President of Kyrgyzstan Rosa Isakovna Otunbayeva opens 2011 Sailing Season at Lake Issyk-Kul
President of Kyrgyzstan, Rosa Isakovna Otunbayeva opened the 2011 Sailing Season in Kyrgyzstan at Lake Issyk-Kul. The Kyrgyzstan Sailing Federation representatives made the arrangements for the season
opening ceremony despite the heavy rain, that could’ve dampened the passion of the organisers. Thankfully, the arrangements were made on time.
As the dignitaries waited for the celebrations to start, a fleet of boats appeared through the lake under the rain. The sailors at the shores lifted the boats out onto the shore, and the yachts and
other cruising boats anchored at a distance on the beach.
The athletes, who were lining up with their boats, welcomed the President. The President was reported by the Kyrgyzstan Sailing Federation president, Vladimir Kirik. He told the President that the
federation is ready to launch the new season and also congratulated the Issyk-Kul area governor for the splendid preparation of the festival.
The President of Kyrgyzstan, Rosa Isakovna Otunbayeva, said after opening the season, “We are planning international regattas here in the Issyk-kul. We know that other lakes, much smaller than ours,
have more than 60 sailing regattas every year so it is a good thing that the Sailing Federation is doing such good work to change the situation for Kyrgyzstan. We will certainly develop yachting and sailing on Lake Issyk-kul.”
She congratulated the Kyrgyzstan sailor, Ilya Ignatiev, who got sixth place in the 2010 Asian Games. Ilya will also be the first athlete from the country to participate in the upcoming International
Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World Championships in December.
The federation president, Vladimir Kirik, concluded the ceremony saying, “We made a proposal to organize an international regatta on Lake Issyk-kul later this year. This regatta can be the 'President's
Cup' and we are already talking to representatives in China, Pakistan, Turkey and Qatar.”
The festival ended successfully with the hope that the sport of sailing will flourish in the country as the President has promised to eradicate the problems of the sport and acknowledges the efforts
of the Sailing Federation of Kyrgyzstan towards the promotion of the game around the country.
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