I HAVE NEVER WORN A MEDAL…

Memories of the 68-Year-Old “Old Sports Palace”: Mongolian Sports History – Part 2

In 2012, I published an article entitled “The Central Sports Palace in Conversation with Ministers” in the Ardchilal daily newspaper.

I am now presenting the second installment of this series to readers.

This time, we imagined a conversation with the 68-year-old “old” Central Sports Palace about the achievements of Mongolia’s national teams, the history and development of the country’s sports sector, and the memories accumulated over the decades. Through the Palace’s recollections and stories, let us revisit a chapter of Mongolian sports history.

– You have now reached the age of 68. How have you been?

– First of all, I would like to extend my greetings to everyone who loves sports and enjoys reading about sports history.

I came into existence in 1958 in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, in the area now known as Sukhbaatar District. When I first opened my doors, the scent of fresh paint filled the air, and everything about me was bright, colorful, and brand new. I was destined to become an important home for the great mission of developing Mongolian sports and preparing athletes who would bring honor to their country on the world stage.

Before I knew it, time had flown by, and I had passed the age of 68. Until 2010, I remained one of Mongolia’s main sporting centers, and today I stand as one of the country’s pioneering sports facilities, carrying a significant part of its sporting history.

Over these years, Mongolian athletes have won a total of 31 medals at the Summer Olympic Games, including two gold, 12 silver, and 17 bronze medals.

Mongolia made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Four years later, at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Mongolian athletes won one silver and three bronze medals in freestyle wrestling, writing the first chapter in the history of Mongolia’s Olympic medals.

Legendary wrestlers J. Munkhbat, Ch. Damdinsharav, D. Sereeter, and T. Artag trained within my walls, beginning their remarkable journeys toward bringing honor to their homeland on the world and Olympic stages.

Since then, many champions and celebrated athletes have emerged in Mongolian sports. The dreams of those who once trained within my halls have continued to come true on the Olympic stage.

– During the difficult transition from socialism to a market economy, the sports sector virtually collapsed. How much did you feel for your athletes during that period?

– Oh, even today, recalling those years makes my heart ache. The 1990s, when Mongolia transitioned from a socialist system to a market economy, were an extremely challenging period for Mongolian sports.

Athletes who had previously trained and competed with state support suddenly found themselves having to make a living on their own. Funding for sports organizations was reduced, some sports federations and clubs struggled to maintain their operations, and opportunities for athletes to train and participate in international competitions became limited.

Some of the young athletes who came to my halls every day and trained until they were drenched in sweat had no choice but to abandon their sporting careers. I heard that some had taken jobs simply to survive, while others had even left their homeland.

Most heartbreaking of all was the hardship faced by coaches and teachers who had devoted many years of their lives to sports. It was painful for me to see athletes who had once brought honor to Mongolia on the world stage now struggling to figure out how to make ends meet.

I did more than feel sorry for them. I suffered alongside them. Their dreams, talents, and dedication had not diminished. What had disappeared were the conditions and opportunities needed to support them.

Nevertheless, Mongolian sports survived those difficult years. Thanks to the athletes, coaches, and sports officials who remained dedicated to their professions, Mongolia never completely disappeared from the international sporting stage.

Looking back, the athletes of that generation were competing not only against their opponents but also against the hardships of life itself. That is why I continue to respect and take pride in them to this day.

– The years from the 1972 to the 1980 Olympic Games were a remarkable period for Mongolia’s golden generation of athletes, with one proud achievement following another. Those must have been wonderful years for you.

– The 1970s were years written in golden letters in the history of Mongolian sports. Kh. Bayanmunkh won a silver medal at the Munich Olympics, followed by Z. Oidov’s silver medal at the Montreal Olympics, demonstrating the strength and ability of Mongolian athletes on the world stage.

At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Mongolia won four medals and opened another remarkable chapter in its sporting history. J. Davaajav and Ts. Damdin won silver medals, while D. Oyunbold and R. Davaadalai earned bronze medals. Eight years later, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, N. Enkhbat won a bronze medal in boxing.

Every victory and achievement of those years became embedded in my walls. The glory of champions, the dedication of coaches, and the sweat and determination of athletes have all become part of my memories.

The great wrestlers Kh. Bayanmunkh, Z. Oidov, and J. Munkhbat, including Kh. Bayanmunkh, one of the greatest Mongolian wrestlers of the twentieth century, trained and competed within my halls. At that time, my facilities were used not only for national team training sessions but also for numerous traditional Mongolian wrestling tournaments.

Our two great Munkh champions were fiercely competitive young men. Both had earned national wrestling titles when they were only 18 or 19 years old. They were exceptionally promising wrestlers.

It is said that even when champion Kh. Bayanmunkh lost in the first round, he would not change out of his wrestling attire. Instead, he would remain seated and watch the rest of the tournament. He would only get dressed when the competition ended, alongside the wrestlers who had reached the final rounds.

On one occasion, Zaan Damdindorj reportedly remarked:

“Why does this blue fellow always sit around without changing his clothes, as though he has made it to the final? Why doesn’t he get dressed earlier?”

Such were the proud, ambitious, and determined great wrestlers whose stories have become intertwined with my 68 years of existence.

– The period from 1990 to 2004 could perhaps be described as the most difficult time for Mongolia’s sports sector. How did the Olympic team prepare during those years?

– As society underwent profound changes and Mongolia transitioned from socialism to a market economy, the sports sector could not escape the upheaval.

In 1997, the national team was disbanded, marking another particularly difficult period.

Yet our athletes did not give up. Despite the shortage of resources and opportunities, their determination to represent Mongolia and bring honor to their homeland on the world stage never faded.

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Mongolia competed with 33 athletes and won two bronze medals: N. Bayarsaikhan in boxing and D. Munkhbayar in shooting. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, D. Narmandakh brought home a bronze medal in judo.

However, Mongolia returned from the 2000 Sydney Olympics without a medal. It was a difficult moment for us. Nevertheless, four years later, at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Kh. Tsagaanbaatar won a bronze medal in judo, continuing Mongolia’s Olympic medal-winning tradition.

During those years, it was not the number of medals that sustained me, but the endurance of the athletes, the dedication of their coaches, and their unwavering love for sports. I must say once again that I will never forget the stories of those whose opportunities were limited but whose dreams remained alive.

– Following the Athens Olympics, the national team was re-established, and Mongolia’s sporting achievements began to grow once again, did they not?

– Indeed. From 2005, the national team was re-established, and greater attention was given to improving athletes’ training conditions and opportunities to participate in competitions. This marked the beginning of a revival in Mongolian sports.

The results soon followed. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mongolia won two gold medals at a single Olympic Games for the first time in its history, returning home with four medals in total. N. Tuvshinbayar and E. Badar-Uugan became Olympic champions, while P. Serdamba and O. Gundegmaa won silver medals.

Once again, my halls were filled with tears of joy, applause, and pride. How wonderful it was to witness Mongolian sports rise again after enduring such difficult times.

Competing in the men’s 100 kg judo category, Naidangiin Tuvshinbayar became an Olympic champion and won Mongolia’s first Olympic gold medal. As Mongolia’s national anthem played and the national flag rose above the Olympic arena, I felt as though even my walls and foundations were trembling with joy and excitement.

Soon afterward, E. Badar-Uugan won a gold medal in the boxing ring, giving Mongolia two Olympic champions at the same Games. I was 50 years old that year. Mongolia demonstrated its strength to the world, and the success inspired growing numbers of children and young people to take up sports. How wonderful it was to see sports clubs welcoming more children and laying the foundations for the training of future champions.

– Mongolia continued its medal-winning success at the 2012 London, 2016 Rio, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Did these achievements also lead to greater participation in sports?

– Yes, indeed. The momentum that began at the 2008 Beijing Olympics continued through London, Rio, and Tokyo.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Mongolia won two silver and three bronze medals, setting a new national record for the number of medals won at a single Olympic Games. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Mongolia earned one silver and one bronze medal, followed by one silver and three bronze medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Behind every medal lie years of hard work by athletes and tremendous dedication from their coaches. I also believe that Olympic achievements have inspired younger generations to participate in sports and have helped raise the profile of different sporting disciplines.

The number of children and young people coming to train within my halls also increased. Nothing brings me greater happiness than seeing youngsters arrive with dreams of one day becoming champions like the athletes they admire.

– Until 2010, you were the heart of Mongolian sports and one of the country’s major national sports facilities. How many other sports arenas have been built since then?

– My main hall has a seating capacity of approximately 1,000 to 1,500 spectators. In addition, national teams in judo, freestyle wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, sambo, cycling, and athletics used my facilities for training. My gymnastics hall was housed in a separate building in front of me.

At that time, I was the center of sporting life in Mongolia. National and international competitions, events organized by sports federations, basketball and volleyball league matches, and virtually every major sporting event took place within my walls.

Later, with the aim of modernizing Mongolia’s sports infrastructure and creating facilities capable of hosting international competitions, the Buyant-Ukhaa Sports Palace was constructed with grant assistance from the People’s Republic of China and officially opened on December 2, 2010.

With a seating capacity of more than 5,000, this large sports arena significantly eased the burden I had carried for decades. Today, thanks to private sector participation, the number of sports facilities has expanded from just one like me to nearly as many as can be counted on the fingers of both hands.

Although I have grown old, I remain a place that carries the history of many generations of Mongolian athletes. I hold the memories of thousands of athletes who trained, competed, and fulfilled their dreams within my halls.

Even today, Mongolia continues to need major sports facilities that meet international standards. The development of sports cannot be measured solely by the talent and hard work of athletes. The environment and infrastructure in which they train are equally important.

– Most recently, the Mongolian team competed at the Paris Olympics. Although the team returned with just one medal, it was still an achievement to be proud of, wasn’t it?

– Of course. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Mongolia was represented by 32 athletes competing in nine sports. Bavuudorjiin Baasankhuu won the silver medal in the women’s 48 kg judo category, bringing home Mongolia’s only medal from the Games.

An Olympic medal is not merely the achievement of one athlete. Behind it are years of dedication, the hard work of coaches and trainers, the support of family members, and a deep sense of responsibility toward one’s country.

Although Mongolia returned from Paris with only one medal, that does not diminish its value. After all, earning the right to represent one’s country on the Olympic stage is itself the result of many years of effort. Behind every athlete are stories of victory, defeat, discouragement, and the determination to rise again. The precious bond with the child growing in a mother’s womb also contributed to this medal.

– How many medals have Mongolian athletes won at senior World Championships in major Olympic sports such as shooting, freestyle wrestling, judo, and weightlifting? How impressive are these achievements relative to Mongolia’s population?

– Since the difficult years of the transition to a market economy, Mongolia’s sporting success has largely been measured through achievements in freestyle wrestling, judo, boxing, and shooting. Weightlifting should also be included among these sports. In these disciplines, Mongolian athletes have won dozens of medals at World Championships, bringing recognition and honor to their country.

Despite its small population, Mongolia has established its place on the international sporting stage. Today, we no longer look for medals exclusively in our traditionally successful sports. We have begun to expect achievements in taekwondo, basketball, volleyball, cycling, hockey, and many other disciplines. This demonstrates the broadening development of Mongolian sports.

The national team system has also expanded, with athletes being trained in an increasing number of sports. Para athletes, too, are achieving success internationally and enriching the history of Mongolian sports.

– How much are Mongolia’s national team athletes and coaches paid?

– Under the salary levels established in 2021, national team athletes received a monthly salary of 1.2 million Mongolian tugriks. At the exchange rates of that period, this was approximately 333 US dollars or 298 euros. Coaches, meanwhile, received a monthly salary of 1.5 million tugriks, equivalent to around 417 US dollars or 372 euros.

Previously, athletes’ salaries ranged from 650,000 to 800,000 tugriks, so the increase was certainly a positive step. Nevertheless, I often wonder how far this amount can go for people who dedicate years of their lives to representing Mongolia at World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Athletes should be able to concentrate entirely on their training, while coaches should be able to focus fully on the success of their students. If they are forced to take additional jobs simply to support themselves, their preparation and performance will inevitably be affected.

I have witnessed the rise of many champions, and my wish is that their dedication and hard work will be properly recognized and adequately supported.

– Olympic and World Championship medalists receive monthly financial incentives. Having witnessed 68 years of Mongolian sports history, how do you view this policy?

– In my opinion, recognizing the dedication of athletes should mean much more than simply congratulating them after they win a medal. Athletes devote many years of their lives to training, sacrificing their youth, time, and health in pursuit of success on the world stage and the honor of their country.

Therefore, I consider the lifelong monthly financial incentives provided to Olympic and World Championship medalists to be one way of recognizing their dedication and achievements.

Olympic gold medalists receive four million tugriks per month, silver medalists receive three million tugriks, and bronze medalists receive two million tugriks. Meanwhile, athletes who win gold, silver, or bronze medals at World Championships in Olympic sports receive two million, one million, and 500,000 tugriks per month, respectively.

As of December 23, 2025, a total of 78 athletes from 11 sports were receiving monthly financial incentives. Among them, one athlete received 14 million tugriks per month, while 22 athletes received 500,000 tugriks each.

To produce the champions of today, we must also prepare the champions of tomorrow. Alongside rewarding medal-winning athletes, we must not neglect the coaches who train them, young athletes, and the sports facilities and infrastructure on which future success depends.

– The Government of Mongolia has introduced a policy encouraging businesses to invest in culture, the arts, and sports by offering tax relief of up to one percent. How effective has this policy been?

– I see this decision as an important opportunity to increase private sector participation in the development of sports. The growth of sports should not depend solely on government funding. Businesses should have opportunities to support athletes, coaches, sports federations, clubs, and competitions.

In 2024, a total of 145 eligible construction projects, initiatives, and activities in the cultural and sports sectors were implemented, with a combined budget of 28.9 billion tugriks. Businesses benefited from the associated tax relief in 2025.

However, it is important to understand that the entire 28.9 billion tugriks was not spent exclusively on sports. It represented the combined budgets of projects in the culture, arts, and sports sectors.

The effectiveness of this policy should be measured by its real impact. Are training conditions improving for children and young people? Are new sports halls and facilities being built? Are athletes and coaches receiving meaningful support?

In addition to reporting investment amounts and tax relief figures, the actual benefits should be communicated transparently to the public. Only then can private sector support make a tangible contribution to the development of sports.

Over the past 68 years, I have witnessed the history of many generations of Mongolian athletes. Investment in sports is not merely an investment in today’s achievements; it is an investment in the champions of tomorrow.

– What has been the proudest moment of your life?

– Within my walls, joy and sorrow, happiness and hardship, triumph and defeat have followed one another over the decades.

I have witnessed the joy of winning an Olympic gold medal, as well as the tears of athletes who lost at the final moment of a medal contest and could no longer hold back their emotions.

I have seen the dreams of young children who arrived for their very first training session, having just learned to lace up their sports shoes. I have shared the pride of champions who finally reaped the rewards of years of hard work.

I have also witnessed the fate of those who tried their very best but never achieved what they had hoped for.

The Central Sports Palace is a large family with many different faces, united by a single purpose.

– How much joy, sorrow, and how many tears must remain within your walls?

– So very much.

Being an athlete is not simply about receiving applause for personal achievements. Alongside the joy of victory come the sadness, regret, and tears of defeat.

Within my walls remain the first steps of countless children who dreamed of becoming champions, the joy of athletes whose years of hard work finally paid off, and the sorrow of those who quietly walked away without achieving their goals.

Some became champions here before stepping onto the world stage. Others left without realizing their dreams.

Yet I have never forgotten any of them.

Because, whether they won medals or not, every person who crossed my threshold, shed sweat, and pursued a dream has become part of my history.

– If you had the opportunity to be rebuilt, what kind of sports palace would you wish to become?

– I would not wish to be merely a large, beautiful building.

Instead, I would want to be a sports palace with sufficient training facilities for athletes, modern equipment, halls that meet international standards, and spaces that are accessible to children and young people who wish to participate in sports.

I have grown quite old now. My ventilation is inadequate, my sanitary facilities no longer meet necessary requirements, and I have fallen behind modern standards.

Nevertheless, athletes from seven sports continue to train here regularly, and I still welcome more than 1,000 children and young people every day. Competitions are also held in one of my halls.

Even today, I continue to contribute to the preparation of athletes who will compete at World and Asian Championships and the Olympic Games.

A sports palace should not be merely a venue for hosting competitions.

It should be a place where the dreams of future champions begin, where athletes develop endurance and dedication, and where the sporting development of an entire nation moves forward.

But there is one thing I would never change.

I would preserve the spirit and atmosphere that give everyone who walks through my doors an opportunity to pursue and fulfill their sporting dreams.

I have never worn a medal myself.

But the memories preserved within my walls, the national anthems that have echoed through my halls, and the thousands of dreams that began here are worth more to me than any medal!

Tsetsegmaa J., a journalist at Champ Media LLC and a member of the Mongolian Sports Journalists Association.

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