Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a video conference meeting was held to discuss strengthening preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and elevating mass sports to a new level.

"A nation that sets great goals for itself can only reach its desired heights if it is strong and healthy. Physical culture and sports play an undeniably crucial role in shaping a healthy nation capable of great achievements.

Today, we have set ourselves ambitious tasks to build an open, socially, and economically developed state—the New Uzbekistan.

The dream and aspiration of every individual, of every parent, is to raise a physically and spiritually well-rounded generation. This cannot be achieved without physical culture and sports.

In short, sports serve as the solid foundation of a healthy nation and a healthy society. Moreover, sports are, first and foremost, an ambassador of peace and a source of national pride for every country," the head of state noted at the beginning of his speech.

Yesterday, a new chapter was written in Uzbekistan’s sports history—at the Winter Asian Games, Uzbek athletes won a gold medal in pairs figure skating for the first time in 26 years.

Additionally, Uzbekistan’s national amputee football team won the Asian Championship held in Bangladesh.

At the Asian Cycling and Para-Cycling Championships in Thailand, young Uzbek athletes secured first place in the overall team standings.

The president congratulated all athletes, their coaches, and parents on these remarkable achievements.

As highlighted at the meeting, sports are not merely games and competitions but a powerful instrument that shapes a nation’s genetic foundation, showcasing its strength, authority, and prestige on the global stage.

In this regard, it was noted that such a large-scale meeting dedicated to Olympic and Paralympic preparations was being held for the first time.

Since the early days of reform, alongside other spheres, special attention has also been given to the development of physical culture and sports.

Over the past four years, budget allocations for sports have increased from 1.5 trillion to 3 trillion soums, the average salary of coaches has doubled, 101 large sports facilities have been built, and another 67 have undergone reconstruction.

The achievements of Uzbek athletes in Paris serve as vivid proof of the success of these reforms.

The most important outcome is that these successes have changed the attitudes of young people and parents toward sports. Many young athletes now have confidence and determination: "I will become a champion too!"

However, it was emphasized that the accomplishments in Paris should not be the limit.

The goal for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is to rank among the top ten nations. To achieve this, it was stressed that everyone—from heads of specialized agencies to district khokims—must work diligently.

It was noted that in Uzbekistan’s Olympic history, most medals have come from combat sports. At the last Olympics, medals were won in only five disciplines: boxing, judo, taekwondo, weightlifting, and freestyle wrestling.

Ministers and heads of national organizations have been appointed as leaders of sports federations, yet the performance of several of them does not align with their potential.

The weak efforts in regions, districts, and mahallas were criticized—there is insufficient interaction with athletes and coaches, unresolved issues in the training system, inadequate cooperation with foreign and international federations, and insufficient organization of training camps for athletes and coaches.

The president pointed out the underutilization of potential in certain sports.

For example, Uzbekistan has not won a single Olympic license in badminton, and only three licenses have been secured in archery.

Athletics offers medals in 48 disciplines at the Olympics, yet the national federation last secured only five licenses. In events like shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, and jumping disciplines, no licenses were obtained. In aquatic sports, out of 49 Olympic disciplines, Uzbekistan has qualified in only four.

Despite the extensive opportunities provided by the defense system and the "Vatanparvar" organization for the development of shooting sports, not a single athlete has qualified for the Olympics.

In combat sports and traditional wrestling, only three licenses have been secured for Greco-Roman wrestling.

Last year, Uzbekistan hosted the World Canoe and Kayak Championships for the first time, yet local athletes failed to win any medals.

It was pointed out that regional khokims are practically uninvolved in sports development. They do not know the heads of regional sports federations, do not meet with athletes and coaches, and only learn about achievements after international competitions.

For instance, at last year’s World Championships in Olympic sports, Uzbek athletes won 58 medals. However, representatives from Navoiy, Surkhandarya, and Kashkadarya regions did not secure a single medal.

The lowest number of Olympic and Paralympic licenses for the Paris Games has been recorded in Navoiy region and Karakalpakstan.

In light of this, an urgent task has been set to change approaches starting today—strengthening youth training in Olympic sports, implementing a selection system, and establishing a completely new system of incentives for talented athletes and coaches.

The key criteria for assessing the performance of responsible officials, sports federations, and khokims will be fairness in sports, increased motivation for athletes and coaches, and the digitalization of the industry.

A new initiative has been endorsed to establish regional branches of the Olympic Committee as part of preparations for the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Just as the President heads the National Olympic Committee, regional governors (hokims) will lead its territorial divisions.

Each hokim, in collaboration with sports federations, will develop a special strategy for the Olympic cycle and present it to the National Olympic Committee for approval.

Heads of sports federations and hokims will report monthly to the Olympic Committee on their progress and achieved results.

A total of 300 billion soums has been allocated to improve infrastructure and create necessary conditions for athletes preparing for the upcoming Olympics.

Special attention will be given to training at least 10 athletes and coaches in leading international sports academies this year.

Additionally, sports disciplines will be categorized into three groups based on past Olympic and Paralympic results.

The traditionally prioritized disciplines include boxing, judo, taekwondo, freestyle wrestling, and weightlifting. However, the heads of these federations have been instructed to aim for doubling the number of medals.

At the same time, it was noted that the country already has the necessary conditions and talented athletes in Greco-Roman wrestling, women’s wrestling, archery, and fencing. To achieve high results in these disciplines, foreign specialists need to be recruited, and efforts should be intensified in both physical and psychological training.

For promising sports such as athletics, cycling, rowing, swimming, and shooting, the goal has been set to increase the number of Olympic licenses by 3–4 times and actively compete for medals.

Additionally, emphasis was placed on obtaining licenses in 17 developing sports, including synchronized swimming, triathlon, volleyball, basketball, handball, and badminton.

The heads of these federations have been tasked with working on the ground, identifying young talents, establishing base schools, improving their infrastructure, and ensuring training under the guidance of qualified coaches.

All 310 sports schools across the country will serve as "selection bases" for national teams, ensuring successful performances at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The activities of regional sports department heads and directors of sports schools will be significantly strengthened. A three-month probationary period has been set for sports department heads to enhance their personal responsibility.

Officials have been instructed to develop a three-year program with clear goals for each school.

A new system will be introduced, assigning teachers, researchers, and undergraduate and master’s students from the University of Physical Culture, as well as sports faculties in Nukus, Fergana, and Samarkand, to sports schools for six months.

Their theses and dissertations must address real issues on the ground and propose practical solutions.

University administrators must implement advanced methods and approaches directly in sports schools, turning them into scientific and practical bases for dual education.

Taking into account regional characteristics, interests, and young talents, 56 sports schools have been adapted for Olympic disciplines. These schools will serve as the primary reserve for national teams.

The best young athletes will be selected and trained in these schools under individualized programs.

Hokims have been instructed to provide these schools with dormitories and the necessary sports equipment.

The Ministry of Sports will develop a training methodology based on leading international experience and scientific approaches.

Twice a year, competitions titled “Olympic Peaks of New Uzbekistan” will be held in the regions in Olympic disciplines. The winners at the district and regional levels will be awarded by the hokims.

Winners of the regional stages will participate in the Presidential Olympics, held annually from December 10–20 in the Olympic Village.

Medalists in these competitions will receive valuable prizes, including cars and housing.

Athletes who secure first and second place will gain admission to the Republican Olympic and Paralympic Center.

For first- and second-year students at this center, scholarships will be provided.

The fundamental role in identifying and nurturing young talents belongs to their first coaches.

However, currently, only coaches from sports schools and national teams are rewarded for athletes’ achievements.

The President noted that this is unfair and ordered that first coaches receive up to 10% of the rewards allocated to national team and sports school coaches as a bonus.

Over the past three years, the number of individuals regularly engaged in parasports has quadrupled, exceeding 7,000 people, with women making up 29% of this figure.

Previously, sports sections for this category of youth operated in only 33 schools, whereas today, their number has increased to 235.

However, challenges remain that hinder the rapid development of parasports. In particular, there is a lack of scientifically grounded methodologies, standards, and educational materials, while requirements for able-bodied athletes are often mechanically applied to para-athletes.

To address this, at least 100 para-athletes and their coaches will be sent abroad annually for advanced training.

The Adaptive Sports Association, in collaboration with the A. I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, will develop scientifically based methodologies and standards for engaging youth with disabilities in sports. A dedicated faculty for adaptive sports will be established at the university’s Tashkent branch.

Additionally, 39 sports schools across the regions will specialize in parasports disciplines.

The importance of creating conditions for para-athletes, especially women, to train alongside other athletes was emphasized.

The certification and retraining system for coaches working with athletes and para-athletes will be simplified.

The principle of forming national teams among para-athletes will also be revised. Currently, only medalists of national competitions are accepted into the team. Moving forward, selection will consider not only competition results but also the fulfillment of sports standards.

The organization of sports tournaments and training camps will be aligned with Olympic and Paralympic practices. From now on, parasports competitions will be held alongside Olympic sports championships, and training camps will be conducted jointly.

This step will create a truly inclusive system and serve as a strong motivation for athletes with disabilities.

During the meeting, it was noted that a key issue is the timely classification of para-athletes’ disabilities during their training.

The relevant authorities have been tasked with approving National Classification Rules within two months, based on the requirements of the "Classification Code of the International Paralympic Committee."

The Ministry of Health has been instructed to assign medical specialists to para-athletes to assist in their classification and provide necessary medical support.

In recent years, the private sector has increasingly entered the sports industry.

However, Olympic competitions are still held exclusively among state-run sports schools, with private clubs being excluded. As a result, these clubs are limited to non-Olympic competitions.

At the same time, state sports schools receive significant funding, yet only 20% of athletes in national teams come from these institutions.

In response, a decision has been made to create a unified registry of private sports clubs and to develop standards and criteria for their activities.

Clubs that engage a larger number of young athletes will be provided with free sports equipment.

Private coaches will be granted the right to self-employment status.

Athletes from private clubs will be allowed to participate in all competitions, representing their respective clubs, and their results will be considered in national team selections.

Additionally, projects will be launched in Tashkent and the regions to transfer underperforming sports schools to private management. Specifically, five schools in the capital and one sports school in each region will be transferred.

To identify, select, and train promising athletes, a new digital system will be introduced.

A specialized digital platform will be created to record data on students’ aptitude for various sports. Sports schools will be able to use these criteria to identify talented youth and provide them with both physical and psychological training. Moreover, athletes’ daily performance and achievements will be logged in a unified electronic system.

The fundamental role in identifying and nurturing young talents belongs to their first coaches. However, currently, only coaches from sports schools and national teams are rewarded for athletes’ achievements.

The President noted that this is unfair and ordered that first coaches receive up to 10% of the rewards allocated to national team and sports school coaches.

Over the past three years, the number of people regularly engaged in parasports has quadrupled, exceeding 7,000, with women making up 29% of this group. Previously, sports sections for this category of youth existed in only 33 schools, but today their number has grown to 235.

However, several challenges hinder the rapid development of parasports. Specifically, there is a lack of scientifically based methodologies, standards, and educational materials, and the requirements for able-bodied athletes are often mechanically applied to para-athletes.

To address this, at least 100 para-athletes and their coaches will be sent abroad annually for advanced training. The Adaptive Sports Association, in collaboration with the Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, will develop scientifically based methodologies and standards for engaging youth with disabilities in sports. A dedicated faculty for adaptive sports will be established at the university’s Tashkent branch.

Additionally, 39 sports schools across the regions will specialize in parasports disciplines. Emphasis was placed on creating conditions for para-athletes, particularly female athletes, to train alongside other athletes.

The certification and retraining system for coaches working with both able-bodied and para-athletes will be simplified. The selection criteria for forming national parasports teams will also change. Currently, only prize-winners of national competitions are admitted to the team, but now selection will consider not only competition results but also the fulfillment of sports performance standards.

The organization of sports tournaments and training camps will be aligned with Olympic and Paralympic practices. From now on, parasports competitions will be held alongside championships in Olympic disciplines, and training camps will be conducted jointly.

This step will create a truly inclusive system and serve as a strong motivation for athletes with disabilities.

At the meeting, it was emphasized that a key issue is the timely determination of para-athletes’ disability categories during their preparation. Relevant agencies have been instructed to approve National Classification Rules within two months, based on the requirements of the International Paralympic Committee’s Classification Code.

The Ministry of Health has been tasked with assigning medical specialists to para-athletes to assist with classification and provide necessary medical support.

In recent years, the private sector has begun actively entering the sports industry. However, Olympic competitions are still held exclusively among state-run sports schools, while private clubs are not allowed to participate, forcing them to limit themselves to non-Olympic competitions.

At the same time, state-run sports schools receive significant funding, yet only 20% of the athletes who make it to national teams are their graduates.

To address this, a unified registry of private sports clubs will be created, along with standards and criteria for their operation. Clubs that engage a larger number of young athletes will be provided with free sports equipment.

Private coaches will be granted self-employment status. Athletes from private clubs will be allowed to participate in all competitions while representing their clubs, and their results will be considered in national team selections.

Additionally, projects will be launched in Tashkent and the regions to transfer underperforming sports schools to private management. Specifically, five schools in the capital and one school in each region will be transferred.

To identify, select, and train promising athletes, a new digital system will be introduced. A specialized digital platform will be created to store data on school students’ aptitude for various sports. Based on these criteria, sports schools will be able to select talented youth and provide them with physical and psychological training. Moreover, athletes’ daily performance and achievements will be recorded in a unified electronic system.

Sports federations will call up the best young athletes for national team training camps and conduct their selection. A digital monitoring system will be created to track the physical indicators of athletes recruited into national teams.

This will allow specialists abroad and narrow-profile experts to analyze athletes’ results and provide recommendations.

The system will also include an option for online medical consultations, enabling athletes to check which medications are permitted and which are banned, thus helping to prevent doping scandals.

Most importantly, the system will evaluate not only athletes but also their coaches, ensuring an objective analysis of their effectiveness.

The meeting also addressed the development of mass sports and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Last year, the number of young people engaged in mass sports competitions reached 10 million. However, not all districts pay sufficient attention to involving children in sports from an early age.

For example, in last year’s "Five Initiatives" Olympics, 150,000 young athletes won at the district level, yet only 15% of them were selected for sports schools.

Now, weekly mass events will be held in mahallas to encourage physical activity among the population, with broad participation opportunities for people with disabilities.

A "Population Physical Activity Rating" will be introduced for each mahalla.

At the end of the year, the most active families will be rewarded with fitness equipment, and the best-performing mahallas will receive new, well-equipped sports facilities.

The meeting noted that student participation in sports is still insufficient. In response, the following measures have been approved:

Every school will now be required to have at least one club for individual and team Olympic sports.

The Ministry of Sports will assign sports school coaches to assist physical education teachers in public schools with methodological support.

Each sports federation will select one school in each district and adapt it to its respective sport, providing professional coaches and necessary equipment.

Regular competitions in Olympic sports will be held between schools, and top-performing students will be included in the talent selection system.

Physical education teachers who train students achieving high results will receive special incentives.

These measures aim to develop mass sports among youth, establish sports traditions in schools, and identify promising athletes at an early stage.

Currently, the number of higher education institutions in Uzbekistan has reached 203, and the number of full-time students exceeds 700,000.

The importance of increasing student participation in sports to at least 50% was emphasized.

In many foreign countries, university sports serve as a talent pool for professional athletics. In this regard, officials have been tasked with establishing at least three sports clubs for Olympic disciplines in every higher education institution.

The Ministry of Sports will provide scientific and methodological support for these sports clubs and create conditions for them to utilize the facilities of the University of Physical Education in Chirchiq.

Overall, it was underscored that expanding mass sports participation to 15 million people is of paramount importance. Responsibility for achieving this goal lies not only with the Ministry of Sports but also with all regional leaders, including governors of provinces, cities, and districts.

A key objective has been set to double the involvement of people with disabilities in sports.

It was also noted that promoting a healthy lifestyle is not only about sports but also about proper nutrition.

According to recent studies, 44% of the population does not engage in sufficient physical activity, while 36% do not follow proper dietary principles.

A concerning trend has been identified: a sharp decline in the consumption of grains, cereals, fruits, and vegetables, while the intake of salt and sugar has increased. As a result: 56% of the population is overweight, 38% suffer from high blood pressure and non-communicable diseases have become a leading cause of premature mortality

In response, a nationwide movement, "Healthy Individual – Healthy Nation," is being launched.

Officials have been instructed to ensure that every household receives awareness campaigns on healthy eating and physical activity. It was stressed that accessible and effective social videos should be created and broadcast daily on national television channels.

Furthermore, the importance of enshrining healthy lifestyle initiatives in legislation was highlighted. In this context, it was noted that the Law "On Physical Culture and Sports" requires a fundamental revision and adaptation to modern standards.

During the meeting, reports from responsible officials and regional leaders were presented, along with proposals from representatives of the sports sector.