“Today, we have gathered to the opening ceremony of the modern, marvelous and unique sports complex, Bunyodkor, the commissioning of which has turned into an unforgettable event in the history of not merely the Uzbek sports, but also the entire Uzbekistan,” Islam Karimov said.

“Another remarkable date affords this fête a special symbolic sense. According to many sources, it has been a hundred years since Uzbek football emerged at the sporting arena. The centenary celebration, thus, inspires us with a particularly great joy and elated mood,” he said.

“I take this opportunity to express my innermost wishes to you, dear participants. First and foremost, I feel enormously delighted to take part in this official ceremony along with you, dear compatriots, fans of soccer and sports,” the Uzbek leader said.

“The erection of so spectacular a complex in our magnificent capital Tashkent within such a short period of time seems to be a genuine miracle. Occupying fifty-six hectares of land, this marvel encompasses seven modern soccer pitches, a children’s and youth’s football school, dorms, a swimming pool and a number of other essential facilities.

“Feasting our eyes with this splendid construction – an edifice by no means inferior to the state-of-the-art sporting arenas around the globe and designed for major international tournaments at the highest level, – our hearts are overfilled with a sense of keen happiness and gratitude as we ask ourselves as who we used to be like and who we have become like, as how high the summits we have conquered during our independent development years,” President Islam Karimov stressed.

Without any doubt, construction of this grand sports complex in sync with the highest standards will facilitate the achievement of our pivotal objective, namely, to nurture our children and youths as physically robust and spiritually sound individuals, to achieve remarkable results by Uzbek sportspeople and footballers in the international arena, to serve as a vital factor for further elevation of Uzbekistan’s standing in the world.

In a word, such cutting-edge facilities and constructions serve to build up Uzbekistan’s potential and might, and are considered a vigorous foundation for the implementation of the slogan “Uzbekistan is a nation with a great future”.

Expressing the dreams and aspirations of the Uzbek people, the head of our state wished for more of these kinds of fabulous buildings, and that they transform the appearance of our land, serve for the good of our people, and that luck and triumphant mood always accompany our athletes, while fans more often take delight in their successes.

Then, Uzbekistan’s leading football clubs – Bunyodkor and Pakhtakor – entered the pitch, and played a friendly which ended in a draw, 3-3.

The Bunyodkor Sports Complex, commissioned on the eve of the twenty-first anniversary celebration of national independence, has come to be seen as another bright manifestation of the creative endeavors ongoing in this field. This august complex has become a worthwhile gift for all football fans and the entire nation.

Erected on the idea and recommendations of President Islam Karimov, the Bunyodkor Sports Complex, with its exceptional architectural and engineering solution as well as peerless design, has served to buttress the beauty of our capital city. The state-of-the-art venue boasts every comfort and facility for footballers, coaches, refs and fans.

Today’s opening ceremony participants have been presented with extravagant performance by children’s artistic creative bands, acrobats, gymnasts, choreographic and sports groups, as well as Uzbek pop celebrities.