The opening ceremony of the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) has taken place in Turkmenistan's capital, Ashgabat.



The ceremony was attended by a number of heads of state and government, including the presidents of Afghanistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.



Authoritarian President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who exercises considerable control over virtually all aspects of society in the gas-rich former Soviet republic, appears to want to use the 11-day AIMAG to cast Turkmenistan as a regional success story and sports hub.

But human rights groups have raised concern over rights abuses in the run-up of the competition, including "massive housing violations" in Ashgabat by Turkmen authorities and their continued clampdown on independent voices.



Turkmenistan usually shuns outside visitors but for the AIMAG expects tens of thousands of foreigners to visit.



According to organizers, some 5,500 athletes from 62 countries will be contesting in 21 disciplines -- including tennis, ju-jitsu, cycling track, weightlifting, and taekwondo -- to September 27, making it Asia's second-largest sporting event.



The youngest athlete to participate was said to be a 13-year-old Pakistani swimmer, Jahan Ara Nabi.



The Turkmen government has spent billions of dollars preparing for the games -- the most prominent international event ever held in independent Turkmenistan -- including some $2.5 billion on a mammoth new airport built in the shape of a falcon in flight.



It also built an Olympic Complex located on 150 hectares on the outskirts of the capital and numerous state-of-the-art sporting facilities -- including the Olympic Stadium capable of holding 45,000 fans, a 6,000-seat indoor cycling track, a water-sports complex, an indoor tennis court -- complete with a circular 5-kilometer monorail system to carry athletes, officials, and fans around the complex.

Turkmen officials have said they were planning to bid for hosting other major sports events, including the Olympic Games.



Meanwhile, human rights groups have said homeowners and residents in Ashgabat have had to endure "massive housing violations" ahead of the competition.



The Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR) in Vienna and the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on September 4 that the Turkmen government had "forcibly evicted" homeowners in Ashgabat and demolished their homes "without adequate compensation" in preparation for the games.



They said that Turkmen authorities had also "systematically demolished extensions and additions homeowners have made to their properties, without allowing them to appeal the demolition decisions to a court," in order to "standardize the city’s appearance."



The two human rights watchdogs have also called on the Olympic Council of Asia, as the organizer of the AIMAG, to remind Turkmenistan of its rights obligations.



The Olympic Council of Asia "should urge the Turkmen government to ensure that all journalists can do their work without fear of retaliation ahead of, during, and after the games," an August 8 statement said.



The call came after a correspondent for RFE/RL in Turkmenistan was threatened with death by a man who identified himself as a police officer.



While en route to take photos documenting Turkmenistan's Day of Bicycles on July 29, Soltan Achilova said the man warned her against taking photos or she would be "finished."



The previous week Achilova, 68, said a man tried to steal her phone as she was about to take a picture. The two recent attacks follow several incidents of harassment against Achilova in November 2016.



In an effort to improve the country's image when foreigners start arriving to compete in, or attend, AIMAG, Turkmen authorities have banned the sale of alcohol in Ashgabat, restricted the movement of residents of the provinces to the capital, ordered former inmates to stay away from the games' venues, and tried to clear the city of stray dogs and cats as well as child beggars.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Turkmen Service</s>New Delhi [India], September 17 (ANI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will today be travelling to Turkmenistan for a day to attend 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

The ten-day event, beginning on on September 17, will be held at Ashgabat.

"Travelling to Turkmenistan for a day to attend the 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Art Games in Ashgabat," Pradhan tweeted.

He also wished the Indian athletes participating in the event under various categories.

"172 athletes will be representing India in 13 disciplines at this international event. My best wishes to them," he added.

Ashgabat is the first city in the former Soviet Central Asian region, which has won the right to host the Asian Indoor Games.

The opening ceremony will be held at the newly built Olympics stadium in Ashgabat.

All the 45 member-countries of the Olympic Council of Asia will attend this event, apart from the first-timers - 17 Oceania National Olympic Committees. (ANI)</s>ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan -- Mia Speight San Nicolas was statuesque as she entered the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium, leading a small representative of Guam's athletes participating in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

San Nicolas, Guam's flag bearer for these games, is also one of the younger athletes here, representing the future of the island sports. San Nicolas is a member of Guam's 3X3 women's basketball team.

The opening ceremonies, while advertising a start at around 5 p.m., did not actually get going until 8:17 p.m. with a long speech from the Turkmen president.

From there, it was a few more speeches followed by a storybook tale, suggesting that Turkmenistan of the past and goodwill to all led to diversity of sport and eventually, to today's Games.

As the Parade of Nations signaled the end of the ceremony, a warm welcome was given to the 19 nations of Oceania who are joining these games for the first time. Teams from the region, including Guam, were met with cheers and applause.

The crowd went crazy following the introduction of host Turkmenistan, introduced last and proudly given the stadium for a victory lap.

The games have already started and some medals have been awarded. They conclude Sept. 27.</s>ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN: Pakistan Saturday took off with a flying start winning a gold, a silver and four bronze medals on the opening day of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which are formally to be kicked off Sunday with over 6,000 athletes from 65 Asian countries taking part in 21 different disciplines.



Pakistan's Shahzeb Nawaz and Muhammad Rafique in the men’s duo show final upset Thailand witnessed by a jamp-packed indoor complex.

The duo earlier upset Turkmenistan's twin brothers Ahmad Tanriberdiyew and Yousaf Tanriberdyew, after taking a bye in the opening round.

Shahzeb and Muhammad Rafique in a close fight secured 45 points against 44.5 of the strong Thailand pair, leaving a difference of 0.5.

Talking to APP, Shehbaz Nawaz and Rafique said they had undergone a hard training back home.

After recording a victory against the host Turkmenistan, winning the gold medal was their target.

Turkmenistan was a strong team and their defeat had boosted their morale that they could also beat Thailand, they added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan grabbed two silver and three bronze medals in jujitsu and one bronze medal in traditional wrestling.

The international duo Abu Hurrara and Ammar grabbed silver medals by defeating Tajikistan and then claiming the golden point when their fight with Thailand tied on 80 points each.

They later lost the gold medal fight to host Turkmenistan.

In the women duo show classic event, Sonia Manzoor and Komal Emmanuel grabbed bronze medals while Thailand won the gold medal and Turkmenistan took silver medal, respectively.

Pakistan lost to Turkmenistan and Vietnam, and defeated arch-rival India.

In the women duo show, the same pair won the bronze medal while Thailand won the gold medal and Turkmenistan the silver medal, and in the mixed duo classic, Pakistan's another pair of Shahbaz Nawaz Janjua and Rafique Siddique lost to Turkmenistan and Thailand and recorded victory against Tajikistan to grab a bronze medal.

In the traditional wrestling Ambareen Massih won bronze medal in 58kg weight while her sister Humaira lost.

Earlier, 135-member contingent of Pakistan led by Chef de Mission Amjad Ali Khan was warmly received by Turkmenistanian Olympic officials.

The Turkmen children chanted slogans: "Long lasting Pakistan-Turkmenistan friendship" at the bird-like newly constructed international airport like other 65 participating countries of Asia.

Pakistan is taking part in nine different Games comprising Athletic, Belt Wrestling, Free Wrestling, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Traditional Wrestling, Tennis, Taekwondo, Kick-Boxing, Weightlifting.

Meanwhile, all is set for the formal opening ceremony of the much-anticipated event on Sunday evening with Ashgabat illuminated with multi-colour lights, colourful fountains and multi-banners on the roads leading to the Olympic City.

In a media briefing Chairman Olympic Committee of Asia Charles Lo, CEO Games James Bulley and Operation Manager Games Annasuket KAKAYAV said Turkmenistan was the first Central Asian country to host any of the OCA events and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berglimuhamedow along with dignitaries, including President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistanwould grace the formal opening ceremony on Sunday.

The ceremony will be held at the newly built Ashgabat Olympic Stadium.

The impressive venue located at the center of the complex is a one of a kind facility and set to leave a long lasting legacy for Turkmen sports, especially as a football and athletics venue.

With the 45,000-seating capacity Olympic stadium, Ashgabat boasts some truly impressive numbers, with a massive cast of characters, incredible feats of engineering and infrastructure, intricate arrangements in catering, and a slew of other preparations completed to accommodate the incoming athletes from Asia and Oceania.

There are 45 countries of Asia and 19 Oceana countries, as well as one refugee team competing under the Olympic banner—a first for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

The number of sports slated for the Ashgabat 2017 programme, including everything from Belt Wrestling to Track Cycling, with four of those sports part of the Olympic Games programme.

There are 351 medal events and a total of 1870 medals would be awarded.

A total of 15 different venues prepared according to international needs for the competitions spread out across the 1.5 sqr-km Ashgabat Olympic Complex.

Out of the 15 venues 13 venues are newly built, with state of the art facilities at par with the best in the world, while two facilities have been fully upgraded for the games.

There are 700,000 numbers of tickets available for spectators to view the 220 sport sessions on the Ashgabat 2017 programme, with ticket costs between 7-10 TMT (US $3).

There will be 7000 young performers prepared for the most awaited opening and closing ceremonies with 8000 devoted volunteers helping the visitors to this beautiful Ashgabat City, famous at White Marbal City.</s>With a glitzy sports show and a multi-billion-dollar spending spree, isolated Turkmenistan wants to show itself to the world. Turkmenistan, a gas-rich former Soviet nation in Central Asia, has comparatively little contact with the outside world and sees few foreign visitors. Its authoritarian government is regularly criticized by human rights organizations.

Keen to turn his country – which has never won an Olympic medal – into a sports power, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov’s administration has spent $5 billion on arenas hosting the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

Previously a low-key offshoot of the Asian Games, the event was reimagined Sunday with a lavish opening ceremony that stressed Turkmenistan’s love of animals, featuring acrobats on horseback and a dog handler leading the athletes’ parade.

Berdymukhamedov, who hailed the games as “an event of huge social and political meaning” on Sunday before the ceremony, projects a sporty, all-action image. The cult of personality that surrounds his autocratic rule has included footage and photographs of him riding horses, flying helicopters, throwing knives, cycling, jogging and lifting weights.

Healthy lifestyles are promoted relentlessly. Last year, state employees were coerced into performing morning open-air fitness exercises, while the run-up to the games saw a ban on alcohol sales and a day when private cars were banned from the roads to encourage cycling.

The president _ re-elected this year with more than 97 percent of the vote _ is also a music lover who composed the official anthem of the games. In addition to the anthem, which received a rapturous reception from the crowd of mostly locals, songs also played praising Berdymukhamedov under his title of “Arkadag,” Turkmen for “The Protector.”

The spending on the games is a vast sum for a country of 5 million people which is mostly desert and has widespread poverty.

Besides the arenas which make up Ashgabat’s so-called Olympic Village, the government also splashed out $2.3 billion on an airport terminal shaped like a falcon. The pre-games construction was allegedly marred by what human rights groups called the mass demolition of local people’s houses to make way for sports venues.

In the seven years since Turkmenistan was awarded the games, the price of natural gas _ the country’s only major export _ has fallen, putting extra strain on government finances.

The games have been heavily promoted in Turkmenistan but are largely unknown internationally. Some of the Asia-Pacific region’s bigger sporting powers, like Japan and Australia, sent relatively small delegations.

The first medals were awarded a day before the games officially began. Despite its lack of success at the Olympics, Turkmenistan racked up 16 gold medals Saturday _ eight times more than any other country _ all in Jiu-Jitsu and a type of traditional wrestling.

Except for the visiting athletes and officials, the games have done little to open up the secretive nation. Border controls were tightened even further in the run-up to the event, citing security reasons.

Some foreign media representatives, including an Associated Press writer, were originally accredited to cover the event, then told a week beforehand that they couldn’t attend.

Dayanch Gulgediyev, chairman of the executive committee staging the games, said the games were so popular that some visitors had to be turned away.

“Due to big number of participants coming … and taking into account Ashgabat city’s accommodation capabilities, the priority has been given to those from Asian and Oceanian (National Olympic Committees) to better serve and promote the games,” he told the AP in an email.

For all the latest Sports News, download Indian Express App</s>ASHGABAT, (Turkmenistan), Sept 17 (APP): The 5th Asian Indoor

 and

 Martial Arts Games got under way on Sunday with 6000 athletes from 65 countries – 45

 countries across Asia and 19 countries from Oceana with

 one contingent of the refugees taking part in 21 disciplines.

 President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berimuhamedov, Sheikh Ahmad

 Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President Olympic Committee of Asia, President of Pakistan

 Mamnoon Hussain, President World Sports Journalist Body (AIPs)

 Gianni Marlo (Itlay), Secretary General AIPS Amjad Aziz Malik (Pakistan) along with other

 dignitaries formally inaugurated the Games.

 President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berimuhamedov and Sheikh

 Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President Olympic Committee of Asia delivered

 their speeches. A traditional 500 horse rally marking the opening day, followed by

 colourful ceremony held at the newly built Ashgabat Olympic Stadium with a cost of US$

 5 billion, it was packed with spectators, as Turkmenistan became the first Central Asian

 country organizing the event under the supervision of the OCA and IOC.

 The 135-member Pakistan contingent led by Chef de Mission Amjad

 Ali Khan, Secretary IPC and President Pakistan Olympic Association Lt.

 Gen (Retd) Arif Hassan marched past the main arena. The Pakistani flag

 was carried by Shahzeb Janjua, who won the first gold medal along

 with Muhammad Rafique Siddique in Men Duo Show event of the Ju-Jitsu on Saturday.

 In his speech, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said that the

 opening ceremony had become one of the most memorable moments of any

 international multi-sports Games.

 He said it gave the host city and the country the chance to

 display their proud history and culture. It also brought together the athletes from various

 countries and regions to share the special

 experience.

 He said: “The ceremony sets the scene for what is to come over

 the next few days, highlighting not only the sports action but the

 feeling of unity and solidarity among all participants to make the Games

 a success.”

 He said, this includes the athletes, coaches, team officials,

 media and sponsors and of course, the spectators – who play such an important part in

 an event, like this. On behalf of the Olympic Council

 of Asia it is truly an honor for me to greet everyone on the occasion. Tonight is truly a

 moment that Turkmenistan has been looking forward

 since we have the honor of being awarded the Games in Dec 2010.

 In his speech, President of Turkmenistan said the sports was

 very much important for the youth and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games would

 bring more to the youth of Ashgabat, besides helping in

 spreading brotherhood and exchange of culture.

 President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that

 the horse run would be a great reflection of his country’s rich cultural, historical and

 cultural heritage.

 Pakistani athletes on Saturday put in a great show, especially in Jujitsu where they

 grabbed a gold, two silver and three bronze medals,

 besdies a bronze in traditional wrestling (by Ambareen). Pakistan has

 a good chance of winning more medals in athletics, relay and men’s hurdles.

 Olympians Maria Maratab, Mehboob Ali and Rabia Ashaq, and Zeenat, made a good

 athletic side.

 Pakistan will begin its athletic journey on Monday, as many as

 seven male and four female athletes will part of the action. Secretary Athletic Federation

 of Pakistan Muhammad Zafar is hopeful of solid show

 from the athletes.

 “We have done lot of hard work and I am sure enough the athlete

 would spring surprise,” he added. After winning a bronze medal a senior official of the

 Pakistan Wrestling Federation told APP that the country would be looking for more

 medals in belt wrestling to be starting on (Monday). Similarly, Pakistan Weightlifting side

 would start its

 expedition from Sept. 20, Furqan Ahamd, Usman Amjad Rathor, Jamil Akhtar

 are part of the Pakistan Squad.

 Meanwhile, Isra Ilyas and Muhammad Faheem will begin medal quest

 in Taekwondo on September 18-22. In the Traditional Wrestling Pakistan

 only won one medal as Adnan Rana in -62kg, and Muhammad Saeed in -57kg

 were disqualified and Benish Khan lost to Gulmira of Turkmenistan

 in -70kg and Basit lost in 100kg weight against Samandar of Tajikistan

 by 2-0 points.

 Pakistan stands overall at fourth at the medal table on the

 second day, winning seven medals, one gold, two silver and four bronze. Turkmenistan

 with 16 gold, 14 silver and 7 bronze leading at the top

 with 37 medals, Uzbekistan with two gold, three silver and eight bronze, Thailand is third

 with two gold, two silver and three bronze.</s>ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) — The hopes of Australia and other Oceania countries being allowed to compete in the Asian Games have been diminished by the head of the Olympic Council of Asia.

Speaking at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games which are continuing in Ashgabat, OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah said with the Asian Games already operating at full capacity, allowing nations from Oceania to join the event was "unlikely to happen."

Last year, Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said he was pursuing the idea of his country taking a full delegation of athletes to the 2022 Asian Games, set for Hangzhou, China.

"Discussions are under way and I believe there would be great interest in the Asian Games amongst our member sports," Coates said at the time. "Particularly in sports where the Asian countries are strong (such as) gymnastics, badminton and table tennis. I believe participating in the Asian Games would be very good for us."

But on Monday, Sheikh Ahmad said that while the OCA was keen to continue its current relationship with Oceania countries, centering on lower-level events, it was not likely to happen at the region's premier games.

"With the Asian Games we are already at 15,000 athletes and officials, and we cannot add to that number," he said. "In the Beach Games and Indoor Games we can continue to have our coordination and cooperation, but for the Asian Games the number is very high and we cannot have an Olympic Village with more than 15,000 people. "

The Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games involve 65 teams — 45 from Asia, 19 from Oceania, plus an African Refugee Team. It's the first time Oceania countries are competing officially at an OCA multi-sport games. Athletes from Australia and New Zealand took part in the Asian Winter Games in Japan in February, but only as guest athletes who were not eligible to win medals.

Sheikh Ahmad said there was a minor chance of Oceania countries competing in some events at the Asian Games, but only if current qualifying conditions were altered.

The next Asian Games will be held in Indonesia in 2018.</s>ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Sep 17 – Turkmenistan’s image-conscious strongman Gurbanguly Berymukhamedov on Sunday kicked off a 10-day regional sporting event the isolated country is hosting despite a slew of economic and rights concerns.

A record-breaking horse-head sculpture loomed large over a brand new 45,000-seater stadium packed mostly with Turkmen citizens as Berdymukhamedov hailed the opening of the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games as an “historic” event for the Central Asian state and its capital Ashgabat.

While the event involving 41 countries is not as prestigious as other Olympic Council of Asia tournaments, such as the Asian Games that dates back to 1951, Turkmenistan, still reeling from the collapse of global gas prices, has spared little expense hosting it.

At the opening, volunteers clad in green and yellow tracksuits swarmed onto the stage with glow sticks, giving way to Turkmen in sheepskin hats performing traditional songs in the two-and-a-half hour marathon ceremony.

Flashing intermittently on a giant display screen was the games’ cartoon mascot — depicting a local breed of dog — which Berdymukhamedov personally ordered redrawn after taking a strong dislike to an earlier design.

“The main task the president set before us is to open Turkmenistan up to the whole world through sport and our hospitality,” Dayanch Gulgeldiyev, who chaired the games’ organising committee, told AFP ahead of the event.

But rights groups have raised concerns the government’s spending splurge has come at a disproportionate cost to ordinary Turkmen citizens who have seen the cost of imports spike and the currency plunge in recent years.

The Olympic village alone cost the state budget some $5 billion, whilst adding the equivalent of 62 football fields of white marble to a city already famous for its lunar-like architecture.

The showpiece Olympic stadium is topped off with another marble-clad construct — a 42.05-metre-tall horse-head sculpture adjudicated by Guinness as the world’s biggest — and an Olympic-style torch powered by gas from the giant Galkynysh gas field.

“We began from nothing and have managed to make the Ashgabat games the biggest of their kind,” Gulgeldiyev told AFP excitedly.

Global watchdog Human Rights Watch has claimed that the infrastructure drive ahead of the games saw homeowners “forcibly evicted” and their homes demolished “without adequate compensation”.

The OCA had “utterly failed the Olympic charter’s ideals” by failing to speak out against government repression, the rights group said on Wednesday.

Among the many restrictions imposed by the state during the period of the games are travel restrictions for Turkmen attempting to leave the country, closures of schools and bans on tobacco and alcohol sales.

“The AIMAG is a medium-scale athletic competition, and shouldn’t be a state of emergency,” said Farid Tuhbatullin, director of the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights.

“The Turkmen government has no business imposing such draconian restrictions on its people, not for these games, not ever.”

The government expects 30,000 foreign guests, but at least three major international news wires including AFP had not received accreditation for foreign-based correspondents in time for the opening.

Alexander Cooley, a regional analyst and professor at Columbia University, argues the games are intended mostly to “favourably portray the leadership” of Berdymukhamedov, “who has gone to great lengths to craft an image of himself as an engaged and athletic leader” as he marks over a decade in power.

Nevertheless, what Cooley calls the regime’s “paranoia” surrounding the games, “including its closing of schools and monitoring of the foreign press…might actually backfire and draw more international attention to political repression and endemic corruption.”

Former dentist Berdymukhamedov took office in 2006 shortly after the death of eccentric predecessor Saparmurat Niyazov.

Both men are honoured by golden monuments in the Ashgabat, the products of leadership cults that regularly see Turkmenistan compared to North Korea.</s>Ghani Leaves to Turkmenistan for Official Visit

President Ashraf Ghani leading a high-level government delegation left Kabul to Turkmenistan on an official visit this morning.

The Presidential Palace in a press release said that besides meeting Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, President Ghani will also attend the inauguration of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

The statement further added that the Afghan delegation led by President Ghani includes the ministry of foreign, Salahuddin Rabani, the national security adviser, Muhammad Hanif Atmar, finance minister, Eklil Hakimi, President’s top envoy, Dr. Muhammad Homayoun Qayoumi, Muhammad Shaker Kargar and other Afghan officials.

Previously, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) has stressed that President Ghani’s attendance at the inauguration ceremony of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan would encourage Afghan athletes and motivate them to do their best.</s>The city of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan is famous for two characteristics. It has the highest concentration of marble buildings in the world and is capital of one of the most repressive regimes in the world. The two are not unrelated: all-powerful central Asian dictators with natural resource wealth are able to construct ostentatious monuments to themselves with little concern for their citizens.

But the current Turkmen leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, has grown tired of building with marble. On Sunday the 60-year-old dentist’s newest vanity project will be unveiled: the latest edition of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. As its population continues to endure severe poverty, Turkmenistan has spent a reported US$5bn (£3.74bn) on infrastructure to host this niche sporting event.

Last week in Lima the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, gave a grandiose speech pitting the movement he leads against the forces of nationalism and isolationism sweeping the globe. “We stand for peace, diversity, tolerance and respect,” he said. “These trends are a call to action for us. More than ever the world needs our Olympic values.” At the same time athletes from more than 60 of his member nations were travelling to one of the most repressive countries in the world for an event run by the IOC’s Asian affiliate.

A resource-rich nation spending its fiscal reserves on extravagant international events is nothing new but the scale of repression in Turkmenistan is extreme. The former Soviet state is among the worst in the world in that regard; Freedom House gave Turkmenistan a score of three out of 100 in its annual report, describing it as “a highly repressive authoritarian state where citizens’ political rights and civil liberties are almost completely denied in practice”. Only Syria had a lower aggregate score in the report, while Turkmenistan found itself in the esteemed company of Eritrea, North Korea and Uzbekistan.

“Turkmenistan is the most repressive government in the post-Soviet region,” says Rachel Denber, deputy director of the Europe and central Asia division at Human Rights Watch (HRW). “This is a government that permits absolutely no criticism, no matter how mild, of government actions, policies or social agenda.”

Yet on Sunday athletes from across Asia and the Pacific are expected to take part. Countries as diverse as China, Kiribati, Palestine and Timor-Leste will be represented, contesting sports including swimming, cycling, e-sports, chess and several martial arts. One first-time participant at the Games is Australia, with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) eager to strengthen sporting ties with Asia.

The Observer put four questions to the AOC’s president, John Coates, regarding the propriety of Australia’s participation, with the phrase “human rights” or similar appearing five times. The administrator ignored these questions and did not include the phrase once in his response, instead offering platitudes. “Participating in these Games represents a wonderful opportunity for our young and developing Australian team of 18 athletes to gain invaluable experience with some of the best athletes in the world in their sports,” said Coates.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was also contacted for comment. A spokesperson said that as the AOC is a non-government body, the department “does not participate in its decision-making”. The spokesperson added that Australia had raised concerns during Turkmenistan’s last appearance before the United Nations’ human rights forum and would do so again at the next opportunity.

Preparations for the Games have coincided with further repression. HRW and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR) have reported the mass demolition of homes as part of an urban renewal project, with no more than nominal compensation for residents. “The Games will last all of 10 days but people left with inadequate or no housing will suffer for years to come,” TIHR’s executive director, Farid Tuhbatillin, said recently.

Human rights groups have also observed renewed attempts to control public life. “We might have thought Turkmenistan could not get more repressive but, as these Games draw near, the government is tightening the screws even further,” says HRW’s Denber. “The government deeply fear what will happen when Turkmen come into contact with foreigners. They worry that the government’s secrets about how repressive it is and how poor the social conditions are will suddenly spill out. It is doing everything to prevent that from happening.”

Local sources have reported that Ashgabat has in effect been sealed off from the remainder of the country, with only public transport and taxis permitted to enter the city. “Raids to identify untrustworthy social elements have been launched,” said Tuhbatillin, a former political prisoner. “Police are detaining prostitutes, the homeless and those suffering from substance abuse.” Citizens with criminal records have reportedly been banned from going outside.

The Guardian, the Observer’s stablemate, was initially given accreditation to cover the Games but 11 days before the opening ceremony it was revoked on the grounds of “the overwhelming response”. Repeated requests to be reinstated went unanswered by the Games’ organisers while the intervention of the British embassy in Turkmenistan was unsuccessful. The Guardian is aware other international media outlets have had their accreditation revoked in similar circumstances.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and each participating National Olympic Committee are recognised by the IOC, whose charter requires the organisation to take “all necessary steps in order to ensure the fullest coverage by the different media”. Indeed last year the IOC introduced an online mechanism for journalists to report violations of press freedom.

Repeated requests have been made to the OCA as to how hosting the Games in Turkmenistan and the revocation of media accreditation were consistent with the charter, but received no response. An IOC spokesperson sought to shift responsibility: “The Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games are an independent sporting event that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the IOC.”

Denber said: “HRW has sent five letters to the OCA since 2016, and it has not replied to a single one. The OCA is a member of the IOC and is obligated to uphold the principles of the Olympic Charter. Instead, by its silence, the OCA is accepting the complete perversion of the Olympic values.”

The intersection between sport and politics has a long history; the IOC founder, Pierre de Coubertin, hoped that the modern Games would improve political relations between states. While the IOC may profess that its events are free of political influence, recent Olympics in China and Brazil belied such claims. With football’s next two World Cups in Russia and Qatar respectively and Beijing hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics, sport is in a new era of politicisation – after almost three decades of relative post‑cold war neutrality. The attraction of these mega‑events to such nations is obvious.

“Turkmenistan is hosting these Games to boost its international prestige,” says HRW’s Denber. “Turkmenistan has been a closed country for many years and some in the government believe this will lead to international prestige, which may in turn improve the government’s domestic legitimacy.” The Turkmen exile Tuhbatillin said bluntly: “Any dictatorial regime wants to show the world its positive aspects.”

There may also be financial motives for Turkmenistan’s hosting of the Games. “In a highly corrupted regime, the construction of facilities for this sporting event constitutes a source of bribes for the Turkmen government,” says Professor Sebastien Peyrouse of George Washington University. “The preparation of these Games has been a new and considerable source of personal enrichment for the president and his entourage.” Several of the Games’ major infrastructure projects were awarded to a Turkish construction company with close ties to Berdymukhamedov.

With fewer countries interested in hosting such expensive events – witness the carefully staged-managed process that gave Paris and Los Angeles the 2024 and 2028 Olympics respectively – this may not be the last time Ashgabat hosts a major sporting extravaganza. The IOC and its brethren are increasingly desperate for wealthy nations willing to spend billions for little financial return, and trivial concerns such as human rights are becoming even less relevant.

As North Korea continues to fire rockets over Japan, its central Asian equivalent – the comparison is common – is staging a quirky sporting event that is less likely to register in the international consciousness. Even at higher profile events, such as the Qatar 2022 World Cup, reporting about human rights will eventually subside and attention switch to the pitch. While spectators remain transfixed by the sporting action, the IOC, OCA, Fifa and other opaque sporting institutions will continue to award their events to distasteful regimes.

“Every state has a degree of responsibility when it sends its representatives to a country where human rights are worth nothing,” implored the Turkmen activist Ruslan Myatiev. The IOC, too, must share the blame. Otherwise – 2032 Olympics in Ashgabat, anyone?

Consisting of vast swaths of desert between the Caspian Sea and borders with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran, Turkmenistan has long been a wild frontier. Turkmen tribes inflicting heavy defeats on Russian forces during the 1800s, and were the last of the Central Asian ethnicities to be brought under Moscow’s control. Until the end of the Soviet era in 1991, Turkmenistan was tightly governed by the central administration.

Newly independent Turkmenistan was ruled with an iron fist by Saparmurat Niyazov, who styled himself as Turkmenbashi (“father of the Turkmen”) and renamed the days of the week after relatives. While the isolationist Niyazov quickly developed an international reputation for his eccentricities, which ranged from installing a golden statue in his image that rotated with the sun to building a penguin sanctuary in the desert, his quirks obscured brutal repression.

Niyazov’s death in 2006 facilitated the rise of Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who acceded to the presidency early the following year. While observers were initially heartened by suggestions that Turkmenistan would shed its isolationist past, Berdymukhamedov has consolidated power and maintained the status quo. Turkmenistan’s appearances in international reporting remain largely limited to quirky stories, whether a new airport designed to handle 17 million passengers per year (annual visitor number in 2015 were just 105,000) or propaganda footage of Berdymukhamedov in his action man guise.

Despite Turkmenistan’s human rights record, it has largely been ignored by Western governments. “Turkmenistan (and Central Asia) is not a strategic region for the West,” said Professor Sebastien Peyrouse. “The impact of the limited foreign pressure that has been exerted is weakened by rival interests, particularly those seeking to develop economic relations with Turkmenistan.” The European Union is expected to soon ratify a partnership agreement with Turkmenistan, human rights record notwithstanding.
The fifth Asian Indoor Games open in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, with around 5,500 athletes from 61 countries participating in the event which will last until September 27.