“With great joy, on behalf of the Olympic Council of Asia and on my own behalf, I welcome the news on the occasion of the torch lighting of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games at the ""Galkynysh"" gas field, which is a truly historic event”, says the message of the President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. Today, Turkmenistan is confidently moving along the path of progress. I want to especially note the great successes of the country achieved in recent years in the development of sports. December 2010 entered the history of the Olympic Council of Asia, thanks to your support for the decision to hold the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat in 2017. During these 7 years we witnessed the timely and active work on the preparation and organization of the Games, carried out by the Turkmen state. The Olympic Council of Asia is convinced that the Games of Ashgabat 2017 will become one of the successful Asian Games and will be held at the highest organizational level. It will be great pleasure for me to attend the official Opening Ceremony of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, as well as sports competitions during the Games. I am sure that all participants of the 5th Asian Games will be convinced of Turkmenistan's great potential for organizing sports events at the highest level and in holding various competitions, both continental and global. “The ceremony of lighting the torch of the Games at the gas field ""Galkynysh"" once again demonstrated the importance you attach to the forthcoming large-scale sports holiday, which would begin in a few days and become a special chapter in the sporting history of Turkmenistan”, the message underlines.