Prof. Franco Ascani, Member of the Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission and President of FICTS-Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs, together with the Board of Directors and representatives of the 130 affiliated countries, expresses his deepest condolences and pays tribute to Sabirzhan Ruziyev, First Vice President of FICTS, a prominent figure in fencing and the Olympic Movement. A man who dedicated his life to sport, first as an elite athlete and later as a sports executive, coach and promoter of Olympic values.

One of the most distinguished figures in the history of Uzbek fencing, Ruziyev won a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games and, over the course of his career, three gold medals, one silver and one bronze at the World Championships. These achievements made him a leading figure in Uzbek sport and a highly respected name in international fencing.

After retiring from competitive sport, he turned the experience gained on the international stage into a tireless commitment to serving younger generations. As a coach and mentor, he passed on his expertise and values to young athletes, making a significant contribution to the development of fencing and sporting culture in Uzbekistan.

From 1992 to 1995, he served as President of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Physical Culture and Sports, and from 1995 to 2003, he led the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, contributing to the development and strengthening of the country’s Olympic system. He also headed the Uzbekistan Fencing Federation and, as Vice President of the Asian Fencing Confederation, worked to promote fencing across the continent, strengthen international cooperation and support young athletes.

Throughout his distinguished career, he received major national and international honours in recognition of his sporting achievements and his contribution to the development of the Olympic Movement. He was awarded the honorary title of “Honoured Athlete of the Republic of Uzbekistan” (Hizmat Kursatgan Sportchi), received the “Silver Collar” from the IOC in 1998 and the “Golden Order” from the Association of National Olympic Committees in 2002.

Sabirzhan Ruziyev understood the power of sport to transcend competition and become culture, storytelling, education and a means of bringing people together.

It was Ruziyev who first brought the Sports Film and Television Festival to Tashkent, introducing Uzbekistan to the international circuit of the “World FICTS Challenge” and creating a new cultural bridge between his country and the rest of the world. His vision left a lasting legacy, making sports imagery a powerful means of promoting the values of Olympism and bringing new generations closer to sport.

In Milan, during “SPORT MOVIES & TV 2026” (October 30 – November 2), a special “Memorial Recognition” will be presented in his honour, paying tribute to his extraordinary life and the indelible mark he left on the world of sport.

With the passing of Sabirzhan Ruziyev, the world of sport has lost one of its true protagonists, a man who embodied Olympism in all its dimensions: athlete, champion, sports executive, educator and cultural promoter. His was a life entirely dedicated to sport and its deepest values.

Prof. Franco Ascani and the entire “FICTS Family” extend their heartfelt condolences to his family and to the Uzbek sporting community, remembering with gratitude a friend, a distinguished sports leader and a protagonist of the Olympic Movement who transformed his achievements in sport into a legacy for future generations.

His example and legacy will live on through sport, through young people and through the Olympic values he served throughout his life.