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When the Opening Ceremony of the Ashgabat 2017 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games begins on 17 September, it will be the start of Central Asia’s biggest sporting event and a testament of Turkmenistan’s ambitions.And the sparkling Ashgabat Olympic Stadium, where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will take place, sends a clear message that the country will accept nothing but the best.
The state-of-the-art new stadium is situated on the exact spot where the old one –Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Olympic Stadium – once stood.
Built in 2003, the Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Olympic Stadium was demolished 10 years later to make way for the new facility. Although the initial plan was to simply refurbish the old stadium, two planned models did not pass close scrutiny.
While the old stadium could hold just 30.000 people, the new one boasts of a capacity of around 45.000. The top portion of the white marble stadium houses its most impressive feature – a massive white head of the revered Akhel-teke horse.
Initial work on the stadium began in 2014, but picked up pace a year later. The entire project has been completed well in advance of Turkmenistan hosting Ashgabat 2017.
The entire Ashgabat Olympic Complex, located close to the Kopetdag mountains in the capital city, is an excellent location in terms of transportation routes.
The stadium, used primarily to host football matches, has now been fitted with a synthetic athletics track to transform it into an ideal venue for future international track and field events.
While its overall concept was developed by Turkey-based Polimeks, other international companies associated with designing and delivery of world famous sports facilities - AFL Architects and Arup – were also deeply involved in the project’s successful delivery.
It will provide a dazzling centre piece on 17 September when a cast of more than 7,000 proudly perform during the Ashgabat 2017 opening ceremony.
The eyes of Asia and Oceania will be watching as the new stadium makes its proud arrival on the world sporting stage. (Stadiaworld, 26.07.2017)
