President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was presented with proposals on preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games on July 1, according to the presidential press service.
Notably, Uzbek athletes achieved significant success at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, securing 13th place in the overall medal count in both competitions. During a video conference on February 13, the task was set to further develop the Olympic movement in the country and prepare effectively for the upcoming competitions. In this regard, a draft resolution was developed regarding preparations for the XXXIV Summer Olympic and XVIII Paralympic Games, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles (USA) in 2028.
The draft resolution outlines 10 priority objectives, including the enhanced development of sports with a differentiated approach to advanced, promising, and developing disciplines, expansion of the geographical reach of successful sports, transparent selection of talented youth from the grassroots level, creation of a national training methodology based on international experience, organization of training camps for national teams with a focus on specific goals and results, strengthening their material and technical base, expansion of cooperation with international sports organizations, and more.
A program and targets for athlete preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are also being developed.
To systematically organize work in the field, 14 regional branches have been established within the National Olympic Committee. The Chairman of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, governors of regions, and the mayor of Tashkent will serve as special representatives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the development of the Olympic movement. Responsible individuals from the Ministry of Sports and the Olympic Committee will be assigned to each region.
The main goal is not just preparation for one Olympics, but the formation of a sustainable and long-term system. A three-stage competition called “Olympic Heights of New Uzbekistan” will be launched to select and professionally train talented athletes starting from the grassroots level. The final stage of the competition will be held annually in the Olympic Village under the name “Presidential Olympiad.” Winners and runners-up will be admitted to training in Olympic centers.
The activities of the Republican Olympic and Paralympic Center will be aimed at forming a reserve for national teams. Starting in 2026, its funding will transition to the national budget. The center will function as a school for students in grades 8-11 and a college for students in their first and second years, with an expansion of the admission quota. Students in their first and second years will be eligible for a scholarship from the Ministry of Sports. The sports facilities of the Olympic Village will be provided free of charge to the center for training purposes.
To expand the pool of athletes, the work of private sports clubs will be improved, and they will be granted the right to participate in official competitions. Athletes who achieve high results will be able to join the national teams.
Various forms of incentives are also provided for athletes and coaches. In particular, winners and runners-up of prestigious competitions will be admitted to higher military educational institutions without entrance exams. Coaches who have prepared successful athletes at the initial stage will also receive additional payments.
The Head of State gave instructions on the effective organization of sports federations, infrastructure development in the regions, and comprehensive support for athletes and coaches.