On April 1, a month of mass sports activities and socio-cultural events under the slogan “Health and Happiness” was launched in Turkmenistan. The action, which has become an annual tradition on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and timed to World Health Day (widely celebrated in April) is aimed to actively promote the principles of healthy lifestyle in our society, to popularize and develop physical culture and sports, strengthen international cooperation in this field. The action ongoing in all cities and villages, etraps, velayat centers and in Ashgabat was launched by the 4-kilometer marathon. Employees of ministries and sectoral agencies, students of higher education institutions participated in the marathon, which took place along one of the sections of Kopetdag Avenue. In the evening, the festive events were held on the occasion of opening of the month at the capital’s multifunctional stadium –“Ashgabat”, as well as at sports complexes, stadiums and schools in velayat centers. On April 2-3, exhibition performances of masters of martial arts took place in the “Galkynysh” Sports and Recreation Center. On April 2, the city of Turkmenabat hosted the Kurash Wrestling Championship of Turkmenistan among men and women. On April 1-5, the finals of the VI Chess Competition –“Turkmenistan is the country of high spirit and health” among teams from velayats and Ashgabat city assembled fans of intellectual kinds of sport. At the same time, the city of Mary hosted the Volleyball Championship of Turkmenistan among juniors. On April 3, track-and-field events were organized among students of secondary vocational schools of Turkmenistan under the motto “Students of the epoch of power and happiness” in gyms of higher education institutions of the country. Exhibition figure skating performances held in the ice arena of the Winter Sports Complex on Saturday were one of the most spectacular events of the week. On April 4-5, the Open Sambo Championship among juniors of the Youth Olympic School was a continuation of the action. Besides, on April 5, students of the Youth Olympic School, the “Olympus” Sports School and students of the country’s higher education institutions participated in the ascent on the Health Footpath and in the sporting events that took place in the foothills of the Kopetdag. The Mary velayat Cycling Championship was held in Yoloten etrap. Young cyclists competed on the roads of etraps; the cycle route ran across blooming gardens and fields, in the bosom of magnificent Turkmen nature. A variety of sporting events to suit every taste and age were organized during the first week of the month. Scores of activities – competitions in national kinds of sport, conferences, cultural and entertainment events with participation of many people are to be held before the end of the month. The closing ceremony of the “Health and Happiness” Month and the award ceremony of the VI Sports Competitions under the motto “Turkmenistan is the country of high spirit and health” will be held, at the “Ashgabat” Cultural Center on April 30.