Uzbekistan has announced the establishment of a Non-Olympic Sports Confederation, a proposal approved by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on April 7. The decision is linked to growing interest in sports not included in the Olympic Games. According to meeting data, over 100,000 young people today regularly engage in non-Olympic sports, which serve as a reserve for Olympic disciplines such as judo, wrestling, taekwondo, fencing, and weightlifting.
Popular non-Olympic sports include motorsports (Formula 1, MotoGP), combat sports (MMA, sambo, jiu-jitsu, sumo), game sports (cricket, squash, bowling, bandy, floorball, baseball/softball), active and elite sports (cheerleading, orienteering, dance sport, frisbee, beach handball, flag football), as well as billiards and yoga. In this regard, the Ministry of Sports and local governors have been tasked with organizing sections for non-Olympic sports of interest to youth in sports schools.
The state leader separately emphasized the development of Olympic and Paralympic movements. Starting from 2026, the number of sports in which competitions are held under the President's Olympiad will double to 21. It has now been decided that this Olympiad will also include parasports. Each district and regional governor will organize a Governor's Olympiad in their territory, with winners receiving a ticket to the President's Olympiad.
Seven higher sports mastery schools in the capital will be abolished, replaced by a Center for Olympic National Teams in the Olympic Village. Fifty-six specialized sports schools across localities will also come under the center's management. Additionally, the system for training and upskilling personnel in adaptive sports will change, with the Tashkent branch of the Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University becoming a base university for inclusive sports.
Special attention is given to supporting parasport athletes and their companions. From now on, companions assisting parasport athletes during training camps, republican, and international competitions will have transport and living expenses covered and will receive a monthly salary equal to that of sports school coaches. The president highlighted that a recently adopted law increases the responsibility of leaders at all levels in physical education and sports, stating, "From now on, the demands and inquiries for these leaders will correspond to this."
Source: www.gazeta.uz