day saw Ashgabat in Turkmenistan set a new world record for the “the most mass educational lesson on cycling in the world” that is recorded by the Guinness World Records. What is this record? As ORIENT found out, more than three thousand fans of cycling and candidates for this title (to be exact, according to the local press, there were 3.246 people) gathered at one of the multifunctional stadiums of the Turkmen capital (which is called “Ashgabat"). An “educational lesson on cycling” was held with them, which was confirmed by the authorized representatives of the company “Guinness World Records” as an achievement that no one has been trying to achieve so far. Is it good or bad? Is it a record or not? I would not be surprised if it will be broken one day, because all records are updated eventually. Moreover, is this record will play its role in the development of sports, at least in Turkmenistan? To answer these questions, we went early in the morning to the start point of the next health-improving campaign for the population of the country. And that's what appeared before our eyes. On the morning of June 3, the large groups of people with different types of bicycles, from simple ones, intended for city walks to those used by masters in international competitions, gathered in different parts of Ashgabat. There were participants of different age - from teenagers to the legends of the world sport of retirement age.

Among them, V.Ekimov, Olympic champion, President of the Russian Cycling Federation, many-times world champion S.Nikitenko, the champions of the continent and their countries, etc. In addition, employees of local departments and large organizations, sportsmen, and others citizens as well as heads and representatives of embassies and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan joined the sports event. Therefore, the action can gain the status of an international event.

At the car free day, the traffic in the Turkmen capital, except public transport, were limited due to cycling. A high tone in the marathon, despite the age, was given by the unfading stars of world sports led by the Russian businessman with Turkmen roots I. Makarov – Honorary President of the Cycling Federation of the Russian Federation and his famous team.

Large groups of bicyclists with the first rays of the sun crossed the 30-kilometer long track, drove through the wide streets and avenues, welcomed by musicians, residents of the Turkmen capital and its guests. The same actions were held in other regions of the country. Thus, the whole country ride a bicycle this day. In addition, as President Berdimuhamedov said, by the way, as one of the participants of the bike ride also, such healthy lifestyle events will continue in the future. Someone, perhaps, would say that such events attracts a lot of effort and. However, is there less money the government spent for when it comes to treating physically weakened young people who know about sport only by hearsay? We have already seen this in the early 1990s when the youth was weaked. In addition, the environmental situation will be more favorable everywhere if cars – the main vehicles for today – remain in garages, and people on weekends will ride the two-wheeled “friends of a healthy lifestyle.”

With this attitude to the issues of the development of a large-scale physical culture movement, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, the widespread construction of stadiums and sports grounds, the training of a large number of coaches and physical culture trainers (one of the country's profile universities is currently engaged in this), Turkmen sport, if not becomes the world’s leader, then, at least, will cardinally improve the health of the country’s population. Of course, Turkmenistan implements plans for the education of a physically strong and spiritually developed young generation not for records. However, I am sure that the realization of such programs, including those that Turkmenistan to be a tobacco free country by 2015, will be an enviable progress for many countries. Is such an achievement not worthy to be included into in the “Guinness World Records”? [caption id="attachment_7720" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]