Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- An opening ceremony of the multifunctional ice complex Humo Arena took place in Tashkent today.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the event. The head of our state congratulated the audience on this significant event.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that in the process of ongoing large-scale reforms and dynamic transformations in our country, special importance is attached to the education of the physically healthy and harmoniously developed young generation, the active promotion of physical culture and sports.

- Everywhere, even in the most remote areas of our Motherland, a modern and affordable sports infrastructure is being created. In the past two years alone, the number of people engaged in physical culture and sports has doubled. The athletes of Uzbekistan won over one thousand medals at various international competitions, of which more than 400 were gold, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Today, Uzbek schools of boxing, judo, freestyle wrestling, rhythmic gymnastics, chess and other sports are known throughout the world. Our country is taking more and more prestigious international competitions, including the World and Continental Championships. The head of our state took the initiative to hold the 2030 Summer Asian Games.

“We strive to ensure that Uzbekistan is adequately represented in winter sports, including the most spectacular - figure skating, hockey, alpine skiing, freestyle, snowboarding and many others. Among our achievements are gold medals at the Winter Olympics and the World Freestyle Championships, more than 70 medalists of figure skaters at the Asian Games and other international competitions. We consider it our duty to continue these glorious sports traditions, - the President noted.

The opening ceremony continued with a colorful show program prepared by athletes and artists. Above the ice arena with the use of 3D mapping technology, the image of the Humo bird appeared, projections embodying the essence and spirit of the sports that will be held in the arena. Young and children athletes performed. A friendly match was held between the young hockey players of our country and world-class professionals.

Large-scale work on development of winter sports has been launched in Uzbekistan, which has begun to give results. Last year, four hockey clubs were created in the country. In February of this year, the first national hockey championship of Uzbekistan started. Recently, the athletes of Uzbekistan for the first time took part in the World Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

The launch of the modern ice complex Humo Arena opens a new page in the history of Uzbek sports.

This building is unique in its advanced architectural and engineering solutions, the level of technical equipment. The arena of the complex is designed for 12,500 seats and is built on the “transformer” principle, which allows the arena and seats to be refurbished as soon as possible.

This allows competitions in figure skating, short track, curling and other winter sports, as well as in boxing, futsal, basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, along with concerts, shows, exhibitions, conferences and cultural events.

During the design and construction of the arena, modern requirements in the field of urban planning, environmental safety were taken into account, and energy-efficient technologies were applied.

The conceptual project was developed by the South Korean company Heerim Architects & Planners, the roof construction by the Austrian Oberhofer Stahlbau. In general, the systems and technologies of such countries as Germany, Great Britain, USA, Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, Finland, and Russia were used in the construction and equipping of the building.

Humo Arena will contribute to  preparation of top-class athletes and the organization of major international competitions in Uzbekistan, the most important thing is the wide involvement of our young people in winter sports as well. As a multifunctional sports and entertainment facility, the arena is designed to serve the physical and cultural development of people. Similar complexes and centers are planned to be built in the future in other regions of the country.

The President of the International Hockey Federation René Fasel, world-famous athletes and artists attended the opening ceremony.