Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the presentation on the development of weightlifting in the country and football infrastructure in mahallas.

Sports play a vital role in forming a healthy lifestyle among the population and providing meaningful time for young people. The Five Initiatives Olympics and national championships promote mass participation in sports. At the same time, special attention is paid to the development of Olympic sports and training qualified athletes.

In particular, the State Program for the Implementation of the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy in the Year of Support for Youth and Business provides for the creation of a system of individual work with weightlifting athletes of all age categories and the organization of a Weightlifting Center for their professional training.

The Ministry of Sports in Chirchiq will organize the center, which will be a specialized education institution for grades 7-11. Juniors will be trained using advanced methods to be the main candidates for national teams. The center is planned to begin its activities in the 2025/2026 academic year.

In addition, a weightlifting sports club will be organized with the support of the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions. Regional schools will be opened in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and in Namangan, Tashkent, and Samarkand regions.

In general, a three-year program has been developed to progress this sport. It includes tasks to increase youth interest in weightlifting, create sufficient conditions for athletes in the regions, digitalize selection processes, attract qualified foreign specialists, and develop best practices.

Three-stage competitions, the Central Asian Championship, and the Uzbekistan Open Championship are planned to popularize weightlifting.

Football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan. Therefore, plans have been developed to improve and expand football infrastructure in mahallas.

For this purpose, existing stadiums and other sports grounds will be effectively used in mahallas. Where they do not exist, such facilities will be built based on public-private partnerships. Men’s and women’s mahalla teams of different age groups will be created. Talented young players will be sent to professional football institutions.

Regional branches of the Uzbekistan Football Association and sports schools will help youth leaders in mahallas organize this work.

In addition, starting this year, based on the experience of the English School Football Association, a system for electing a school football leader among students in grades 8-11 will be introduced. A two-level “Mahalla League” will also be organized among teenagers 12-15 years old, and a three-stage Cup of the State Security Service will be among the age group of 16-30 years old.

These events will contribute to the development of football infrastructure, the selection and support of talented youth, and the formation of a high-quality reserve for national teams.

The Head of state approved these proposals and instructed strengthening the atmosphere of sports and friendship among young people and holding competitions at a high organizational level.