ABU covers the countdown to the start of AIMAG 2017

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

International TV crews, organised by ABU, have been arriving in the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, to report on the start of a horse relay which will mark the 500 days countdown to the beginning of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), which will be hosted by the city in 2017.

The remarkable horse show will start on the 5th of May from the historic site Nisa (Nusay). This former capital of the Parthian kingdom is located near modern Ashgabat. Nisa was founded in the 3rd century BC and was reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian kings. Excavations at Nisa have revealed substantial buildings, many inscribed documents, and many Hellenistic art works have been uncovered, as well as a large number of ivory artefacts decorated with classical mythological scenes.

The region is also birthplace of the famous Turkmen horse, Akhal-Teke, which is regarded as a national treasure in the country. 17 horsemen on purebred horses will travel around all regions of Turkmenistan in the next 500 days. Thanks to the TV crews their journey will be shown not only to every citizen of the country but also to hundreds of millions of people in Asia-Pacific and beyond.

There are many ‘firsts” associated with the 5th AIMAG. For the first a Central Asian country is hosting a major sports event. For the first time representatives from Oceania will take part in AIMAG. For the first time equestrian sport is included in the program of the games. And for the first time ABU is sending its own crew to cover an event for all its members.