…The torch of the Universiade-2013 Republican Student Sports Competitions is alight on the festively adorned Bukhoro central stadium. The young athletes and artistic performers on the pitch present vocal-choreographic composition in tribute to these games.

The official closing ceremony kicks off. The teams of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent enter the pitch. The exciting moment – the awarding ceremony of winners comes up.

The team of the city of Tashkent who earned the most numerous medals and came first is awarded the most precious, the dearest prize, namely, the original Greeting Message of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov for the Participants of the Universiade-2013 and the present from the President – the Damas car.

The teams of Samarkand and Andijan regions, who earned the second and third places, respectively, are also awarded the presidential gifts – Damas minivans.

A group of athletes who have demonstrated particular mastery and will for victory with high results during the competitions is awarded special prizes.

“The tremendous attention paid under the leadership of President Islam Karimov to the steadfast development of sports and the growth in the number of talented sportspeople has been manifest in the accomplishments and records set at the current Universiade,” says the capital’s Nodira Burkhonkhodjaeva, winner of gold medal at the Universiade-2013 in ping pong. “The consideration and care of the head of our state for us help us conquer new heights and aim international sports arenas.”

At the Universiade held in our country for the sixth time, under strict adherence to Olympic principles of impartiality, integrity, justice, mutual respect, the growth in indicators and results by the participants has been striking. Scores of new records have been set. This is the bright confirmation of the fact that our athletes capable of worthily upholding the honor of our Motherland at the Olympics and Asian Games, world and continental championships, have been mounting in number.

The majority of contenders who have displayed their abilities at the Universiade Games in Bukhara are now set to perform at the World Universiade due 6-17 July in the Russian city of Kazan, where the sports delegation of Uzbekistan comprising 80 athletes is to vie for medals in fourteen types of sports.

The Bukhara competitions have proved not merely an important event in Uzbekistan’s sports life, but they also turned out to be a true festival of youth and sports, and revealed new names of young men and women competent in adding to the fame of the Motherland with their achievements in all walks of life. In independence years, the success of our sportspeople facilitates the amplification of the international standing of our nation nurturing a younger generation inferior to no one in anything.

The Universiade-2013 Republican Sports Games have been extensively covered at the Universiada.uz website in Uzbek, Russian, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese and Chinese. During three days, tens of thousands of sport fans from more than forty countries of the world have observed the Universiade contests through that official portal.

Myriads of cultural and enlightenment events have been organized within the Universiade-2013 program, including meetings with renowned athletes, poets and writers, art figures, as well as sightseeing around Bukhara and concert shows. Especially impressive for the participants were the Bukhoro Madaniy Markazi (Bukhara Cultural Center) and the “Ancient and Eternal Bukhara” monument.

Amid the tender music aired around the stadium, the flag of the Universiade-2013 Republican Sports Games goes down. Athletes from Bukhara pass it to the representatives of Ferghana region who will be hosting the next finals of the student sports competitions.

“It is a great honor for us to be hosts for the final stage of the Universiade in Ferghana region,” says the gold medal winner of the Universiade-2013 in track and field athletics Doston Saydaliev. “We believe that the student games – the highest tier of three-layer system of sports competitions – will be held at a high level in our province, too.”

The torch of the Universiade-2013 becomes dim. But the flame will remain in the hearts of participants; it will lighten the path for them into the big sports and inspire for new triumphs.

The closing ceremony of the Universiade-2013 Sports Games wrapped up with performances of athletes and a gala concert. (Source: Uzbekistan National Agency “UzA”)