A press conference was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for the opening of the Silk Road Cup. The ballroom of the Radisson hotel was filled with over one hundred members of the press.
Seated at the main table were the President of IFMA, Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan, the President of the Uzbekistan Muaythai Federation, Mr. Sherzod Tashmatov, IFMA General Secretary and Vice President of the WMC, Mr. Stephan Fox, Chief of the Department of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan, Mr.Rashid Matkarimov and the Vice General Secretary of the Centre for the Development of Oriental Combat Sports and Martial Arts of Uzbekistan, Mr. Alam Mulaev.
All of them made speeches outlining the importance of blending sport and culture, and stating that the Silk Road Cup is an outstanding opportunity to raise awareness about the wealth of shared history which the Silk Road embodies. Once the link between Asia’s east, south, and west with the ancient European world, as well as Persia, Arabia and parts of north and east Africa, the Silk Road represents a time when civilizations, cultures and philosophies met and enriched one another, in a martial context of exploration and conquest.
Blending muaythai’s ancient martial traditions and values into the tapestry of the Silk Road will make this event series truly one of a kind, the likes of which has never before been seen.
