Sport in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a nation of sport lovers

There are two traditions ‒ indigenous and international ‒ that exist side by side and are followed with equal passion by their fans. The most famous local sport is kurash, a form of wrestling which has a history that stretches back over millennia. International sports, such as football, basketball, ice hockey and gymnastics became popular in the twentieth century. International-style boxing and wrestling also attracted a considerable following, as did Asian martial arts such as judo, karate and taekwondo. A number of Uzbek champions played in top Soviet teams, competing in the Olympic Games and other prestigious events under the Soviet flag. Since Independence, impressive local and national teams have emerged in all the major branches of sport.

Several Uzbek teams are now rated in international league tables. Individual players, too, have established reputations outside their own country. Sport receives considerable official backing, as evidenced by the widespread provision of training facilities. There is also a good organisational infrastructure, with special attention paid to youth activities. Participation in regional leagues and international competitions is encouraged. National federations and associations, affiliated to international bodies, have been formed for all the main sports. The National Olympic Committee was created in 1992, and in 1994 Uzbek national teams began to participate in the Olympic Games. They have been particularly successful in the Summer Games, winning a total of 31 medals to date (including four Gold Medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016). They excel in contests of strength, especially boxing, wrestling and weightlifting.

The enthusiasm with which the population follows the triumphs and disappointments of their sporting heroes is part of the national culture. It is also a form of outreach, of connectivity to the global community ‒ very different from the isolation of the Soviet period. Nowadays foreign teams and foreign stars are ‘adopted’ and their careers are pored over with almost as much devotion as are those of national players. Visitors from Britain, for example, will soon discover that the fortunes of teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal (part owned by Uzbek-born Alisher Usmanov since 2007) are subject to as much critical scrutiny here as they are back home ‒ and ardent Uzbek supporters are as eager as British counterparts to acquire the insignia of their chosen club. These international sporting links, whether formal or informal, create bridges between peoples, raising awareness and knowledge of foreign countries and cultures. ‘Familiar strangers’ become friends and partners ‒ members of a notional community.