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Tyrant Games: How Turkmenistan is using the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games to distract from human rights abuses

Related Topics: Turkmenistan

For the first time in the history of pan-continental multi-sports events, all eyes are on Turkmenistan.

A total of 65 delegations will compete in 21 sports at the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games (AIMAG). Approximately 6000 athletes and officials will participate and over 300 gold medals will be awarded. The event – held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s capital city – commenced on September 17 and will extend through September 27. The entire event takes place in the Ashgabat Olympic Complex, an unprecedented facility in Central Asia that boasts over 30 venues, a medical center, and an Athletes’ Village equipped with restaurants, hotels, and shopping malls.