President of Mongolia Kh.Battulga presented this year’s Order of Chinggis Khaan, the highest award of Mongolia, to Olympic gold and silver medalist judoka N.Tuvshinbayar at the State Palace on National Pride Day, which took place on November 19. Chinggis Khaan on National Pride Day, a national holiday to celebrate the birth of Chinggis Khaan. The honor is conferred to one person who has contributed greatly to strengthening Mongolia’s independence, sovereignty, and national unity, or for studying Mongolia’s statehood, history, culture and tradition in depth, and relaying knowledge to younger generations and promoting it worldwide. “Our pride in our ruler is our history, heritage, independence, and freedom. Chinggis Khaan is the peak of our Mongolian pride. Proud countries make strides for development. We should be proud that N.Tuvshinbayar brought home an Olympic gold medal for the first time in 2008 and has built a reputation in the world of judo sport. We decided to give this prestigious prize to Mongolia’s first Olympic champion Tuvshinbayar Naidan on the occasion of the 855th birth anniversary of Chinggis Khaan. He is the first sports figure to receive the Order of Chinggis Khaan. N.Tuvshinbayar brought the first Olympic gold medal for Mongolia, which was a miracle, on August 14, 2008, just over a month after the dark day of July 1, 2008,” President Kh.Battulga said, commending N.Tuvshinbayar before presenting the prize. Wearing his new medal, N.Tuvshinbayar expressed his gratitude to the attendees of the ceremony. “I’m deeply honored to receive the state’s highest award, the Order of Chinggis Khaan, on Chinggis Khaan’s birthday. There are so many people I’d like to share this honor with, including my parents, family, coaches, judokas, and teammates.” “I am very happy that I was born in Mongolia. I am really proud of the land of the eternal blue sky, Mongolia. The fact that I’m able to stand on the tatami with famous athletes is all thanks to my parents, teacher, and my homeland. Whenever I appear on the tatami, I become proud of my country and receive strength from it. That’s why I won Mongolia’s first Olympic gold medal. I think that medal restored unity and faith among the people of Mongolia. Thank you, everyone. I can’t describe how happy I am to be a Mongolian. My home country is a paradise,” he added. Mongolia’s second President N.Bagabandi initiated the Order of Chinggis Khaan award in 2002. Ten highly notable people have received the Order of Chinggis Khaan to date, including the first President of Mongolia P.Ochirbat, second President N.Bagabandi, State Honored Composer B.Sharav, former Prime Minister D.Byambasuren, former legislator R.Gonchigdorj, former MP D.Demberel, former Prime Minister D.Sodnom, renowned physicist and chemist Kh.Namsrai, poet G.Mend-Ooyo, and State Honored Artist and opera singer G.Ariunbaatar.