On February 26, 2018 President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave start to mass sport competitions “The Great Silk Road” in Turkmenabat, the administration centre of Lebap Velayat. The members of the Government of the country as well as foreign guests took part in the events.
The events were opened by track -and-field relay race along the main street of Turkmenabat, Bitarap Turkmenistan Avenue. The Head of the State run the first leg of the relay race. It was followed by the cycling race.
Following the track-and-field race, a bicycle race began, which was also headed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. One and a half thousand bicyclists dressed in a sport uniform, representatives of enterprises, organizations, students of the Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute named after S.Seydi, senior students of Turkmenabat secondary schools took the baton "Amul-Khazar 2018".
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reached the finish line of cycling race at the crossroads of the central streets of Turkmenabat. Then the head of state headed for the car to the place where an international rally started in September of this year.
Currently, preparation works to international rally “Amul-Hazar 2018” on September 9-14, 2018 are carried out in the country, where preliminary negotiations are being held with the French companies "Amaury Sport Organization" and "Eco Race", who have extensive experience in carrying out large rally cars. The focus is on providing consulting, coordination, inviting from abroad various sports teams, as well as lighting and advertising of the event on world-famous TV channels and agencies. Initial map of route has been already made. It divided the whole rally into five laps. These are Amul-Mary, Mary-Derveze, Derveze-Turkmen Lake, Turkmen Lake-Yangala, Yangala-Avaza.
Director General and organizer of the famous rally “Africa Eco Race” Jean-Louis Schlesser, who is also known as double World Champion in sport cars rally and double winner of Paris-Dakar, was among the participants of the events.
Congratulating the Turkmen leader on a wonderful holiday and wishing great success in the further development of sports in our country, including the automobile, Jean-Louis Schlesser presented President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the keys to the presented as a gift of a racing car.
The Head of State made a race on a sports car along the road section of the rally "Amul-Hazar 2018", demonstrating the masterful control of the car in off-road conditions.
After that, the time and speed racing contests were held among the crews of the cars representing the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Automobile Sport Federation of Turkmenistan.
